Highlights from AGM and Conference 2026

A look back at three inspiring days in Turin, shaped by education, heritage, innovation and memorable cultural experiences.

ASCE Annual General Meeting

From 18 to 20 June 2026, the ASCE AGM and Conference took place in Turin, Italy. The event opened with the Annual General Meeting on 18 June 2026, bringing together over 90 participants, including 47 members, who reviewed the Association’s activities and financial report, discussed current and future projects, and introduced new ASCE members and significant cemeteries.

The official AGM report and presentation are available HERE.
The digital volume of conference presentations is expected to be available in October 2026.

Life Lessons: Cemeteries as Educational Heritage

This year's conference focused on the theme "Life Lessons: Cemeteries as Educational Heritage", welcoming professionals from a wide range of disciplines to exchange ideas on how cemeteries can serve as places of learning, remembrance and cultural interpretation. Through inspiring presentations, participants explored innovative educational approaches, shared best practices and discussed new perspectives on communicating cemetery heritage to diverse audiences.

Interactive Workshops at the Cemetery

The conference extended beyond the lecture hall on the second day, when the Monumental Cemetery of Turin became an open-air learning environment. Instead of traditional sessions, participants joined practical workshops across the cemetery, experiencing it in a more interactive and engaging way. Following the workshops, a fleet of electric bicycles awaited participants, offering a sustainable and enjoyable journey back to Turin's city centre—an appreciated opportunity to experience the city from a different perspective while promoting environmentally friendly mobility.

Digital Innovation Meets Cultural Heritage

Innovation also played an important role throughout the event. Participants had a chance to explore the Monumental Cemetery of Turin using the ARTour mobile app, discovering remarkable historical figures through carefully designed self-guided (audio) routes while experiencing first-hand how digital technology can enhance heritage interpretation. This visit was further enriched by a moving live performance by students from the Liceo Coreutico Teatrale Germana Erba.

Networking Through Local Experiences

Alongside the official programme, the AGM and Conference offered several opportunities for informal networking and authentic local experiences. Participants could join a guided tour and beer tasting at the historic Metzger Brewery or enjoy a relaxed evening at the TONO Beer House. Vouchers were also provided for independent visits of some of Turin's historic cafés, each preserving its original atmosphere and period interiors. These relaxed social occasions created valuable opportunities to strengthen existing friendships, establish new professional connections and continue discussions beyond the conference walls.

An Unforgettable Gala Evening

One of the highlights of the social programme was the Gala Dinner, hosted in the remarkable surroundings of the Egyptian Museum of Turin. The evening was enriched with access to a special "Hieroglam" fashion exhibition, providing participants with a unique cultural experience in one of Europe's most prestigious museums and creating an unforgettable setting for celebrating the ASCE community.

Discovering Turin and Its Cultural Heritage

The AGM and Conference 2026 concluded with a variety of optional cultural activities that allowed participants to further explore Turin according to their own interests. These included a guided walk through the city’s historic centre, themed heritage itineraries, and the opening concert of the Feast of St. John, featuring a symphonic performance of Beethoven’s music in the remarkable atmosphere of the Monumental Cemetery of Turin.

Three Days of Knowledge, Collaboration and Inspiration

Over three inspiring days, the AGM and Conference 2026, excellently organised by AFC Torino S.p.A., brought together over 200 participants from 26 countries and combined academic exchange, practical learning, cultural discovery and warm hospitality. The carefully designed programme created countless opportunities for dialogue, collaboration and shared experiences, leaving participants with new knowledge, stronger professional connections and lasting memories of Turin and the Piedmont region.

We would like to thank the organisers, participants, and all contributors who helped make this another outstanding and memorable event!

You can access all photos and videos at the link below.

➤ Photos & Videos

Highlights from the WDEC 2026 in Krakow

Highlights and photographs from the guided walk held on 27 May 2026 at the New Cemetery of Podgórze in Kraków, Poland.

About the event

More than 30 people attended the guided walk “In the Footsteps of Famous People”, held on 27 May 2026 at the New Cemetery of Podgórze in Kraków. The event was organised by the Association PODGORZE.PL as part of this year’s Week of Discovering European Cemeteries (WDEC).

Following a short introduction to the Association of Significant Cemeteries in Europe (ASCE) and the idea behind WDEC, participants were presented with a brief history of the cemetery. The walk then continued with visits to eight graves of notable individuals buried there, including scouts, painters, and soldiers.

The tour was guided by members of the Association PODGORZE.PL together with invited guests.

More information about the event is available at: https://podgorze.pl/kolejny-spacer-po-nowym-cmentarzu-podgorskim-za-nami/

Photos from the event

Silent Disco at Vienna Central Cemetery: Event Highlights

A unique experience where sound, space, and community came together.

About the Silent Disco Event

Friedhöfe Wien GmbH consciously embraces the extraordinary. With the first-ever silent disco held at Vienna Central Cemetery, the cemetery church became a place of celebration – quiet, respectful, and yet vividly alive. Equipped with headphones, people of all generations danced side by side, while the space itself remained free of amplified sound.

In this way, a new form of togetherness emerged – one that upholds dignity and respect for mourners while opening space for meaningful and memorable shared experiences.

The aim of the event was to encourage new perspectives in a place traditionally associated with silence and farewell.

The silent disco forms part of a broader range of initiatives through which Friedhöfe Wien has been reimagining Vienna Central Cemetery for several years as a space for art, culture, and social encounter. From urban gardening and sports programs to live music, the cemetery is increasingly being experienced as an open, multifaceted space for the living.

Dancing Until Dawn

The evening of 17 April 2026 marked a notable milestone in the history of Friedhöfe Wien GmbH. The cemetery church became the stage for an extraordinary cultural experience. Public response was overwhelming: Sold out two weeks in advance, the silent disco attracted around 500 guests and transformed the location into a vibrant hub of silent music, movement, and human connection for one night. The event was attended by numerous members of the media.

This innovative format was made possible by close and reliable collaboration with the responsible parish, whose support was essential to its successful implementation.

Event Photos

*Photos Copyright: SilentDisco

Highlights from the WDEC 2024 in Krakow

A short overview and some photos from the guided walk that took place on 31 May 2024 at the New Cemetery of Podgorze in Krakow, Poland.

About the event

Over sixty people took part in the guided walk at the New Cemetery of Podgorze in Krakow during this year's Week of Discovering European Cemeteries. After a short introduction about the history of the cemetery established in 1900, participants visited eleven graves of well-known people buried at this cemetery: actors, musicians, scouts, sculptors and football players.

Guides were members and friends of Association PODGORZE.PL, which was the organiser of this walk.

More about the event at www.podgorze.pl.

Highlights from the WDEC 2023 in Krakow

Take a look at some photos from the guided walk that took place on 31 May 2023 at the New Cemetery of Podgorze.

In footsteps of famous people

Nearly fifty people took part in the guided walk "In footsteps of famous people" at the New Cemetery of Podgorze in Krakow during this year's Week of Discovering European Cemeteries. We have visted twelve graves and listen to amazing stories of people buried there.

Guides were members and friends of Association PODGORZE.PL, organisers of the walk.

More about the event at https://podgorze.pl/odkrywalismy-kolejne-tajemnice-nowego-cmentarza-podgorskiego/

Event photos

AGM and Conference 2022 overview

The unexpected, joyful, unravelling, friendly and above all multicultural days in Belgrade seeded new seeds into ASCE.

Steering committee of ASCE met on Wednesday to discuss the current state and activities. Looking into various options on how to continue far beyond 2022. Why, where and how do members want to continue working on our mission.

Online and offline, discussion was fruitful and rewarding, opening new frontiers.

Many new and old ASCE AGM participants saluted each other at the welcome drink. Warmly engaging into the discussions about the past. Noting the first colours of the future.

The usual rush of the morning AGM registrations was quickly disappearing in the relaxed atmosphere of our hosting city.

AGM schedule was loose enough to allow proper presentation of the important topics while leaving enough time for debates.

After the lunch conference presentations delved participants into the Cemeteries for Everybody theme through various presentations.

Evening walk through the New cemetery of Belgrade served us in many ways. From immense space to the multicultural diversity, our hosting city main cemetery finely contributed to the conference theme and even more to the discussions on the future.

An amazing day ended with a unique gala dinner in the most bohemian restaurant “Tri šešira” of the bohemian quartier Skadarlija.

Singing and even dancing through the poems and songs for everybody concluded a splendid first official day of our annual meetings.

Day two continued on the conference theme, bringing together even those who could not be with us in person.

Thoughtful presentations engaged several comments and discussions that went out through the day until the evening farewell drink.

Unfortunately due to the weather we just missed the visit to the Zemun cemetery.

Above all however the AGM in Belgrade seeded new seeds as expected.

Steering committee and participants agreed that our network must grow and build even stronger relationships in the future. Taking our beautiful history and turning it into a valuable resource for the future.

You can find the official AGM report HERE.