Migration Matters Festival

Migration Matters 2024, photo by Smart Banda

In 2007 Sheffield became the UK’s first City of Sanctuary – a place that welcomes asylum-seekers and refugees, that offers a hand to people in need of safety. Held around Refugee Week each June, Migration Matters Festival is a celebration of diversity and the positive impact migration and refugees have in Sheffield.

The festival launched in 2016, the year of the Brexit referendum and Syrian refugee crisis. Each year the Migration Matters programme brings communities together over fantastic, globe-spanning variety of theatre, music, dance, workshops, exhibitions, and more.

Come back soon for dates and details of Migration Matters 2026.

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Theatre

Mojisola Kareem-Elufowoju

An artistic director and founder of Utopia Theatre. Working with those underrepresented in the arts and inspiring, engaging and empowering people through African theatre.

No Bounds

Fri. 9 October 2026 — Sun. 11 October 2026

A weekend of bleeps, beats and sweaty grins – bringing together music, visual art and technology. Come back soon for details of No Bounds 2026 – earlybird tickets on sale now.

Plantation

Fri. 20 February 2026 — Sun. 17 May 2026

Site Gallery

An exhibition exploring land use, ownership and environmental collapse through the experiences of agricultural workers. Featuring artist Rehana Zaman's film works, in an immersive sculptural landscape.

Siân Williams

An artist based at Bloc, whose practice references the feminine and sees seeming irreverence jostle with political poignance.

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