Cemetery Festival 2026 at the Historic Cēsis Town Cemetery

On 28 June 2026, the second annual Cemetery Festival took place at the Historic Cēsis Town Cemetery in Cēsis, Latvia.

About the Event

The second annual Cemetery Festival, which took place on 28 June 2026 at the Historic Cēsis Town Cemetery in Cēsis, Latvia, brought together poetry, music, history, and remembrance, continuing the gradual return of this long-neglected heritage site to the cultural life of Cēsis.

The programme featured newly written literary epitaphs by Latvian poet Jānis Rokpelnis that offered concise, witty, and sometimes ironic portraits of Cēsis townspeople buried in the cemetery, created from fragments of their biographies, characters, and destinies. Another highlight was the first presentation of Latvian translations of poems by Aleksis Adolphi (1815–1874), the first town doctor of Cēsis and also a poet. The poems were translated from German by contemporary poet Ivars Šteinbergs. A lyrical musical atmosphere was created by the choir “Beverīna”, while Didzis Kreicbergs, pastor of St John’s Church in Cēsis, shared reflections on the passing of time, memory, and continuity.

A particularly significant moment was the unveiling of the restored grave monument of Albert Hollander (1796–1868), an educator and founder of the Bērzaine (Birkenruh) Gymnasium. The restoration marks another step in the ongoing work of documenting, preserving, and gradually restoring the historic monuments of the cemetery.

Cemetery History and Preservation

The Historic Cēsis Town Cemetery, established in 1773, is one of the most important historic burial grounds in the town. For more than two centuries, it served as the resting place for generations of Cēsis residents, whose life stories form an essential part of the town’s history. The cemetery also bears visible traces of the damage and neglect suffered during the Soviet occupation, including broken crosses, damaged grave slabs, and overturned monuments.

In recent years, Cēsis Municipality, the Cēsis Museum, researchers, conservators, and the local community have worked step by step to rediscover and revalue this heritage site. More than 800 grave monuments or fragments have been documented, and information about the cemetery’s history and about 650 identified individuals buried there is now available at kapseta.cesis.lv.

Public activities play an important role in the cemetery’s revival. Since 2024, thematic guided tours, monument restoration, conservation workshops, and public events have helped local residents and visitors see the cemetery not only as a burial ground, but also as a place of memory, history, learning, and community gathering. Since 2025, the annual Cemetery Festival has become one of the key public events supporting this process.

Photos from Cemetery Festival 2026

WDEC 2026 at Žale Cemetery

Don’t miss free guided tours and a special open-air concert at Žale Cemetery, held as part of the Week of Discovering European Cemeteries 2026.

Guided tours (25–31 May 2026)

During the Week of Discovering European Cemeteries 2026, ŽALE Javno podjetje, d.o.o. will organise free guided tours of Žale Cemetery in Ljubljana, Slovenia. The tours will take place from 25 to 31 May 2026 (inclusive). 

The guide will meet visitors in front of Plečnik's propylaea:

• 25–29 May 2026 at 5:00 PM
• 30–31 May 2026 at 12:00 PM

You will visit the famous Plečnik’s Žale, which has been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will also see the final resting place of Jože Plečnik and other notable Slovenians, as well as works by renowned architects and sculptors and other important parts of Žale Cemetery, which is in fact an open-air museum.

Open-air concert (28 May 2026)

As part of the programme, a special open-air concert will also take place at Plečnik’s Žale on 28 May 2026, offering visitors a unique cultural experience in this remarkable setting.

For additional information, please contact ŽALE Javno podjetje, d.o.o. at tajnistvo@zale.si or +386 1 420 17 19.

About Žale Cemetery

Žale is one of Europe’s most beautiful cemeteries, thanks to its high cultural, historical, and artistic value. Many prominent figures are buried here, including poets, writers, sculptors, painters, composers, architects, actors, engineers, politicians, and athletes. The cemetery also contains burial grounds from World War I and World War II, as well as other memorials and works by notable architects and sculptors. It is also significant as the city’s second-largest park and is worth visiting in all seasons.

WDEC 2025 in Barcelona

Barcelona celebrates this year's WDEC with an intimate concert at Montjuïc Cemetery, alongside a collection of stories that hold special significance in European history.

Stories of Resistance and Remembrance

The Week of Discovering European Cemeteries 2025 commemorates the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, focusing on 80 stories that brought people together and helped build just, peaceful, and inclusive societies.

In this context, Cementiris de Barcelona has prepared a booklet featuring the stories of four remarkable individuals buried in the city’s cemeteries — Lluís Companys, Concepció Badia, Joaquim Amat, and Enric Casals. Their lives, marked by resistance, artistry, and commitment, offer a powerful lens through which to reflect on the impact of war and the enduring importance of memory. The booklet also highlights a memorial dedicated to Holocaust victims, located at the Fossar de la Pedrera in Montjuïc Cemetery.

You can access the booklet HERE.

Concert at the Cemetery of Montjuïc

In addition to the booklet, Cementiris de Barcelona invites the public to a deeply symbolic event on June 5, 2025, at 7:00 PM, at the Fossar de la Pedrera in Montjuïc Cemetery. Attendees will experience an intimate violin concert featuring tribute music from contemporary ensembles. The evening will culminate with the lighting of 80 candles, commemorating 80 years of peace since the end of World War II — a gesture of hope and remembrance.

As space is limited for the concert, advance reservation is required. Full details and registration information can be found on the official Cementiris de Barcelona website.

Event highlights

3rd memorial evening at Eastern Cemetery in Innsbruck

In October 2024, the third event of the "Quo Vadis Fundamentum" series took place at the Eastern Cemetery in Innsbruck, Austria.

Memorial evening for Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach

The "Quo Vadis Fundamentum" initiative, launched in 2022, aims to commemorate remarkable individuals who made significant contributions to humanity through memorial evenings at the Eastern Cemetery in Innsbruck.

Following the successful memorial evenings for Edith Stein in 2022 and Charlie Chaplin in 2023, this year's event honored the renowned writer Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach.

The evening attracted many attendees, who were captivated by the performances of actresses Bernadette Abendstein and Petra Knoflach. They brought Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach's words to life through powerful readings of her works. The readings were beautifully enhanced by Michael Cede's flute performance, which created an atmosphere of inspiration and reflection.

Some of Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach's quotes shared during the event included:

• "If everyone would help each other, everyone would be helped."
• "Know, those who preach you hate will not save you."
• "A judgement is easier to refute, a prejudice never."
• "The right of the stronger is the greatest wrong."
• "You can’t inspire the mindless, but you can fantasize them."
• "You have to do good so that it will be in the world."

Photos of the event

Lisbon's 2nd Cultural Week in Cemeteries

Between 7th and 15th October 2023, guided tours, concerts, photo exhibitions, workshops, virtual lectures, and other activities will take place at Lisbon's cemeteries.

About the 2nd Cultural Week in Cemeteries

Lisbon City Council's Cemetery Management Division, in partnership with various entities and associations linked to cemetery art and heritage, is organising the 2nd edition of Cultural Week in Cemeteries, to be held between 7th and 15th October 2023. This edition will be extended to the municipalities of Loures, Setúbal and Vila Franca de Xira, which have also joined the initiative.

Program

As in the previous year, there will be guided tours of Lisbon's cemeteries, including the British and German cemeteries. The highlight of this edition will be five new themed tours, comprising one for pre-school children.

The program will also include concerts, photographic exhibitions and workshops, virtual lectures, night visits and other activities. There will be Open Days, where participants will be able to go inside mausoleums and other cemetery buildings that are not usually accessible to the public. 

Overall, there will be more than 30 different activities, all free of charge but require prior registration by email. The program of all events can be found HERE.

For any further information, please contact cemiterios.visitas@cm-lisboa.pt.

"Nachklang" concert at the Vienna Central Cemetery

A biennial celebration of music and remembrance with over 4.400 attendees.

On the evening of September 6, 2023, the "Nachklang" concert graced the historic Vienna Central Cemetery with its unique and moving performance. This extraordinary event, held every two years, not only celebrated music but also served as a powerful reminder of the importance of preserving our culture of remembrance and the significance of cemeteries as repositories of history and memory.

"Nachklang," which translates to "Echo" or "Resonance" in English, commenced with a poignant procession of musicians, set against the backdrop of centuries-old tombstones and mausoleums. The weather cooperated perfectly, with a clear sky enhancing the atmosphere, as if the very heavens were acknowledging the importance of this cultural gathering. The trees lining the cemetery provided a majestic frame for the event.

The musical presentation paid homage to famous musicians, finding their last rest on the Vienna Central Cemetery. This mission was particularly evident in the choice of musical highlights during the concert. Two exceptional artists paid tribute to the legendary Austrian musicians, Falco and Udo Jürgens, by performing their iconic songs. These performances not only entertained the audience but also emphasized the role of cemeteries as the final resting places of influential cultural figures. They showcased how the music of these artists continues to live on and inspire, even amidst the hallowed grounds of a cemetery.

"Nachklang" is not just a one-time event but a biennial tradition that brings together music enthusiasts, culture aficionados, and advocates of remembrance. Held every two years, it serves as a reminder of the enduring significance of cemeteries and their role in preserving our collective memory. The concert's name, "Nachklang," aptly captures the idea that the echoes of our past continue to reverberate and inspire us in the present.

The audience, seated on provided chairs and blankets, was captivated from start to finish. The combination of classical masterpieces and these remarkable tributes created a truly memorable evening of music. It was a testament to the idea that cemeteries, far from being somber places, can also be venues for vibrant cultural events that honor the past and inspire the present.

Memorial evenings at Eastern Cemetery in Innsbruck

Every year, a memorial evening will take place at Eastern Cemetery in Innsbruck in honour of people who, during their lifetime, left an important mark on society in terms of togetherness, mindfulness, and peace.

Memorial evening for Edith Stein

On October 7, 2022, a concert and reading took place on the 80th anniversary of Edith Stein's death as part of "Quo Vadis Fundamentum" initiative, compiled by Tony Obergantschnig and with the collaboration of artist and Guitarist Walter Tolloy, the musician Markus Geyr, and the actress Bernadette Abendstein, who read texts from Edith Stein.

This was the start of a new series of such evenings in the consecration hall in the Eastern Cemetery in Innsbruck, Austria.

Each year, a deceased personality will be commemorated, alternately a woman and a man. Among them there will be Gandhi, Bertha von Suttner, Charly Chaplin, Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach and other people who - no matter what religious or philosophical direction they came from - have stood up for people "interreligiously" and "interphilosophically". People, who left an important mark on society in terms of togetherness, mindfulness, and peace.

The first evening was a complete success. Everyone present was enthusiastic about the ambience and the event itself. 

On this LINK you can watch a short video with photos of the first event dedicated to Edith Stein.

Open air museum 2019 at Milan Monumental Cemetery

The fifth edition of the “Open air museum” will start in Milan (Italy) on Sunday, June 30th 2019.

During the "Open air museum", the Milan Monumental Cemetery will become the scene of many cultural initiatives with the participation of numerous Italian and foreign visitors. Events will take place every last Sunday of the month, from June to October 2019.

More info HERE.

The program on June 30th

Matinees curated by Fondazione Milano

From 10.00 to 12.00 → Screening

The documentary film entitled “L’immobile” will be featured in the conference room. It`s a film with psychovox music made by the students of the Civic School of Cinema Luchino Visconti - Francesco Biselli, Annesa Elia, Luana Giardino and Alberto Redighieri.

At 10.00, 10.30 and 11.30 → Guided tours

Guided tours will start from the external square of the Milan Monumental Cemetery and will be carried out by volunteers of the Civil Service of the Monumental Cemetery.

At 11.00 → A short theatrical performance

The theatrical performance entitled “Canta che ti passa – Bertani amputa Mameli” will take place in the lower gallery of the west [C]. It`s curated by the graduates of the Paolo Grassi Civic School of Theater - Luca Rodella with Stefano Annoni and Giuseppe Palasciano. Music by Roberto Dibitonto.

At 12.30 → Concert

The concert entitled “Gaffurio e i Maestri di Cappella nel Duomo di Milano al tempo di Leonardo” will take place in the Famedio (Memorial Chapel). It`s curated by the graduates and students of the Civic School of Music Claudio Abbado and executed by the choir “I civici cori” in collaboration with Francesco Girardi, Luigi Panzeri and Mario Valsecchi.

WDEC 2019: Guided tour at Pobrežje Cemetery

On June 11th, 2019, a guided tour took place at Pobrežje Cemetery (Maribor, Slovenia) under the guidance of Mr. Tone Partljič, an expert on Maribor`s culture, slang, people and their nature.

The event took place during the Week of discovering European cemeteries 2019 and was also one of the events organized by Pogrebno podjetje Maribor in 2019 to commemorate two important anniversaries - 150 years of operation of Pogrebno podjetje Maribor and 140 years of Pobrežje Cemetery.

About the event

At the beginning, participants were addressed by the director of Pogrebno podjetje Maribor and president of ASCE, Lidija Pliberšek and by the tour guide, Tone Partljič. The speeches were then followed by a walk through Pobrežje Cemetery, where Mr. Partljič presented some interesting stories about the lives and achievements of some of the famous and lesser-known people from Maribor who were buried there. During the tour, they stopped at the graves of General Rudolf Maister and his family; Russian doctor Sergej Kapralov and his wife Helena; film director Jože Babič; and Herta Haas, wife of former president of Yugoslavia, Josip Broz Tito.

At the end of the tour, a short concert of classical music took place at Czeike's arcades, performed by the violinist Oksana Pečeny and guitarist Matic Dolenc.