The Festival of Death and Dying

Berlin, Holzmarkt, January 16-18, 2026

Death Festival Berlin

In today's Western culture, death and dying are still generally seen as something to be fought against, denied and above all feared. But what if we changed our perspective? There are good reasons to engage more with death and dying. When we reflect on and come to terms with mortality - our own and that of others - our lives can become richer, deeper and more precious. Mortality is, in truth, the intensification of life.

The second edition of our Festival of Death and Dying will take place from 16 to 18 January 2026 at Säälchen, Holzmarkt 25. Over three days, more than 40 participatory workshops, performances, talks and ceremonies on various aspects of death and dying will be offered – in English and German. In addition to lectures and discussions, you will have experiences that encompass various facets of the topic of mortality. And last but not least, you'll have the opportunity to get in touch with other people about a topic that we otherwise often deal with alone.

The programme is currently being developed and will grow over the coming weeks.

Curators: Felix Ruckert, Peter Banki, Matthias Gockel

Production: Judith Salamander und Jana Scherle

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Presenters
Impressions 2025
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Workshops

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Festival Concept
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Schedule and Program 2025

Our Presenters

  • Andrea Gipperich

    Workshop:
    Shattered Dreams - Early Pregnancy Loss and Stillbirth

  • Portrait Anna Natt

    Anna Natt

    Workshop:
    Small Mourning

  • Portrait Catherine Marten

    Catherine Marten

    Specials Offer:
    Molding Feelings

  • Charlotte Wiedemann

    Workshop:
    Death Meditation

  • Portrait Claudia Cardinal

    Claudia Cardinal

    Workshop:
    Finding Stability on a Swaying Ship – when the Signs of Life Point to Farewell

  • Clothilde Sourdeval Portrait

    Clothilde Sourdeval

    Workshop and Performance:
    Capital

  • Portrait Dorothée Jansen

    Dorothée Jansen

    Workshops:
    Petrification/ Dance with the Dead/ Silence after Death

  • Portrait Jan Suren Möllers

    Jan Suren Möllers

    Workshops:
    Funerals as Rites de Passage /
    Continuing Bonds

  • Portrait Jessica Zeckert

    Jessica Zeckert

    Workshop:
    Being there for the Bereaved
    Specials Offer:
    One-on one Conversations about Grief

  • Julia Funk

    Specials Offer:
    Preparing your Death with ‘Instant-Die’: an Experiential Space for Letting Go

  • Maurice Hauser

    Specials Offer:
    Molding Feelings

  • Portrait Michi Maxi Schulz

    Michi Maxi Schulz

    Workshop:
    #yodo - you only die once

  • Nana Bardawilia

    Specials Offer:
    Your Time has Come… An audio journey

  • Pavel Radchenko

    Workshop:
    Mourning Art

  • Robert Marx Portrait

    Robert Marx

    Workshop:
    Living with Death

  • Tobias Zwior

    Workshop:
    What I still Wanted to Say
    Specials Offer:
    Video Interviews

  • Traugott Roser

    Workshop:
    Sexuality in Times of Grief

  • Ulla Rose Portrait

    Ulla Rose

    Workshop:
    Last Aid: Knowing what to do at the end

  • Portrait Vanessa Langer

    Vanessa Langer

    Specials Offer:
    Last Gesture

Workshops