Edinburgh TV Festival Bids Quiet Goodbye as Industry Eyes Manchester Move
The final Edinburgh TV Festival concluded with a subdued atmosphere as the event prepares to relocate to Manchester in 2027. Organizers did not hold a large farewell celebration, though the festival chair gave an emotional tribute to the city. Industry attendees expressed a mix of nostalgia and acceptance about the change.
The festival's final Scottish edition drew to a close without elaborate ceremony, with organizers choosing not to stage a dedicated farewell event. The customary Thursday night gathering instead marked a quarter-century of Audio Network, while the festival's chair delivered a tearful tribute on the final morning, acknowledging the city's long-standing role in the industry's annual rhythm.
The event has served as a 50-year annual gathering for television executives, most of whom travel from London. The subdued tone reflected an industry in transition, with attendees showing a blend of nostalgia and pragmatism about the upcoming relocation. Sky's Phil Edgar-Jones offered a lighter moment by asking his audience for a selfie before the SNL UK panel discussion.
The relocation could reshape the television industry's networking geography, potentially diminishing Scotland's creative economy that has