Climate Spring at Edinburgh TV Festival
With an increase in climate storytelling conversations, our team reflected on the atmosphere of optimism and creativity at this year's festival.
That’s a wrap on the Edinburgh TV Festival 2026!
Our Unscripted team, David Leach and Sabrina Scollan, were out in force meeting commissioners, taking pitches from production companies, and making new connections. There was a notable increase in creator attendees and YouTube sessions and the biggest conversations this year were about how to find opportunities in a converging landscape of broadcasters, streamers and digital platforms.
The Climate Spring Unscripted team hosted an important panel addressing systemic challenges within the TV industry and how it affects freelancers, diversity and audience trust, with Festival Chair, Fatima Salaria giving the introduction. It was also a bumper year for the TV foundation's Changemaker programme as it continues to attract A-list talent to their climate storytelling cohort
Commitment to climate and sustainability was woven into some panel debates and industry discussions. The BBC's new Director General, Matt Brittin, Channel 5's Ben Frow, and leaders from Netflix and Amazon all reaffirmed their focus on climate and sustainability, while European broadcasters such as Danish TV highlighted a growing appetite for entertaining climate content, demonstrated by successful dramas like Families Like Ours. One of the most well-attended talks was an inspiring impact session with Richard Curtis and Davina McCall that highlighted the power of TV and the potential that could be harnessed by incorporating social purpose messaging without diminishing commercial value.
Over at the Fringe, a playwriting breakfast with Pollinate and Fern Culture showed how writers are finding instant relatability by embedding climate anxiety directly into their work and using humour to talk about difficult subject areas. And Climate Spring collaborator Bryony Kimmings brought her critically-acclaimed solo show, Bog Witch, to Fringe audiences at Traverse Theatre with glowing reviews.
From gathering with Fringe playwrights to connecting across the festival, the week offered genuine optimism, distinctive new ideas, and invaluable industry partnerships. Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped drive the conversation forward!