
What really matters in the end?
During the Week of Discovering European Cemeteries 2026, Bestattung Wien and Friedhöfe Wien are hosting a series of events centred on saying goodbye, remembrance and living forms of commemoration, taking place from 26 to 30 May 2026.
What remains of a person? What do we remember today, tomorrow and many years from now? Under the motto “What really matters in the end?”, this themed week is dedicated to the core of their work – dignified farewells, remembrance and the continuation of stories. The focus is on what truly matters to people in the end, which is making remembrance possible, whether through rituals that provide comfort or places where grief, love and connection can find their place.
Visitors can expect a wide range of events addressing topics such as end-of-life planning, bereavement support, places of remembrance and new ways of saying goodbye.
Renate Niklas, Managing Director of Friedhöfe Wien GmbH, emphasises: “Cemeteries are spaces of remembrance. They give people the opportunity to commemorate, to pass on life stories and to feel a sense of closeness, even when someone is missing. With this themed week, we are showcasing this diversity and highlighting the special role of cemeteries as places of encounter right in the heart of the city.”
Jürgen Sild, Managing Director of Bestattung Wien GmbH, emphasises the social aspect: “We support people during difficult times in their lives and are responsible for ensuring that farewells are conducted with dignity and in a contemporary manner. As part of the Wiener Stadtwerke Group, we see ourselves not merely as service providers, but as a central point of contact for all matters relating to farewells, bereavement and death, in the spirit of providing comprehensive public services.”
All events are free of charge; for some, registration is required due to limited capacity.
Programme
➤ May 26 to 30 | Exhibition opening: As in Heaven – Europe’s Impressive Domed Vaults
At the Church of St Borromeo at Vienna’s Central Cemetery, the exhibition “As in Heaven” by photographer Gerd W. Götzenbrucker offers a new perspective on the perception of sacred architecture. The focus is on large-format photographs of impressive European church domes. The dome of the cemetery church is presented as an integral part of the exhibition.
Event Details:
- Date and time: May 26 to 30, 2026, daily from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM
- Location: Church of St Borromeo at the Central Cemetery (Simmeringer Hauptstraße 234, 1110 Vienna)
- More info: WIE IM HIMMEL – KREATIVBÜRO FRISCHESGRAS
➤ May 26 | Guided Tour: Graves of Honour at Vienna’s Central Cemetery – “Noble, poor or rich, death makes us all equal”
This tour offers deep insights into Vienna’s Central Cemetery. Participants will discover its origins, organization, and the daily working life of Europe’s second-largest cemetery. The walk highlights its unique art and architecture, alongside fascinating stories of well-known figures from politics, art, and culture who have found their final resting place here.
Event Details:
- Date and time: May 26, 2026, starting at 12:30 PM
- Starting point: Central Cemetery, Gate 2 (Simmeringer Hauptstraße 234, 1110 Vienna)
➤ May 26 | Lecture: Farewell in Vienna – Funerals and Cemeteries
A bereavement is always an emotionally challenging situation. Vienna Funeral Services and Vienna Cemeteries provide information on how to make funeral arrangements. In addition to funeral planning, the lecture covers topics such as organising a funeral service, the first steps to take following a death, and the variety of grave types available, ranging from traditional coffin graves to urn and natural graves.
Event Details:
- Date and time: May 26, 2026, from 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM
- Location: PVÖ Ottakring District Organisation (Koppstraße 100, 1160 Vienna)
- Organizers: Vienna Funeral Services and Vienna Cemeteries
➤ May 27 | Keynote Talk & Panel Discussion: Near-death & Near-death Experiences
This event features a keynote lecture titled “Near-Death & Near-Death Experiences” by Prof. Dr Roland Sedivy (pathologist, medical law expert). It is followed by a moderated panel discussion with Prof. Dr Rotraud Perner (psychotherapist/psychoanalyst, Protestant theologian), Brigitte Guschlbauer (author), Mag. Jan Sokora (Catholic priest, rector of St. Charles Borromeo Church at the Central Cemetery), Prof. Dr Roland Sedivy (pathologist, medical law expert), exploring medical, spiritual, and psychological perspectives on what happens at the threshold of life and death. Moderator: Alwin Schönberger (head of the science section at the news magazine “profil”),
Event Details:
- Date and time: May 27, 2026, from 5:00 PM to 7:30 PM
- Location: Simmering Crematorium Cemetery, Crematorium Room 4 (Simmeringer Hauptstraße 337, 1110 Vienna)
➤ May 28 | VHS Educational Walk: The Circular Economy of Life and Death
How can a space dedicated to farewell also become a hub for welcome transformation? This educational walk, part of the "Circular (Economy) in Motion" series, explores the Vienna Central Cemetery as a fascinating setting for uninterrupted life cycles. Participants will enjoy a guided tour of the Funeral Museum and a guided tour of the cemetery grounds focusing on how modern circular economy principles are applied to cemetery operations, resource conservation, and wildlife habitats.
From resource-conserving day-to-day management to burial practices that blend tradition with sustainability, this tour offers a forward-looking perspective. It is particularly suitable for those interested in lived sustainability, the practicalities of cemetery work, and the uniquely Viennese sense of humor surrounding burial culture.
Event Details:
- Date and time: May 28, 2026, from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM
- Starting point: VHS Simmering (Gottschalkgasse 10, 1110 Vienna)
- End point: Vienna Central Cemetery (Simmeringer Hauptstraße 234, 1110 Vienna)
- Organizers: Vienna Adult Education Centres (VHS), in cooperation with Friedhöfe Wien GmbH and Bestattung Wien
- Cost: Free of charge (ages 18+)
➤ May 29 | Fire Celebration: Exclusive Guided Tours of the Vienna Crematorium
Under the guiding question "What truly matters in the end?", Friedhöfe Wien and Bestattung Wien present an exclusive guided tour of the Vienna Crematorium. These tours aim to demystify the cremation process and provide educational insights into what happens behind the scenes, from technical facilities and safety measures to fire safety.
In a space where grief, love, and connection are given room to breathe, these tours address the core of dignified farewells. Participants will gain an in-depth understanding of the infrastructure and rituals that provide support to the living while honoring the stories of those who have passed.
Event Details:
- Date and time: May 29, 2026, at 1:00 PM and 2:30 PM (tours last approx. 1.5 hours)
- Location: Main entrance, Feuerhalle Simmering Cemetery (Simmeringer Hauptstraße 337, 1110 Vienna)
- Organizer: Friedhöfe Wien GmbH
- Cost: Free of charge (ages 10+)
- Tours language: German
➤ May 29 | Mourning Café & Designing a Nature-Inspired Memorial Site
No one understands grief better than those who are grieving themselves. The Bereavement Café offers an opportunity to connect and share experiences with people who are currently going through the same thing, supported by Caritas bereavement counsellors.
Additionally, a special memorial activity takes place at the new natural burial site “Flower Meadow Graves”. There is a large deadwood hedge which can be decorated with flowers. People from the Grief Café and beyond are invited to drop by and decorate the deadwood hedge with flowers as a memorial. The flowers can be collected from the Phönix cafeteria from 9.00 am.
Event Details:
- Date and time: May 29, 2026, from 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM (Flower collection and hedge decorating starts from 9:00 AM)
- Location: Cafeteria Phönix (Simmeringer Hauptstraße 337, 1110 Vienna – next to the crematorium at Simmering Cemetery)
- Organizers: Bestattung Wien in cooperation with the Caritas Bereavement Support Centre
➤ May 30 | Guided Tour: Natural Burial in the Vienna Woods
More and more people are opting for a natural urn burial where the ashes return to the cycle of nature. The “Waldesruh” forest cemetery near Breitenfurt in the Vienna Woods Biosphere Reserve offers exactly that. Stefanie Balog-Rueber from Green City Vienna and an expert from Bestattung Wien will guide you through the woodland cemetery, explaining everything about natural burials and introducing the local flora and fauna of the Vienna Woods.
Event Details:
- Date and time: May 30, 2026
- Location: “Waldesruh” woodland cemetery (near Breitenfurt, Vienna Woods Biosphere Reserve)
- Guides: Stefanie Balog-Rueber (Green City Vienna) and an expert from Bestattung Wien
Additional Information
For further details regarding the described activities or to access the full programme of events, please utilize the contact information and resources provided below.
- Contact person: Julia Stering
- Email: kommunikation@friedhoefewien.at
- Phone: 0664 88483282
- Full list of events: www.friedhoefewien.at/schwerpunktwoche-2026
*Photo source: www.friedhoefewien.at





































