The festival originated with the first James MacTaggart Memorial Lecture. MacTaggart was a renowned Scottish television producer, director, and writer. He is credited with contributing to the development of television as a dramatic series medium rather than merely an entertainment vehicle. MacTaggart died unexpectedly of a heart attack in 1974 at the age of 46.
Two years after his death, the Edinburgh International Film Festival collaborated with the BBC and Granada Television to organize a retrospective of his work. As part of the retrospective, playwright John McGrath delivered a lecture entitled “TV Drama: The Case Against Naturalism”, which is now regarded as the first James MacTaggart Memorial Lecture.
Although the lecture was not intended to be the centerpiece of a television festival, it ended up becoming just that: the inaugural Edinburgh International Television Festival was held in 1977. Edinburgh was a natural setting for the festival not only because the first lecture was delivered there, but also because the city already had the necessary infrastructure due to a series of cultural festivals held every August. The festival was held in Edinburgh for the next 50 years. However, ahead of the 2026 festival, the organizers announced that it would be relocated to Manchester, starting in 2027.
The Edinburgh TV Festival is an industry event that brings together over 2,000 television professionals from around the world to discuss major issues facing the industry. The program consists of several dozen events, including talks, panels, debates, workshops, master classes, roundtable discussions, meetups, networking events, and interviews. The program balances theoretical discussions about the state of the industry with hands-on events and networking opportunities.
The James MacTaggart Memorial Lecture, which is traditionally delivered by leading media figures associated with the British and international television industries, remains the centerpiece of the festival. Past speakers have included Norman Lear, Rupert Murdoch, James Murdoch, Kevin Spacey, Armando Iannucci, Michaela Coel, Louis Theroux, David Olusoga, and other notable industry figures. The interview program is also a prominent part of the festival. It features major industry professionals discussing their careers, specific productions, and broader issues regarding the state of the industry and its development.
The Edinburgh TV Festival also presents industry awards. As of 2026, the award categories are divided into three groups: Company Awards (Broadcaster of the Year, PSB of the year, FAST Channel of the Year, Production Group of the Year, Production Company of the Year, Agency of the Year, Small Indie of the Year), Programme Awards (Best Drama, Best International Drama, Best Documentary, Best Comedy Series, Best Popular Factual Series, Best Entertainment or Reality Series, Best Branded Entertainment, Best Visualised Podcast, Climate Storytelling Award), and Performance Awards (Best TV Actor – Drama, Best TV Actor – Comedy, Breakthrough Performance, Best TV Presenter – Factual, Best TV Presenter – Entertainment).
Photo: thetvfestival.com
