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Sheba Festival 2026 Manchester – STILL WE RISE

From 13–19 June 2026, Sheba Arts returns with another vibrant celebration of art, culture, creativity, and community at Longsight Art Space.

Sheba Festival 2026 Manchester brings together exhibitions, music, performances, workshops, and community arts events at Longsight Art Space.


This year’s theme, “Still We Rise”, celebrates the strength, resilience, and creativity of migrant and diasporic communities. Through exhibitions, music, performances, poetry, workshops, and shared cultural experiences, the festival explores stories of migration, identity, belonging, and transformation.


Located in the heart of one of Manchester’s most diverse neighbourhoods, Longsight Art Space provides the perfect setting for a festival centred around community connection and cultural exchange.


Eye-level view of a classroom with students engaged in learning Persian
Official artwork and promotional poster for Sheba Festival 2026 at Longsight Art Space, Manchester.

Sheba Festival 2026 Manchester Exhibition Highlights


The exhibition presents newly commissioned works by artists responding to the festival theme:

  • Haleema Aziz – Suspended Invocation


    A sculptural installation of oversized hand-carved prayer beads exploring memory, spirituality, and cultural continuity across generations.

  • Smriti Rai – Threads In Between


    A mixed-media installation inspired by the Nepali-Tibetan ceremonial scarf khata, reflecting on migration, loss, healing, and transition.

  • Blessing Wheto Ogunjimi – Threads of Becoming: Mapping Our Resilient Stories


    A layered combination of textiles, painting, and storytelling exploring identity, migration, and resilience.


Local Voices & Community Artists


The festival also features works by local artists and community groups, including:

  • Andrew Kuwornu – Unseen, Unhealed


    Exploring mental health, vulnerability, and systemic racism through mixed-media painting.

  • Nadia Sultana – Community Pattern Project


    A collaborative project inspired by Arabic, Persian, South Asian, North African, and West African visual traditions.

  • Melika Rafat – Nahan


    A mixed-media artwork reflecting the sorrow, beauty, and resilience of women affected by war and displacement.

  • Lizzie Hobbs – Off The Map


    An interactive installation encouraging audiences to reflect on connection, borders, and shared experiences.

The festival also showcases artwork created by:

  • Sheba Arts Youth Group

  • Community workshop participants from Wigan and Leigh


Festival Programme


Visitors can enjoy:

  • Art exhibitions

  • Live music

  • Poetry events

  • Theatre performances

  • Community workshops

  • Food and social gatherings

Event Location

📍 Longsight Art Space89 Northmoor RoadLongsight, ManchesterM12 5RT

📅 13–19 June 2026

This inspiring festival highlights the power of creativity to connect communities, preserve cultural identity, and create spaces for reflection, dialogue, and hope.

 
 
 

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