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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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Off the Shelf

Sheffield's festival of books, words and ideas, taking place each October. Come back soon for our highlights from the writer talks, workshops and events in the 2026 programme.

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

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

Cupola Gallery

Not far from Sheffield Wednesday's football ground, Cupola has been brightening up this corner of the city since 1991, with exhibitions, shelves lined with ceramics, paintings and jewellery, and a smashing sculpture garden.

Lantern Theatre

Sheffield's oldest and smallest (and most utterly charming) theatre is tucked away in the leafy suburb of Nether Edge. Go see anything you can here, even if it's just to get a peek inside.