Refugee Week 2026 in Birmingham: A City-Wide Celebration of Courage, Culture and Community
Refugee Week in Birmingham takes place from 15–21 June 2026, transforming the city into a hub of arts, storytelling, and cultural celebration centred on the theme of “Courage.” Across venues in Birmingham, the programme highlights the creativity and resilience of refugees and people seeking sanctuary through music, film, performance, and community events.
The festival is part of a UK-wide initiative coordinated by Counterpoints Arts and includes hundreds of local and national events.
Refugee Week Celebration at The Exchange (Centenary Square)
One of the key events is the Refugee Week Celebration at The Exchange, featuring live music, storytelling, and art in partnership with local refugee organisations.
Venue: The Exchange
Wednesday 17 June 2026 (18:30–20:00)
Free (booking recommended)
The evening brings together groups such as Stories of Hope and Home and the Refugee and Migrant Centre, sharing lived experiences through performance and discussion.
Refugee Week Film Night – Priory Rooms
A community-focused film evening exploring migration, identity, and belonging.
Chinese Quarter, Birmingham
Thursday 18 June 2026 (19:00)
Hosted by Peace Hub and Birmingham City of Sanctuary, the screening features short films followed by an audience discussion.
Celebrating Sanctuary Birmingham Festival Programme
The wider Refugee Week Festival is curated by Celebrating Sanctuary Birmingham, a long-running arts organisation supporting refugee and migrant artists.
Multiple venues across Birmingham, including:
Midlands Arts Centre (MAC)
Symphony Hall
Library of Birmingham
Ikon Gallery
Full programme and festival overview
This city-wide programme includes concerts, exhibitions, workshops, and community events featuring refugee and migrant artists.
Refugee Week Takeover – Symphony Hall
The festival culminates in a major music celebration at Symphony Hall.
Symphony Hall. Sunday 22 June 2026.
Free entry (booking via B:Music)
The event features global music performances from artists with refugee and migrant backgrounds, showcasing sounds from Iran, Haiti, France, DR Congo, and beyond.
What Refugee Week Represents
Refugee Week is the world’s largest arts and culture festival celebrating the contributions of refugees and people seeking sanctuary. It takes place annually around World Refugee Day (20 June) and is coordinated nationally by Counterpoints Arts.
National Refugee Week information.
The festival encourages communities to connect through creativity, storytelling, and shared cultural experiences.
Refugee Week 2026 in Birmingham is a city-wide collaboration of arts organisations, community groups, and cultural venues. From intimate film screenings to large-scale music performances, the week highlights stories of courage and belonging while celebrating the cultural richness refugees bring to the city.
