Two related post‐translational modifications, the covalent linkage of Ubiquitin and the Small Ubiquitin‐related MOdifier (SUMO) to lysine residues, play key roles in the regulation of both DNA repair pathway choice and transcription. Whereas ubiquitination is generally associated with proteasome‐mediated protein degradation, the impact of sumoylation has been more mysterious. In the cell nucleus, sumoylation effects are largely mediated by the relocalization of the modified targets, particularly in response to DNA damage. This is governed in part by the concentration of SUMO protease at nuclear pores [Melchior, F et al. (2003) Trends Biochem Sci 28, 612–618; Ptak, C and Wozniak, RW (2017) Adv Exp Med Biol 963, 111–126]. We review here the roles of sumoylation in determining genomic locus positioning relative to the nuclear envelope and to nuclear pores, to facilitate repair and regulate transcription.