About the event
From 10 to 18 October 2026, cemeteries across Portugal will once again open their doors for the 5th edition of the Cultural Week in Cemeteries, a programme dedicated to the discovery, appreciation and understanding of funerary heritage.
The initiative offers a diverse programme of guided and night tours, thematic walks, conferences, study days, talks, exhibitions, storytelling, book presentations, workshops and family activities, exploring cemeteries from a wide range of perspectives, including history, art history, architecture, archaeology, nature, philosophy and anthropology.
Through this diverse programme, the Cultural Week in Cemeteries aims to foster public engagement with cemeteries as places of memory, history, art and cultural identity, encouraging new ways of understanding and experiencing these spaces beyond their funerary function.
Locations and partners
This year's edition brings together several cemeteries that are members of the Association of Significant Cemeteries in Europe (ASCE), including Prazeres and Alto de São João Cemeteries in Lisbon, and Lapa Cemetery in Porto. All three are recognised as Significant Cemeteries by ASCE, highlighting the importance of collaboration between members in the preservation and promotion of European funerary heritage.
The 2026 programme also expands its geographical reach, with new partners and activities taking place in several Portuguese cities, and includes a collaboration with the Goethe-Institut's Falar sobre a morte (nunca matou ninguém) festival.
2nd Interdisciplinary Conference on Cemeteries
On 16 October, the 2nd Interdisciplinary Conference on Cemeteries will bring together researchers, specialists and members of the public for a day of discussion and knowledge-sharing at the Biblioteca Orlando Ribeiro in Lisbon.
Additional information and registration
All activities are free of charge, but prior registration is required at cemiterios.visitas@cm-lisboa.pt.
For more information, visit www.informacao.lisboa.pt.
