by Refugee Week Portugal
From music performances, film screenings and creative workshops to panel discussions, community meals and interfaith gatherings, Portugal is getting ready to host its very first edition of Refugee Week, the world’s largest arts and culture festival celebrating the creativity, resilience, and contributions of people who have experienced displacement.
Taking place from 16 to 22 June 2025, Refugee Week Portugal is a decentralised and open programme of events across the country, including in Lisbon, Porto, Leiria and Covilhã, organised by a growing network of artists, organisers, cultural spaces, and initiatives.
This year’s theme, “Community as a Superpower”, invites us to reflect on the everyday acts of care, solidarity and creativity that bring people together, and keep us going in times of adversity.
For Carlota Matos, performance artist, co-founder of Refugee Week Portugal, and an immigrant in the UK for 10 years, the festival is more than a celebration:
“More than a festival, Refugee Week is an open and decentralised network that aims to connect people and initiatives, and to highlight the extraordinary work already happening in Portugal. Through art, listening, and meaningful encounters, we want to create opportunities to celebrate the diversity of experiences and stories, to recognise the contributions of migrant and refugee communities, and to strengthen connections between different communities.”
Highlights of this year’s programme include a Community Picnic at Jardins do Bombarda in Lisbon, on Saturday 21 June, with food and performances by musicians from Bangladesh, Algeria, and Zimbabwe.
The festival also includes the global Simple Acts campaign, which encourages people to take small, everyday actions – like sharing food, writing a poem or starting a conversation – as ways of standing in solidarity with people who have experienced forced migration.
As MoYah, Afrofusion rapper, cultural producer, and co-founder of Refugee Week Portugal, explains:
“This festival is not just about raising awareness, it’s about celebrating the contributions, talent and love that refugee and migrant communities bring to Portugal and the world. ‘Community as a Superpower’ is not just a theme. It’s a reality we live every day. As someone who was once a refugee in Portugal and experienced racism and prejudice first-hand, it is an honour to be part of an arts festival that aims to break down barriers, challenge misconceptions about migrants in Portugal, and bring all our communities closer together.”
Refugee Week was founded in the UK in 1998 and is now active in over 15 countries. In 2024, it reached over 1.6 million people through 15,000+ events worldwide. With Portugal now joining the movement, the organisers hope this will be the beginning of an ongoing platform and a festival that grows with the people who shape it.
How to take part in Refugee Week 2025:
- Attend an event in Lisbon, Leiria, Covilhã or Porto
- Host your own workshop, meal, film night or activity
- Join the Simple Acts campaign
- Share your reflections using #RefugeeWeekPT and #CommunityAsASuperpower
For full listings, resources, and how to get involved, visit: www.refugeeweek.org.uk/events
Instagram: @refugeeweekpt
