A carbon nitride material can be combined with homogeneous nickel catalysts for light-mediated cross-couplings of aryl bromides with alcohols under mild conditions. The metal-free heterogeneous semiconductor is fully recyclable and couples a broad range of electron-poor aryl bromides with primary and secondary alcohols as well as water. The application for intramolecular reactions and the synthesis of active pharmaceutical ingredients was demonstrated. The catalytic protocol is applicable for the coupling of aryl iodides with thiols as well.