News / Bristol Refugee Festival
Bristol Refugee Festival 2025 celebrates the power of community
Bristol Refugee Festival’s (BRF) main programme will take place June 7 to 22, with the theme ‘Community as a Superpower.’
They will be celebrating the extraordinary strength that can be found in uniting together to build inclusive, strong and vibrant communities.
The only festival in the South West curated by and for refugees – photo: Zhenya Melesyk
CEO Jules Olsen said: “After last year’s riots and the continued hostile rhetoric that seems to be ever present.
is needed now More than ever
“Now more than ever is the time to be proud of our City of Sanctuary status and recognise all the communities and organisations across Bristol and South Gloucestershire that are working hard to create welcoming and inclusive spaces for everyone.”
There are over 25 events in this year’s programme and a wide variety of locations to choose from showcasing the diverse communities of Bristol and beyond through food, music, art and sport.
Highlights include: Rush Celebration and Festival Launch on 7th in Redcliffe; Bring your Culture to the Table on 14th in Knowle West; South Gloucestershire’s annual Celebrate with Me on 15th in Kingswood and Four Voices, Finding Home on 20th in Clevedon.
Established in 2017, the festival takes place over two weeks and brings a packed programme of music, food, culture and sports that celebrate the skills and contributions of refugees. – photo: Zhenya Melesyk
The Festival will end with our flagship event Celebrating Sanctuary in Queen Square on June 22, promising a great line-up, delicious food and activities for all the family.
“Bristol Refugee Festival is always something I look forward to,” said a 2024 participant.
“It showed me what’s possible when communities come together to celebrate diversity and connection.”
Details of all events can be found on the website bristolrefugeefestival.org.
Most events are free or low cost, but they are asking attendees to consider a donation to ensure that Bristol Refugee Festival can continue creating spaces of welcome across the city.
From October 2023 to November 2024, they coordinated 33 events, engaging 5,777 attendees, including 966 refugees and asylum seekers. They’ve produced a report on the impact they’ve made in the community.
Main photo: Diego Pena
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