Community-led initiative by refugees, for everyone.
8-21 June, 2026
Theme
Radical hope is the refusal to accept the world as it is — and the belief that it can be otherwise. Courage is what turns that belief into action. Courage, the international theme for 2026, is derived from the Latin 'cor', meaning heart. Refugee Welcome Week deepens this with radical hope: Hope that is not naive nor passive, but rooted in imagination and action.
Programme
8-13 June, 2026: Refugee-led cultural programme
This is where we set the tone: refugee-led, arts-first, Radical Hope & Courage.
14-21 June, 2026: City-wide community action. Partners, schools and community groups host their own events and Simple Acts across Amsterdam.
Movement
The phrase 'refugee welcome' has become increasingly politicized due to the rise of xenophobic ideologies. As a result, expressing solidarity with refugees has transformed into a controversial political act. While this could theoretically lead to an increase in voices of solidarity, in practice we often see the opposite effect: People who wish to welcome refugees feel intimidated or hesitant to speak out openly, resulting in a decrease in audible expressions of support.
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