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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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Slime Mother

Fri. 3 October 2025 — Sun. 1 February 2026

Site Gallery

An immersive, multi-sensory exhibition by artist and writer Abi Palmer. With film, text, sculpture and installation, inviting us to be more slug-like – to slow down, merge and connect – embracing the resilient strangeness of this complex gastropod.

Tom J Newell

One of the most distinctive illustrators in town, with a back catalogue of creepy creatures and writhing skulls.

Peter Martin

Peter Martin is an artist and GLOAM studio holder. As well as his own video-based art practice, he is involved in a number of projects in Sheffield – each connected by the desire to do good through creativity.

Sheffield Print Fair

Sat. 8 November 2025

Millennium Gallery

Enjoy watching printmaking in action and pick up a print or two to take home from among the 43 stalls featuring the wares of artists and printmakers from Sheffield and beyond. Call for applications open till 1 September 2025.