A week-long festival to welcome, celebrate and stand alongside people who are refugees or seeking asylum in Nottingham.
12th-21st June 2026
Nottingham Refugee Week is an annual cultural festival celebrating the culture of sanctuary we have built here in Nottingham. Delivered through a fabulous programme of events organised in partnership with refugee and asylum-seeking communities across Nottingham, it is an act of welcome, a gesture of solidarity and a shared celebration with people who have sought refuge here.
Our festival launches on Friday 12th June at Nottingham Refugee Forum with an awesome line-up of free food, music, yoga, art and craft fun for all the family, information stalls presented by refugee support organisations across the city. It’s totally free and an amazing chance to get into the spirit of sanctuary in our city.
This year’s theme is ‘Courage’. For refugees around the world, courage is often a daily necessity. It is the courage to face unknown journeys, learn new languages, navigate unfamiliar systems, or simply to wake up each morning and step into an uncertain world.
2026 Events
Nottingham Refugee Week Launch
Nottingham Refugee Forum will host the Launch of Nottingham Refugee Week again, with a party for all communities and generations. Find out about the great [...]
National Justice Museum Creative Workshop and Guided Tour
This Refugee Week, the National Justice Museum is hosting a half-day museum takeover with Refugee Roots, to celebrate the launch of the Museum’s new Project [...]
Nottingham Playhouse: A Celebration of Courage
'A Celebration of Courage' – Refugees and Aslyum seekers’ party, including music, games and a photography exhibition on the theme of Courage created by refugees [...]
Everybody to Kenmure Street (12A) + Discussion
In May 2021, a UK Home Office dawn raid triggers one of the most spontaneous and successful acts of civil resistance in recent memory. In [...]
Nottingham Playhouse: Conversation Café
Info Venue: Nottingham Playhouse, Wellington Circus, Nottingham, NG1 5AF Hosted by: Nottingham Playhouse Cost: Free Booking: No booking Contact Email: [email protected]
Nottingham Playhouse: Community Culture Walk
'Community Culture Walk' – join us for a guided walk to some of the city’s cultural landmarks and hear stories of courageous figures from Nottingham’s [...]
Stand Up To Racism Public Event
We hold an annual public event during Refugee week each year. We are keen to make the group known to asylum seekers, refugees and people [...]
Red Cross: Food, Sport and Games
There will be food, possibly a game of rounders, music and lots of fun! Info Venue: British Red Cross, Refugee Support - St Andrew's Church [...]
18
Jun
Windmill Community Gardens: Refugees Welcome Feast and Activities
Join us at Windmill Community Gardens for a slap up lunch, with delicious food and lots of activities to try. Free event. Info Venue: Windmill [...]
Forever Young Community Sharing Table
Forever Young Nottingham CIC will be celebrating Nottingham Refugee Week for the fourth year. Join us at our community sharing table event- a vibrant gathering [...]
National Holocaust Museum: Women of Courage
For Refugee Week 2026, themed around courage, this event highlights the resilience of women forced to flee conflict and persecution. Curator Diana Popescu, alongside guest [...]
Nottingham Playhouse: 3 Migrant Women Performance
Visiting Theatre Performance. Norwich Theatre, a Proud Theatre of Sanctuary, Presents '3 Migrant Women' - a striking exploration of migration through lived experience. Created and [...]
Second Chance Football Tournament
11 aside men football tournament for 15 teams of different backgrounds and nationalities. Time of event TBC Info Venue: Forest Recreation Ground, Gregory Boulevard, Nottingham, [...]
20
Jun
More In Common Picnic
Info Venue: King Edward Park, Carlton Road, Nottingham, NG3 2AR Hosted by: More in Common Partnership Cost: Free Booking: No booking Contact Web: https://www.holocaust.org.uk/contact
Sounds of Courage: Refugee Week Closing Party at Himmah Hub with Nottingham Contemporary
We welcome one and all to Nottingham Refugee Week’s closing party in collaboration with Nottingham Contemporary's communities programme and Himmah. Our evening will be host [...]
National Holocaust Museum Michael Lewis Talk
Czechoslovakia, 1938. Jewish businessman, Harry Lewy, flees for his life as German soldiers stream across the border. Fear, uncertainty and danger stalk him as he [...]
Screening of Elemental
Disney and Pixar’s original film is set in Element City, where fire, water, land, and air residents live together. Ember, a quick-witted, fiery young woman [...]
Refugee Week Resource Pack
In response to Refugee Week 2024's theme of 'Our Home', Humanities students at Nottingham Trent University collaborated on the design and creation of resources designed to be of use to event organisers, teachers, community support organisations and anyone else wishing to promote the work of Refugee Week. You're welcome to use the resources for yourself (with appropriate credit to the resource creator, as indicated in the pack). A huge thank you to all the students who contributed.
Get Involved
If you would like to volunteer during Nottingham Refugee Week, please complete the online application form: bit.ly/nrwvolunteer
Partners, Supporters and Funders
Five Leaves Bookshop
Nottingham Amnesty Group
Nottingham Central Library
Portland Centre
Women of Faith, All Saints’ Church
World Jam
Contact Us
Email us at [email protected]
Like, follow or message us on Facebook @NottinghamRefugeeWeek
Tweet or follow us @NottsRW
Share your photos or DM us on Instagram at nottsrefugeeweek
Mailbox only: Nottingham Refugee Week Committee, Care Of Nottingham Refugee Forum, 33A Hungerhill Road, Nottingham NG3 4NB
About Us
Courage
For refugees around the world, courage is often a daily necessity. It is the courage to face unknown journeys, learn new languages, navigate unfamiliar systems, or simply to wake up each morning and step into an uncertain world.
At a time when some seek to divide and blame, Refugee Week 2026 calls us to come together and share the courage to welcome, to stand for what we believe in, and to celebrate culture and community – to be joyful, imagine new possibilities, dream, heal, and connect.
Courage isn’t always loud or bold. It can be found in simple acts: opening your door to a neighbour, trying new food, reading a book, or watching a film that changes your view of the world. It can be speaking up, asking for help, sharing your story – or simply having the courage to be yourself.
Through art, stories, and community, we celebrate the courage that lives within us all – and how connection helps it grow.
