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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.

The lineup for the tenth Migration Matters Festival in 2025 includes:

  • Electronic legends Asian Dub Foundation
  • Mercury Prize-nominated singer songwriter Nadine Shah
  • British-Moroccan comedian Fatiha El-Ghorri
  • A closing party with mesmerising Tanzanian musical dynasty The Zawose Queens

See our top picks from the 2025 programme.

See the full programme for more.

Festival passes are on sale now at a sliding scale of ticket prices, giving you access to any and all of the events.

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Cupola Gallery

Not far from Sheffield Wednesday's football ground, Cupola has been brightening up this corner of the city since 1991, with exhibitions, shelves lined with ceramics, paintings and jewellery, and a smashing sculpture garden.

Kids Creative Summer School

Multiple dates

The Art House

Wednesday afternoon sessions for primary school-aged children to have fun and learn new creative skills – from fun with Posca pens to decorating a small treasure box to folk art. Led by Rebecca Brambila

Westhill Lane

Book and record shop Rare and Racy is no longer with us but at least we can enjoy the Phlegm mural round back while it's still standing. The cosmic scene features planets hanging from claw machines and astronomers whose eyes bulge through telescopes.

Far Gone

Wed. 17 September 2025 — Sat. 20 September 2025

Playhouse

Follow Okumu on his journey from innocent boy to child soldier in this gripping, physical one-man play. Written and performed by John Rwothomack. Read our review from the play's 2019 premiere ahead of its return in 2025.