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Information and guidance resources managed by Migrant English Support Hub

Celebrating Language, Community and Culture at Hull’s Festival of Languages

A day of music, dance, storytelling and connection brought Hull’s diverse communities together to celebrate the languages we speak, learn and share.

On Tuesday 27 October 2026, Hull came alive with language, music and culture as people gathered at Princes Quay for the Hull Festival of Languages. Organised by FORUM CIO, Hull ESOL Network and local services, the free community event celebrated the many cultures and languages that make Hull such a vibrant place to live, learn and work.

It was a lovely day filled with community, connection and culture, bringing people together to share experiences, discover new traditions and celebrate the value of language learning.

For the ESOL community, events like this offer a wonderful reminder that learning English is about so much more than the classroom. It is about building confidence, forming friendships, participating in community life and creating opportunities for people to share their own languages, skills and cultural identities.

A celebration of talent and traditions

One of the highlights of the day was the programme of performances, which showcased the creativity, talent and cultural richness within Hull’s communities.

The audience enjoyed a performance by African women’s singing group, whose singing brought African music and culture into the heart of the celebration.

The festival also welcomed Chinese women’s dance group, who delighted the audience with a dance performance celebrating Chinese culture and tradition.

Music brought people together once again through a special performance by BSL singing group. Their performance, combining British Sign Language (BSL) and song, was a powerful reminder that communication takes many forms and that everyone should have the opportunity to participate and express themselves.

Storytelling was another memorable part of the programme. African storyteller shared stories that celebrated the richness of African storytelling traditions, highlighting the power of stories to connect people, preserve culture and pass experiences from one generation to the next.

Connecting people with local services and support

Alongside the performances and cultural activities, the festival brought together a range of third-sector and voluntary organisations, each offering information about the support and services available to people living in Hull.

The stalls gave visitors an opportunity to discover what was available in their community, ask questions and find out where to turn for advice and support.

The emergency services also played an important part in the day. The fire service and ambulance service were there to engage with participants, raise awareness of their work and offer practical learning opportunities. Visitors had the chance to learn how to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), gaining valuable knowledge that could help them respond in an emergency.

For people learning English, opportunities like these can be particularly valuable. They provide a welcoming space to practise English in everyday situations, build confidence when speaking to service providers and become more familiar with the organisations that can support them and their families.

By bringing local services directly into a community celebration, the festival helped make information more accessible and encouraged people to build connections beyond the event itself.

Exploring language, place and belonging with MESH

We were delighted to be part of the festival, with John welcoming visitors at the stall and sharing information about Learning English in the Yorkshire and Humber website available to support the ESOL community.

Alongside the stall, Safina delivered an interactive workshop inspired by the Exploring and Belonging project in Hull, using books and creative activities to encourage participants to explore the places, people and experiences that help make a community feel like home.

Using the books about Pearson Park and Spring Bank in Hull, participants looked closely at photographs, shared their observations and explored the stories behind familiar local places. They then reflected on their own experiences by writing about their favourite place in Hull.

The activity offered a simple but meaningful opportunity to practise English, develop vocabulary, share personal experiences and connect language learning with everyday life. It also encouraged participants to think about what belonging means to them and how the places around us can shape our sense of connection to a community.

Activities like these demonstrate how local stories, photographs and familiar places can provide engaging starting points for ESOL learning. They create opportunities for learners to develop their language skills while sharing their knowledge, experiences and perspectives.

By exploring Hull through its places and stories, participants were able to celebrate their own connections to the city and reflect on what makes it feel like home.

Finishing on a musical note

The day ended on a joyful note with Karen and Mahsa, who brought everyone together for a karaoke performance of Lemon Tree.

It was a fitting end to a festival built around connection, participation and shared experiences. Whether through singing, dancing, storytelling or learning a new language, the day showed how taking part in community activities can help people feel welcome, included and connected.

Why events like this matter to the ESOL community

The Hull Festival of Languages was a reminder of the importance of creating spaces where people feel confident to communicate, share their experiences and celebrate who they are.

Language learning does not happen only in classrooms. Community events provide opportunities to practise English in real-life situations, meet new people, explore local services and develop a stronger sense of belonging.

They also help raise awareness of the languages spoken across our communities and recognise the knowledge, experiences and talents that learners bring with them.

By celebrating both the languages people are learning and the languages they already speak, events like this help create a more welcoming and inclusive community for everyone.

The Hull Festival of Languages was a wonderful celebration of what can happen when people come together with openness, curiosity and a willingness to share. It showed that, while we may speak different languages and come from different backgrounds, music, stories and shared experiences can bring us closer together.

A big thank you to everyone who performed, participated, volunteered and helped make the day such a special celebration of language, community and culture.