This website uses cookies. Read more about our cookie/privacy policy.

Accept and Close

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

Migration Matters Festival

Fri. 20 June 2025 — Sat. 28 June 2025

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 the full programme.

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

You might also like...

Hassun El Zafar

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

Kelham Makes: Willow Leaf Basket Making

Thu. 22 May 2025

Kelham Island Museum

Spend an evening making a beautiful leaf-shaped basket from locally grown willow.

Children's Media Conference

Tue. 8 July 2025 — Thu. 10 July 2025

Showroom

The UK’s premier event for everyone in kids TV, media and entertainment. With a free exhibition, Playground, bringing together interactive digital art and maker activities for children to play with.

These Mad Hybrids: John Hoyland and Contemporary Sculpture

Thu. 20 February 2025 — Sun. 18 May 2025

Millennium Gallery

Rarely seen sculptures by Sheffield-born artist John Hoyland, best known for his abstract paintings. Alongside work by Caroline Achaintre, Phyllida Barlow, Hew Locke and more.