Terminal V, one of the UK’s largest electronic music festivals, is leaving Edinburgh after nine years. The organisers have announced that this year’s event on April 18 and 19 will be the final edition at the Royal Highland Centre before the festival moves to a new site in 2027.
The reason is money. Co-founder Derek Martin said policing and associated deployment costs now represent a “significant proportion” of delivery costs, and the decision to leave comes after years of escalating operational requirements. Simon McGrath added: “To deliver the level of event we’ve produced over the last nine years is becoming increasingly challenging in the current environment. We’re not prepared to compromise on quality.”
Since launching in 2017, Terminal V has grown into Scotland’s number one electronic music festival, ranked fifth in the UK and 34th in the world by DJ Mag. The final Edinburgh edition will feature six stages and more than 100 artists, with every stage “completely reimagined” for the occasion. Final remaining tickets go on sale at noon on Tuesday, March 3.
A new site for 2027 will be announced alongside what the organisers are calling a global tour of international shows to celebrate a decade of Terminal V. Whether that means a move elsewhere in Scotland or a departure from the country entirely remains to be seen.
Edinburgh has a complicated relationship with its festivals. The city markets itself relentlessly as a festival destination, but the practical costs of hosting large events keep climbing. When those costs eventually push out the events themselves, everyone acts surprised. Terminal V’s departure is the latest example of a pattern that should concern anyone who cares about Edinburgh’s cultural economy.