Demystifying Death Week 2026
Demystifying Death Week is about shining a light on death, dying and bereavement in Scotland. We are encouraging people to get involved by holding in-person and online events that bring death, dying and bereavement into the limelight.
Demystifying Death Week takes place across Scotland from 4-10 May 2026. If you are organising an event that you’d like us to feature, please get in touch.
Below is a list of events happening across Scotland and online for Demystifying Death Week:
Crafting stall pop-up: Why Wait Until They Die?
Organised by Diane Willis, Edinburgh Napier University School of Health & Social Care
Saturday 9 May at 12:30pm
Fountain Park, 130 Dundee St, Edinburgh EH11 1AF
This activity is open to the public.
There will be an information/crafting stall with postcards and/or butterflies to write messages on.
There are three activities:
- Why wait until they die - here people can write messages about people to tell them how much they mean to them – rather than waiting until they have died!
- Reasons to be fearful – tell us what worries you about death and dying.
- A community tapestry – here people will be able to cut out a butterfly or paint a lace one to pin on a blank canvas which will form a community tapestry of remembrance.
It Takes a Village Exhibition
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Organised by Cowal Hospice, NHS Highland
1-8 May 2026
Cowal Community Hospital, Dunoon
This photo exhibition will be displayed in a public area.
There is an old African proverb –‘It takes a village to raise a child – meaning, children need the input and support of their whole community to grow into well-rounded adults. But doesn’t it also ‘take a village’ to support someone who is dying?
The Scottish Partnership for Palliative Care has worked with award-winning Glasgow based photographer, Colin Gray, to produce this powerful and challenging series of portraits and personal stories. It Takes a Village explores the idea that as people’s health deteriorates, care and support comes in many guises.
Photo credit: Colin Gray
Good Life, Death, Grief Cafe
Organised by CHATS (Cowal Hospice & Therapy Services)
Wednesday 6 May, 2-4pm & Friday 8 May, 10am-noon
CHATS Cowal Hospice & Therapy Services, Cowal Community Hospital, Dunoon.
These sessions are open to the public.
Come along and have a cuppa, cake, and chat with us.
Just drop in, there’s no need to book.
Image credit: CHATS
Children, Dying, Loss and Grief
Organised by NHS Grampian’s Spiritual Care Team
Thursday 7 May, 7.00 - 8.30pm
Online via Microsoft Teams
This event is open to the public. Please register in advance.
NHS Grampian’s Spiritual Care Team is hosting a series of free, online webinars with a range of panel speakers as part of Demystifying Death Week 2026.
This webinar is about children, dying, loss and grief. Speakers include Marcia Dean of NHS Grampian and Louise Esson.
Each webinar is running at two different times to make it easier for as many people as possible to attend. If you have any queries, contact gram.realisticmedicine@nhs.scot.
Find out more and register here.
Image credit: Sergey Zolkin via Unsplash
It Takes a Village
Organised by NHS Tayside in collaboration with Good Life, Good Death, Good Grief
This touring exhibition will be at:
Kirk Cafe, Auchterarder on 5th May, 11am-2pm
St John’s Centre, Perth on 6th May, 10am-3pm
Tesco, Blairgowrie on 7th May, 11am-2pm
It Takes a Village is a powerful and challenging series of portraits and personal stories exploring the idea that as people’s health deteriorates, care and support comes in many guises.
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