A group of children look at something to the right.

Refugee Week 2025

Community as a superpower.

Join us at The Beacon for welcoming and inclusive programme of artworks, events and activities.

What's on

16-22 Jun 2025

Refugee Week is the world’s largest arts and culture festival celebrating the contributions, creativity and resilience of refugees and people seeking sanctuary. We’re delighted to be taking part in its 2025 edition, titled Community as a superpower.

The centrepiece is What Will We Do Without Exile?, a new artwork created by UK-based Palestinian artist Basel Zaraa and commissioned alongside Counterpoints Arts with the support of Moomin Characters – one of four new UK artworks celebrating 80 years of the Moomins.

Alongside it, we’re presenting a series of family activities in partnership with Stand & Be Counted, including Happy Baby!, free sensory play sessions for under-4s, and The Big Blue Bradford House, an invitation for young people and families to help create a Moomin-inspired cardboard house in Bowling Park. You can also join us at a Peace Picnic, enjoy family activities galore at the free Intercultured Festival and follow one man’s journey from Syria to England in Penguin.

What's on

A black and white photo of refugee tents is overlaid with colourful illustrations of an orange branch.
FREE Part of Refugee Week 2025

Moomin 80: What Will We Do Without Exile?

Basel Zaraa

Explore a lush world within a refugee tent, through this immersive, multi-sensory installation.

Adults help children with a craft activity
FREE Part of Refugee Week 2025

The Big Blue Bradford House

Stand and Be Counted

Join Stand & Be Counted, the UK’s first theatre company of sanctuary, to mark Refugee Week and celebrate Moomins 80

Adults help children with a craft activity
FREE Part of Refugee Week 2025

Happy Baby

Stand and Be Counted

Two special sessions of sensory play for under-4s and their grown-ups at The Beacon in Bowling Park.

A man in a black coat and jeans stands lit in blue on stage with his arms outstretched.

Penguin

Hamzeh Al Hussien & Amy Golding

One man’s extraordinary journey from Syria to England. “Be proud. Be who you are. Be more Penguin.”

A patchwork quilt made of squares designed by the community to represent peace
FREE

Peace Picnic: Bowling

The Peace Museum

The Peace Museum host the second of five free gatherings to celebrate peace, protest and community.

FREE Community Award

Intercultured Festival: Connecting Communities

Family activities to mark Refugee Week, aimed at building bridges with communities.

The Refugee Week 2025 shop

Celebrate Refugee Week and show your support!

Get your official Refugee Week merch as well as wonderful products from the Anqa Collective, an online marketplace selling products from refugee-led businesses. Each purchase supports Refugee Week’s efforts in celebrating the creativity, contributions and resilience of refugees.

Visit the shop (opens in new tab)
A white t shirt with Moomin characters. Text on the t shirt reads 'Community as a superpower'

What Will We Do Without Exile? is commissioned by Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture and Counterpoints Arts with the support of Moomin Characters for Refugee Week 2025.

The Big Blue Bradford House and Happy Baby! are co-produced by Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture and Stand & Be Counted, the Associate Company of Welcome and Sanctuary.