The Philadelphia Death and Arts Festival imagines that any Philadelphian who will die, or loves someone who will die, will have access to a culture of dying that centers our humanity, our care for each other, and our love for the greater world.

Watch the 20-minute documentary about our inaugural festival below

We gather people to grapple with death in ways no other platform does

  • "This wasn’t a typical conference or academic gathering. It was something far more experimental and communal. The open-air installations, the care with which presenters and performers approached their work, and the intentional blending of art and advocacy made this feel like a true festival of life through death."

    —Attendee and Death Worker

  • "There was a lot of vulnerability and a lot of curiosity. I was struck by how excited/enthusiastic people were. I felt like people really wanted to connect and share their experiences with grief and with death."

    —Festival Attendee

  • "Every detail was thoughtfully executed. We're thrilled with the outcome."

    —Former Customer

  • "Very significant the comfort around talking about death, somehow. Didn't feel taboo, but rather welcomed, joyful in the solemnity & truth. I felt I had met community who could meet my grief where it was at as opposed to feel sorry for me. Even if there was not always direct communication around it between us, I felt like I had opened a practical doorway to how my continued grieving self can interact and be in community with others, enmeshed with art."

    Description goes here

Our flagship, biennial festival

Our biennial (ish) festival is a catalyst. Artist-led, it generates a communal watershed of  approaches, ideas, and conversations with the hundreds of artists, deathworkers, and attendees.

At the festival, we offer:

live performances

by visionary artists

practical education

led by brilliant death workers

reflective spaces to rest,

process, and connect with others

Next one scheduled for 2028.

EXPLORE PAST FESTIVALS

The 2025 Festival

Our first festival ever took place at the historic Laurel Hill Cemetery and hosted performances by 5 featured artists along with 9 workshops and 3 reflection spaces

See the Full Festival Program Here

NON-FESTIVAL EVENTS AND PERFORMANCES  ACROSS PHILLY

Programming Across Philly

These programs are tributaries: embedded in Philadelphia’s cultural centers, senior organizations, and with groups of friends and loved ones. They allow for intimate conversations that deepen over time and inform the festival weekend.

Upcoming Events Across Philly
Our next event will be featured here
Jan 1
Our next event will be featured here

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BECOME A SUPPORTER

Supporting the Festival

Artistic and educational programming embedded in Philadelphia’s cultural centers, senior housing, and with groups of friends and loved ones allows for smaller, more intimate conversations that deepen over time.

Your Donation Matters

  • Whether you want to contribute once or donate regularly, every bit helps!

  • Paying artists,

3% Cover the Fee

Interested in becoming a sponsor?

We are currently soliciting sponsorships for the festival. If you would like your business to support this festival, please get in touch.

Sign Up Here

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