Whether you’re drawn to visual art, film, mythology, or collaborative creative spaces, this year’s Refugee Festival Scotland offers a rich programme celebrating artistic expression across cultures. Here are 10 standout events for anyone who loves to explore the world through art.  

All events are free or ticketed on a sliding scale, with free entry options for refugees and asylum seekers. 

1. Festival Launch: All Water Is Connected

When: Friday 12 June, 4–7pm 

Where: The Hidden Gardens, Glasgow 

Kick off this year’s festival with the unveiling of All Water Is Connected, a new public artwork by Grace Browne exploring migration, belonging and the elemental forces that link us all. Enjoy artist‑led tours, live classical music and a shared community meal in a beautiful outdoor setting. 

Can’t make it to the launch? The exhibition is running from 12-21 June.

2. Roots: A Dialogue Between Ukrainian and Scottish Mythology

When: 12–21 June, 10.30am–5pm  

Where: Pier Arts Centre, Orkney 

This evocative exhibition brings together artists who have found sanctuary in Orkney, weaving connections between Ukrainian and Scottish folklore. Through shared symbols, landscapes and ancestral stories, Roots invites visitors to explore how myth travels, transforms and binds cultures together. 

3. People Going Places: A Pop‑Up Exhibition by Nii Sackey

When: 17–21 June, 11am–6pm 

Where: Civic House, Glasgow 

Experience the expressive portraiture of Glasgow‑based artist Nii Sackey. Featuring works from this year’s festival poster campaign alongside a brand‑new painting, this pop‑up exhibition celebrates movement, resilience and the quiet power of human connection. 

4. Little Pictures: Migrant & Refugee Short Film Showcase

When: Satuday 13 June, 6–8pm  

Where: The Pyramid at Anderston, Glasgow 

Film lovers are invited to an evening of short films created through GMAC’s Little Pictures programme. Expect documentary, animation, fiction and experimental work exploring themes of migration, memory and belonging, followed by a Q&A with the filmmakers. 

5. Braver Than Borders (Сміливіші за кордони)

When: 12–21 June, 11am–4pm  

Where: The Paisley Centre, Paisley 

A multidisciplinary exhibition featuring New Scot artists from across Renfrewshire. Through visual art, collage and writing, contributors explore courage, identity and the emotional landscapes of displacement. Visitors are encouraged to spend time in the space and add their own creative reflections. 

6. Southside Open‑Air Cinema Day

When: Sunday 14 June, 12–10pm  

Where: Queens Park Arena, Glasgow 

You won’t want to miss Southside Open Air Cinema Day on Sunday 14 June, bringing three powerful screenings that delve into climate displacement, exile, memory and collective resistance.  

The programme includes the award‑winning documentary Everybody to Kenmure Street, with director Felipe Bustos Sierra joining a special panel discussion ahead of the screening. 

7. Beyond Our Depth

When: Monday–Saturday, various times  

Where: North Edinburgh Arts, Edinburgh 

Created through a two‑year collaborative project with refugees and asylum seekers, this exhibition showcases abstract sculptures shaped through participatory art sessions. The works hold stories of healing, resilience and shared experience, offering a quiet space for contemplation. 

8. Nature and Artists in the Spotlight

When: Monday–Saturday, various times  

Where: North Edinburgh Arts, Edinburgh 

This exhibition, created by a participatory group of displaced Ukrainian women, highlights the intimate dialogue between natural materials and artistic expression. The works honour the rhythms of the natural world and invite viewers into a gentle, reflective space. 

9. Shared Tables: Stories of Food and Belonging

When: 13-20 June, 12–4pm  

Where: Coffee and Zikr, Glasgow 

Part storytelling event, part creative gathering, Shared Tables brings together artists and community members to explore how food, memory and migration intertwine. Expect personal stories, shared experiences and a warm, welcoming atmosphere. 

10. Embodied Collaborations: An Artists’ Gathering

When: Monday 15 June, 6pm–9pm 

Where: The Vic Bar, Glasgow 

A vibrant afternoon of workshops, movement, visual art and collaborative making. This gathering brings together artists with lived experience of displacement to share practice, build connections and create new work in a supportive, creative environment. 

Check out the full festival programme to see what else is happening near you.

Refugee Festival Scotland 2026 is made possible with support from the National Lottery through Creative Scotland and Film Hub Scotland, part of the BFI’s Film Audience Network, awarding funding on behalf of Screen Scotland and the BFI National Lottery.