Future Imaginaries of Migration

Future Imaginaries of Migration:
Berlin, Toronto, Accra, Singapore 2026-7
What contribution does migration and mobility make to societal progress?
This question is explored by the international, interdisciplinary project “Future Imaginaries of Migration.” Participants from the fields of art, academia, journalism, and civil society deliberately move beyond dominant migration debates to develop and critically examine plausible scenarios for migration over the next 25 years.

About the Project
The project is part of the international “Future of Mobility and Migration Partnership,” led by the Global Migration Institute at Toronto Metropolitan University in collaboration with the German Center for Integration and Migration Research (DeZIM) in Berlin, the University of Ghana, and the National University of Singapore.
The global Goethe-Institut with its locations in Germany, Toronto, Singapore and Accra, the Aga Khan Museum in Toronto, Migration Matters e.V. in Berlin, and Futurium – House of Futures Berlin are involved in shaping and implementing the project. Through its network, the Goethe-Institut contributes artistic perspectives that feed into the Future Labs.

Methodological Pillars

• Interdisciplinary research: Linking migration studies with strategic foresight.
• Collaborative co-creation: Creating synergies between academia, policy, civil society, and the arts.
• Global perspectives: Involving institutions from Europe, North America, Asia, and Africa.

The project becomes visible across multiple platforms: online in the project gallery Future Imaginaries of Migration, in an exhibition at the Aga Khan Museum in Toronto in fall 2027, and in four international transdisciplinary Future Labs. Each lab focuses on a key question of global transformation:

Future Labs
Future Lab 1
Aging Societies & Migration
Berlin, Germany
(German Center for Integration and Migration Research)
June 24–26, 2026

Future Lab 2
Climate Change & Mobility
Accra, Ghana
(University of Ghana)
November 17, 2026

Future Lab 3
Globalized Cities
Singapore
(National University of Singapore)
April 25–27, 2027

Future Lab 4
Digital Nomadism & Placeless Work
Toronto, Canada
(Toronto Metropolitan University)
October 25–27, 2027

Participation & Application
The Future Labs bring together experts from research and practice to collaboratively explore forward-looking topics.
Participation is limited to 40 participants per lab.

Help shape the Future Labs — apply here to take part as a researcher, artist, or subject-matter expert.