The Migration Matters Festival makes up the biggest Refugees Week event of its kind. It has been dedicated to “people seeking sanctuary.”
With its tenth edition coming up this June in Sheffield, it will incorporate music, dance, theatre and food in its nine days. The aim is to provide a platform for people from underrepresented groups- specially people with lived experience of displacement, people seeking asylum and forced migration.
The award-winning arts festival, which launched in 2016 as a single-venue event has enticed over 1,062 artists representing 163 countries.
Read more about culture here.
- The Theatre Company providing sanctuary for new migrants
- The woman who founded World of Love Festival
The founder and director of the event, Sam Holland, said: “We started the festival to champion under-represented communities including refugees, asylum seekers and new migrants.
“They never give up in the face of adversity and that is what inspires us to keep the festival going, because its spirit is needed now more than ever.”
In a time where inclusion is more important than ever the festival has brought together more than 85,000 people over the years, which have featured international headliners such as Mali music megastars Amadou & Mariam (2024).
The festival offers free tickets to the most financially vulnerable, and operates on an ethical ticketing system pioneered by Sheffield based Andro &.
Sam added: “This year’s lineup reflects our commitment to diversity, providing a much-
needed platform and our bold ambitions for the future.
“We have wanted to work with some of these phenomenal artists for years and they will
bring something completely different to Sheffield for audiences to enjoy.”
In 2023, the festival won the ‘Bringing People Together’ category in the Sheffield Community Awards.
This year’s festival runs from the 20th of June to the 28th of June.
You can find tickets for all 2025 events at migration matters festival.co.uk.
