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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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Children's Media Conference

Tue. 7 July 2026 — Thu. 9 July 2026

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The UK’s premier event for everyone in kids TV, media and entertainment. With a free exhibition, Playground, bringing together interactive digital art and maker activities for children to play with.

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.

Yorkshire Artspace: Exchange Place Studios

A beautiful 1920s art deco building, with five floors filled with artists and craftspeople of all persuasions. Also home to an exhibition space, the not-for-profit Carousel Print Studio and communal ceramic studio Clay Space.

Eelyn Lee

An artist and filmmaker, exploring race, identity and ‘othering’, and challenging commonly accepted narratives of past, present and future.