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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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More Than a Degree: 120 Years of Life at the Student Union

Mon. 2 February 2026 — Sun. 28 June 2026

Western Bank Library

An exhibition of historic items and photographs from the University archives and heritage collections, sharing a wealth of stories of student life to inform, surprise and entertain.

Form

Sat. 21 March 2026 — Sat. 25 April 2026

Cupola Gallery

A group exhibition playing with form in all its meanings. From the form of a sculpture to architectural forms to the formation of myths and more.

Rob Lee

A graphic artist whose large-scale geometric murals invite interaction and inject a shot of vibrancy into the city.

Higher Fields Festival

Sat. 27 June 2026

S2

An outdoor grassroots music festival, new for summer 2026. Bringing together DIY musicians, crews and communities from South Yorks and beyond – including Gut Level, Hatch, Groundwork and Grub Records and more. Followed by an afterparty at Steamworks.