philadelphia
DEATH & ARTS
festival
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.
Documentary of the 2025 Festival
Death can be scary and overwhelming. It is not meant to be dealt with all by our lonesome. Too often, the systemic, cultural, and economic structures that shape our approach to aging, dying, and grieving in the US are isolating and alienating.
Our flagship, biennial festival
Philly is home to many brilliant people who are thinking deeply about how we die. They are dancers, palliative care physicians, poets, hospice nurses, musicians, social workers, singers, death doulas, elders, and caregivers. People whose hearts are breaking.
The festival gathers these folks together to grapple with death through a lens of creative curiosity. To experience powerful art, learn from visionary deathworkers, and build a more connected public culture around aging, dying, and grieving. We believe this kind of gathering holds the possibility of transforming the dysfunctional structures that currently shape how we die.
Next one is scheduled for 2027.
The multi-day festival offers
live performance created by visionary artists
reflective spaces to rest, process, and connect with others in between events.
This festival is a catalyst. It generates a communal watershed of approaches, ideas, and conversations with the hundreds of organizers and attendees.
practical education for navigating aging, dying, and grieving led by brilliant deathworkers
May 29th
May 30th
May 31st
June 1st
2025 Festival
Thoughtfully crafted to elevate what matters most.
Ongoing / Other Programming
Featured Project
Maybe a snippet about ongoing projects or some text for a featured program.
Our Team
Monet Goode
Emmet Marsh
Eleanor Parks
Karl Holland
Jaya Dixon
Join Our Team
Supporting The Festival
Contact Us
We are currently soliciting sponsorships for the festival. If you would like your business to support this festival, please get in touch.