The Edinburgh International Television Festival (branded as the Edinburgh TV Festival) is an annual media event held in Edinburgh, Scotland, each August that brings together delegates from the television and digital world to debate the major issues facing the industry.

The Festival draws over 2,000 delegates from across the global TV industry. Although the festival is held in Edinburgh, the organisations headquarters are based in London, England, with the registered office based in Edinburgh.

History and outline Over the years, the Festival has attracted industry figures including Rupert Murdoch, Ted Turner, Vince Gilligan, Ted Sarandos, Elisabeth Murdoch, Louis Theroux, Michaela Coel, David Attenborough, Charlie Brooker, David Olusoga and Steve Coogan as well as people distinguished in their fields such as Al Gore and Eric Schmidt.

Established in 1976, the Festival takes place every August in the week leading up to the bank holiday at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre at the same time as the Edinburgh Fringe, and similar events, in the city. The Edinburgh International Television Festival is programmed by and for the television industry, by a rotating advisory committee headed by a new chair every year. The Festival is wholly owned by a not-for-profit charity, known publicly as The TV Foundation and is governed by its own board of directors.

The TV Foundation runs a suite of free-to-access creative development initiatives: "The Network" (formerly known as TVYP) which gives new entrants a first step into the TV industry, while "Visionaries" (formerly known as Ones to Watch) supports those at mid-career. Both benefit from fully funded places at the Festival, which include tailored workshops, masterclasses and networking. Year-round mentoring, training and events are also offered.

The Festival runs other events throughout the year. Launched in 2018 these include AHTV and The New Voice Awards which support emerging talent and self-starting creatives in TV and digital.

On 23 June 2026, it was announced that the festival would leave Edinburgh after 50 years and relocate to Manchester in 2027. Festival organisers explained the move due to "increasing challenges around accessibility, affordability and sustainability".

The 2026 festival, held from 25 to 28 August, was the final edition to take place in Edinburgh before the festival's planned relocation to Manchester in 2027.

The MacTaggart Lecture

The festival has become associated with its keynote address, the James MacTaggart Memorial Lecture. The lecture features speeches from leading media figures connected with British and international television over more than 40 years.

Year Speaker Job title* 1976 John McGrath Dramatist and director, founder of 7:84 Theatre Company 1977 Marcel Ophuls French/US documentary film maker (The Sorrow and the Pity/Le Chagrin et la Pitié) 1978 Norman Lear American television producer and scriptwriter 1979 Jeremy Isaacs former Director of Programmes for Thames Television (later Chief Executive, Channel 4) 1980 John Mortimer Screenwriter and dramatist 1981 Peter Jay Economist and broadcaster, Chairman of TV-am 1982 Ted Turner American television executive, founder of CNN 1983 Jonathan Miller Stage and television director/producer and broadcaster 1984 Denis Forman Chairman, Granada Television 1985 John Schlesinger Film and television director 1986 Troy Kennedy Martin Television dramatist 1987 Phillip Whitehead Television documentary producer 1988 Christine Ockrent Belgian/French journalist and broadcaster 1989 Rupert Murdoch Australian/American Chief Executive Officer and Chairman, News Corporation 1990 Verity Lambert Independent film and television producer 1991 David Elstein Director of programmes, Thames Television 1992 Michael Grade Chief executive, Channel 4 1993 Dennis Potter Television dramatist and screenwriter 1994 Greg Dyke Chief executive of LWT, Chairman of ITV Council and GMTV 1995 Janet Street-Porter Broadcaster and journalist 1996 John Birt Director general, BBC 1997 Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran Television comedy scriptwriters and programme creators 1998 Peter Bazalgette Managing director, Bazal 1999 Richard Eyre Chief executive, ITV Network 2000 Greg Dyke Director general, BBC 2001 David Liddiment Director of channels, ITV Network 2002 Mark Thompson Chief executive, Channel 4 2003 Tony Ball Chief executive, BSkyB 2004 John Humphrys Broadcaster and journalist 2005 Lord Birt Former director general, BBC 2006 Charles Allen Chief executive, ITV 2007 Jeremy Paxman Broadcaster and presenter of Newsnight (BBC) 2008 Peter Fincham Director of Television, ITV 2009 James Murdoch Chairman and chief executive, Europe and Asia, News Corporation 2010 Mark Thompson Director general, BBC 2011 Eric Schmidt US citizen, executive chairman, Google 2012 Elisabeth Murdoch Chairman, Shine Group 2013 Kevin Spacey American actor, director and producer 2014 David Abraham Chief executive, Channel 4 2015 Armando Iannucci Broadcaster, writer, director and producer 2016 Shane Smith Canadian journalist and chief executive of Vice Media 2017 Jon Snow Journalist and broadcaster 2018 Michaela Coel Actress and writer2019Dorothy ByrneHead of News and Current Affairs, Channel 42020David Olusoga Historian and broadcaster2021Jack Thorne Screenwriter and playwright2022Emily MaitlisJournalist and broadcaster2023Louis TherouxJournalist, broadcaster and author2024James GrahamPlaywright and dramatist 2025James HardingJournalist and editor All job titles as at the time the lecture was given. Nationality/citizenship is British unless stated otherwise.

See also

List of television festivals

References

External links