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

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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Crown of Blood

Mon. 2 February 2026 — Sat. 7 February 2026

Crucible Theatre

A powerful retelling of Macbeth set during the civil wars of 19th-century Yorubaland.

Festival of the Mind

A biennial festival of new ideas. Bringing together the city's creative community and its academic minds through exhibitions, talks, screenings, performances and more. Stay tuned for dates and details for the next Festival of the Mind in autumn 2026.

Tim Etchells

The writer, artist and artistic director has some amazing ideas on how to improve the city.

Workshop: The World of Earth Pigments – From Rock to Paint

Sun. 1 February 2026

Millennium Gallery

Discover the art of sourcing, processing, and creating paint from locally derived iron-rich earth pigments with artist and pigment specialist Lucy Mayes.