The TV Festival is coming to Greater Manchester
News
One of the television industry’s most influential events is heading north, with Greater Manchester announced as the new home of the TV Festival from 2027.
Held in Edinburgh since 1976, the Festival brings together more than 2,000 television professionals for a programme of talks, debates, masterclasses and networking. Its move follows a competitive bidding process led by Marketing Manchester alongside partners from across the city-region.
From 2027, Festival activity will take place in venues around Manchester’s St John’s district, bringing broadcasters, producers, commissioners, writers, performers and emerging talent into the heart of the city.
The announcement is a significant moment for Greater Manchester’s screen sector. The region has a long television heritage and is now home to a growing network of production companies, studios, facilities, experienced crew and training programmes. Hosting the Festival will create an opportunity to showcase that ecosystem while making one of the industry’s biggest annual gatherings more accessible to talent across the North.
Rob Page, Managing Director of Space Studios Manchester, said:
“Greater Manchester winning the bid is a brilliant moment for the region. Manchester has always been a city that makes, watches and talks about great television, so the Festival should feel right at home. It gives us a chance to showcase the crews, facilities, locations and creative talent already here, and to open more doors for the next generation.”
With the Festival arriving alongside the new £10.5 million Greater Manchester Production Fund, the city-region is entering an exciting new chapter, and strengthening its position as one of the UK’s leading destinations for television production.
