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.

You might also like...

Gathering Landscapes: 150 Years of Collecting at Weston Park Museum

Fri. 28 November 2025 — Sun. 1 November 2026

Weston Park Museum

A look at the curious, beautiful, macabre and magical connections people have made to the land through over 400 objects from Sheffield’s collections. Curated by Heavy Water Collective (artists Maud Haya-Baviera, Victoria Lucas and Joanna Whittle).

Tyler Mellins

An artist inspired by all things paranormal, magical and occult, whose work is "equal parts serious and camp."

Pixiematosis

Thu. 30 April 2026

Lantern Theatre

Puppetry for adults and older children. Everything was perfect in the midnight garden – until the pixies realised they were being exploited by a greedy gardener. With charming puppets, odd automata, mime and occasional strong language.

Drama Studio

A beautifully converted church on the University of Sheffield campus, hosting student theatre, festival events and new performance.

The Sheffield culture guide written by in-the-know locals