Edinburgh could have a brand-new television festival within weeks, filling the gap left by the Edinburgh TV Festival's decision to relocate to Greater Manchester from 2027.

The Edinburgh TV Festival — running for 51 years in the Scottish capital — formally announced its move to Greater Manchester in June 2026 after a bidding process that shortlisted three cities: Edinburgh, Greater Manchester, and Newcastle. The festival had begun exploring relocation in November 2025, with accommodation costs in Edinburgh during the simultaneous Edinburgh Fringe cited as a major factor. Netflix's Adam Hawkins, who worked on productions including The Tinder Swindler and Victoria Beckham, is serving as the 2026 festival Chair.

Now Screen Scotland, the national screen agency, is weighing plans for a replacement event. The body commissioned research earlier in 2026 examining what a new TV festival in Edinburgh might look like and what the existing festival's departure means for the city. Rowan Woods, former creative chief at the Edinburgh TV Festival, led that research as an independent consultant and delivered a set of recommendations with a range of options to Screen Scotland.

Those recommendations were discussed at a roundtable in Glasgow attended by around 20 figures from the local TV industry. A Screen Scotland spokeswoman said the body has been working with partners since spring 2026 to explore options following the TV Festival board's decision to move the event to England. The decision on whether to proceed with a new festival lies with Screen Scotland, Deadline reported.

An announcement could come in the coming weeks — possibly before the final Edinburgh TV Festival opens on 25 August 2026. That four-day event, running through 28 August, has BBC Director-General, Amelia Dimoldenberg, and Gary Lineker confirmed among its speaker lineup. The festival's website lists passes, with successful applicants informed by 16 July 2026.

Scottish government officials gave an early signal of support. During the bidding process, they told TV Festival executives and board members that they would back a new event in Edinburgh if the city lost the festival. Not everyone supported the relocation: Avalon's Jon Thoday and Edinburgh Fringe's Tony Lankester publicly opposed the move, citing the TV Festival's ties with the Fringe, the sprawling arts festival that fills Edinburgh every August.

Edinburgh's broader festival calendar is shifting in other ways too. The Edinburgh International Film Festival is expanding and launching a conference, with BFI chief Ben Roberts as the first announced speaker. If Screen Scotland greenlights a new TV festival, the city would retain a television-focused industry gathering — under a different name and structure — even as the original heads south.

For now, the calendar holds one last Edinburgh TV Festival in its familiar August slot. What follows depends on a decision still sitting with Screen Scotland.