Refugee Week 2026: A Million Stories

Next date: Friday, 19 June 2026 | 06:00 PM to 09:00 PM

Elite and Esperance, former refugees from Democratic Republic of the Congo

Celebrate Refugee Week 2026 with One Million Stories, an evening of storytelling through sound, movement, words, film, food, and shared experience. Presented by Halaqa Presents, in partnership with Darebin City Council.

Bringing together artists from diverse refugee and migrant backgrounds, the evening features reflections on journeys, memory, resilience, displacement and belonging.

Artists and contributors connected to Palestine, Syria, Iran, Afghanistan, Peru, Saudi Arabia, and other communities come together through different artistic forms and languages, creating a space of listening, reflection, and connection.

Please note: this event is not for children.

What to expect

Spoken word, poetry and storytelling
Live collaborative music performances
Short film screening
Art therapy space open throughout the evening
Belly Dance as Embodied Healing, a guided, inclusive movement session led by Dr Rowa Barashi, focused on connection, release, and presence rather than performance. No experience needed, all bodies welcome.
Palestinian vegan food by Wazzup Falafel
Persian tea and refreshments

Tickets

General — $25 (+ $1.00 booking fee)
Concession — $20 (+ $0.90 booking fee)
Tickets available through Fannaan Events

This is a not-for-profit event. Ticket sales contribute toward artist support and event costs. 10% of all ticket proceeds, along with any remaining profit from the event, will be donated to Community Refugee Sponsorship Australia (CRSA), a registered Australian charity supporting community-led refugee sponsorship pathways across Australia.

Want to give a little more? A donation to CRSA is available as an optional add-on at checkout – pay as you feel. Every contribution goes directly to supporting refugees finding home in Australia.