Who's doing what for Refugee Week 2026?

Refugee Week 2026 (15–21 June) is a global arts and culture festival coordinated in the UK, celebrating the contributions, creativity and resilience of refugees and people seeking sanctuary. As one of the largest festivals of its kind, Refugee Week brings together thousands of independently run events across communities, schools, cultural institutions and charities, creating spaces for connection, storytelling and shared understanding. The 2026 theme, “Courage,” marks the 75th anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention and highlights the bravery of individuals and communities rebuilding their lives in new countries. For charities, NGOs and partners, Refugee Week provides a powerful platform to launch fundraising campaigns, engage supporters and highlight the impact of refugee-focused programmes through arts, culture and community-led action.

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Who's doing what? 

UK for UNHCR: Awareness and fundraising

UK for UNHCR is focusing on celebrating the resilience, creativity and contributions of refugees while encouraging public participation through storytelling, community engagement and fundraising. The charity is promoting initiatives such as Read for Refugees, which uses books and refugee stories to build empathy and understanding, alongside the Gamechanging Team campaign, a symbolic football squad highlighting the courage and achievements of people forced to flee their homes. UK for UNHCR is also encouraging supporters to take part in fundraising challenges, community activities and awareness campaigns, using Refugee Week as an opportunity to help refugees feel welcome while raising funds for humanitarian assistance around the world.

Southbank Centre: Culture and storytelling

Southbank Centre is delivering an extensive arts and culture programme centred on the theme of “Courage”, celebrating the resilience, creativity and contributions of refugees and people seeking sanctuary. Running across multiple venues, the programme includes music, literature, film, spoken word, public art and community events designed to foster understanding and solidarity. Highlights include the inaugural Counterpoints Lecture by author Elif Shafak, the migration-inspired performance It Sounds Like Courage, co-curated by Anoushka Shankar and Counterpoints Arts, refugee-led DJ and music events, film screenings exploring migration stories, and public art installations developed in collaboration with refugees and displaced young people. Through this programme, Southbank Centre is using culture and storytelling to create spaces for dialogue, celebrate refugee voices, and encourage audiences to engage with themes of belonging, community and hope.

Local authorities: Community events

Councils including Islington Council and London Borough of Richmond upon Thames are running community programmes featuring storytelling, cultural celebrations, workshops and events showcasing refugee communities and their contributions. Islington Council is delivering a borough-wide programme under its “Islington Welcomes” initiative, positioning the area as a Borough of Sanctuary, committed to supporting refugees, migrants and people seeking asylum. The programme includes a mix of community events, cultural activities, workshops and library-based engagement, designed to bring residents together and celebrate the contributions of those seeking sanctuary. Activities across the week are open to all ages and include storytelling sessions, creative workshops, crafts for children and families, and opportunities for residents to learn more about refugee experiences through arts and education. Alongside the events, the council is using Refugee Week as a platform to reinforce its longer-term commitments around inclusion, skills development, employment support, and community cohesion, embedding refugee support within its wider strategy for a more welcoming and integrated borough.

Festivals: Arts and community engagement

The Bath Refugee Festival is delivering a vibrant, community-led programme of arts, culture and engagement across the city, bringing together local organisations, artists and residents to celebrate the contributions and resilience of refugees and people seeking sanctuary. The festival features a full day of live music, storytelling, spoken word, workshops, cultural food, children’s activities and community stalls, creating an inclusive space for connection and shared experience.

Universities: Dialogue and education

The University of York Migration Network is delivering a wide-ranging programme including a charity football tournament , community engagement events such as Courage, community and conversation, a series of panel discussions exploring asylum policy and migration, a Refugee Week film screening, and a cook-along session in partnership with York-based social enterprise Yahala Mataam, which supports refugee and asylum-seeking communities. Alongside these events, the university is also promoting its wider University of Sanctuary commitment, including scholarship schemes and the York Sanctuary Fund, which supports refugee students and at-risk academics. Collectively, the programme positions the university as both a site of dialogue and practical support, combining cultural engagement, academic discussion and direct fundraising activity to support sanctuary seekers.

Community organisations: Grassroots participation

Groups such as the Rohingya Centre of UK and EasyStepUK are organising storytelling sessions, cultural showcases, workshops and community conversations designed to bring refugees and local communities together.

What fundraisers can learn

Looking across Refugee Week 2026, four clear trends emerge:

• Storytelling and lived experience are at the heart of most campaigns.
• Community events continue to be the most popular engagement format.
• Arts and culture are being used to build understanding and connection.
• Partnerships between charities, local authorities, cultural institutions and community groups are helping organisations reach wider audiences.

For charities planning future Refugee Week campaigns, the strongest examples focus on creating opportunities for participation rather than simply raising awareness, combining storytelling, community engagement and fundraising into a single supporter journey.

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