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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Chance To Dance

One big, free day of music and movement in four outdoor stages around the city centre. With over 30 dance groups performing and lots of chances to join in. Held each July – come back soon for details of Chance to Dance 2026.

Theatre

Hassun El Zafar

A theatre director driven by a desire to create social change.

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.

Plantation

Fri. 20 February 2026 — Sun. 17 May 2026

Site Gallery

An exhibition exploring land use, ownership and environmental collapse through the experiences of agricultural workers. Featuring artist Rehana Zaman's film works, in an immersive sculptural landscape.

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