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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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Double Somersault

A playful and dramatic public artwork by William Pye, sitting at the entrance to Weston Park Museum.

The Festive Festival

Sun. 7 December 2025

A joy-filled day across two beautiful, candlelit Neepsend venues: The Mowbray and Victoria. With maker stalls, coffee, Christmas cocktails, savoury and sweet treats, choir singing, children's story sessions, and lots more.

Tommi Bryson

A theatremaker whose work centres on community, representation and comedy. Tommi co-hosts monthly variety performance night Sounds Queer, and is currently developing a one-woman musical about a trans Disney princess.

The House Skate Park

On the front of the skate park in Kelham Island, this piece is more structural than figurative – all piping, cogs and wrenches. It features in our top 5 murals by street artist Phlegm.