This website uses cookies. Read more about our cookie/privacy policy.

Accept and Close

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

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...

Eclipse

Headed by creative director Dawn Walton, Eclipse is a company dedicated to bringing a more diverse audience into theatres and adding stories to the British canon.

David Fennell-Roberts

A painter and printmaker capturing the essence of the area around Long Island, an overlooked part of Sheffield at the core of this city's rich history.

Gut Level

A community space platforming grassroots, queer and DIY arts and creative activities in Sheffield. Bringing people together since 2019 over parties, exhibitions, workshops, community gardening, communal meals, film nights, and more.

The Misses Vickers

When he painted this piece in 1886, John Singer Sargent said: "I am to paint several portraits in the country and three ugly women at Sheffield, dingy hole." Nevertheless, it's one of our Jane's top 3 Sheffield artworks.