Greater Manchester to host prestigious annual TV Festival from 2027

Established in Edinburgh in 1976 and taking place in the Scottish capital every year since then, the move to Manchester follows a UK-wide strategic review into the annual event’s long-term future by the Festival’s board of directors, and follows an extensive consultation and competitive bidding process that was launched last year.

The choice of Manchester as the new home of the Festival reflects the success and strength of the screen sector in the city region and will see the city welcome national and international audiences to an event with growth, sustainability and diversity of the screen industry at its core.

The Festival is expected also to bring with it a significant economic boost to the region – with the creative industries, other local businesses, and the hospitality sector all set to benefit – both from the Festival itself and from the wider opportunities and partnerships that evolve from it.

With strong commitments around affordability, industry partnerships and long-term growth potential, Greater Manchester’s successful bid includes plans to hold the Festival in locations within the newly developed St John’s creative and cultural district in the city centre.

Councillor Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council, and Deputy Mayor for Economy Business and Inclusive Growth, Greater Manchester, said: 

“Being chosen to host the TV Festival is brilliant news for Greater Manchester and speaks to the growth, success and strength of our screen sector in the city region and the strong partnerships and talent we have here.

“With the fastest growing economy in the UK, creative industries are a key priority growth area for us. As part of this we aim to make our region home to the strongest screen industry cluster outside London by 2028 – an ambition backed by our just-launched £10.5 million Screen Production Fund to support film and TV made in Greater Manchester, using local facilities and expertise.

“As new home now also to the prestigious TV Festival, we’ll be working closely with partners to ensure we deliver not just an exceptional annual Festival – with our own uniquely Manchester twist – but an event that supports new collaborations and partnerships locally, nationally, and internationally, that have the growth, sustainability, and diversity of the screen industry at their heart.”

Greater Manchester’s winning bid to host the TV Festival was led by Cameron Roach founder of Rope Ladder Fiction, and creative industries producer Beth Hewitt, in collaboration with the city council, Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Marketing Manchester, Manchester Accommodation BID, and TV Industry partners and others across Greater Manchester.

Cameron Roach founder of Rope Ladder Fiction, and Beth Hewitt creative industries producer, said:

“It’s a real honour to be selected as the host city for the TV Festival. Manchester is a TV and media epicentre and is ready to welcome national and international audiences. We believe there is a real alignment with the ambitions of the TV Festival and those of Manchester – a creative, vibrant city with a long tradition of television, and an existing deep-rooted, ambitious sector. We are excited to build for the future, forging connections and embracing media innovations with a variety of partners and associated industries, many of which are rapidly evolving.

“Having collegiately built this bid over six months with a multitude of local stakeholders, from broadcasters, and the production community, through to academic institutions and a variety of creative networks, we’re excited to amplify this work with the TV Festival, nationally and internationally, to bring together a connected and engaged, future-facing audience for the sector.

“The TV Festival means a great deal to us personally, and for the creative community here in the North it is an opportunity to turbo charge networking opportunities and development pipelines, as well as ensuring the industry strives to truly reflect the diverse population of the UK, both in terms of creatives but also in terms of future generations of talent that we hope will enjoy, be empowered and enabled by the TV Festival.”