The 5th annual festival that lifts the lid on everything death & dying, through conversations, interactive events, workshops, art and craft sessions, live music, poetry and performance from around the world.
For tickets (various options) and the full weekend programme, with international time zones, click here.
Featuring an international line-up of end of life and palliative carers, funeral directors, grief supporters, artists, writers, doctors, filmmakers, pet bereavement experts, academics, change makers and everyone in between. Lifting The Lid is informative, creative, fun, joyful and life affirming, catering for people of all levels of interest.
Three days of ideas, information, arts, crafts and ground-breaking insights. We’re really proud of the 50+ speakers, collaborators, panels and activities we’ve curated and everyone involved is volunteering their time, there will be opportunities throughout the weekend to support individuals and organisations if you choose to. We have hand-picked speakers and collaborators carefully to bring you a diverse, varied and engaging, international programme of events.
Join us for all or any part of this weekend-long programme of events. You can pick and choose the sessions you want to join and create your own schedule. Meet other like-minded people, exchange ideas, share experiences and contact details if you choose to, and lay the foundations for new, fruitful relationships in the death positive community.
Death is of course something that will affect every one of us but can still be extremely challenging to discuss. Lifting The Lid offers audiences the opportunity to find out as much or as little as they like, allowing people to dip in and out as they feel comfortable. We hope this annual event continues to encourage an acceptance of the inevitability of loss and impermanence, and removes some of the fear of talking about death and dying so people can ask questions and talk openly and honestly about their experiences.
This years official partner is Suzanne B. O’Brien, RN Founder of Doulagivers Institute and author of THE GOOD DEATH BOOK (see below for details of a very special offer).
Here is a taster of what you can expect from this year’s line up, for full details of our 2025 programme (subject to change) with international time zones click here.
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Suzanne B. O’Brien, UNIVERSAL LIFE MASTERY : How to Access the Joy of Being. (Official partner of Lifting The Lid 2025, see below for special offer)
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Supporting children through deaths be they at home or away from the home and involving them in those processes, funerals and remembrance.
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How ancient rites and technological advances shape our relationship with death.
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Repurposing textiles to share visual stories about our lives and values.
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Lived experience of suicidality leading to courage, compassion and connection and being suicide bereaved.
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The growing popularity of direct funerals, home funerals, Community death care, eco-aware funerals and the changing landscape of saying goodbye.
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How cultural and religious values shape our attitude towards dying and grief.
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Memorial art using the ashes of a loved one.
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Death in the migrant population, particularly at border crossings.
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The history of the coffin in the British Isles from medieval times and how new ideas have shaped our response to death.
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Sound poems inspired by end-stage breathing patterns.
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Performance art born out of a newly trans performer’s past life of addiction and his relationship with death.
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Embracing anger as a guide to healing.
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Funeral industry as an oligopoly/a market structure with a small number of firms, none of which can keep the others from having significant influence.
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Finding meaning, purpose and personal strength through loss.
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Voluntary assisted dying and medically assisted dying.
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Grave goods from ancient Egypt through the world of celebrity and royalty.
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Child and baby loss.
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Death related paperwork, admin and red tape as well as innovative technology created to assist with many of the tasks involved in your own death planning or dealing with the death admin of someone else.
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Preparing for your own or someone else’s death and having advance conversations, end of life plans and after death wishes in place.
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Anticipatory grief.
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Cemeteries as tangible records of evolving end of life practices, cultural values and historical trends in death care.
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Death Cabaret (a benefit) – Atlanta artists tell their personal stories through their works: music, spoken word, burlesque, dance.
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Care for the carers and walking the walk, i.e.. having your own end of life plans in place.
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Legacy, digital, familial, artistic, spiritual or tangible.
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Films about end of life and loss and discussions with filmmakers, plus how to make your own memorial films.
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Language used at end of life and when conversing with a bereaved person.
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Palliative care for animals.
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2 hour guided walk through Valencia and an exploration of shared grief, an idea born out of the devastating Dana floods.
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The Luddenden Shroud film and discussion about the unique collaborative process of two friends who made a shroud together for one of them – exploring themes of death and grief, their relationship with the valley and with nature. Foraging for natural materials and using ancient crafts and creative practices.
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The role of end of life doulas – a panel discussion between international death workers., and an opportunity to ask any questions you might have about this role.
Watch past events and subscribe to our YouTube channel
Check out our death related merchandise
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Special offer from our official 2025 partner Suzanne B. O’Brien
The GOOD DEATH BOOK is the book that every family, medical practitioner, and Death Doula should have. It is empowering, healing and Inspiring- all the things we need and hope to give to one another. To claim your bonuses for the masterclass and/or Confident Caregiver Course – please send a copy of your book receipt to support@doulagivers.com and get instant access to The Confident Caregiver Course!
BUY 1 BOOK and GET:
1. FREE MASTERCLASS: THE GOOD DEATH: HONORING HUMANITY THROUGH END OF LIFE PLANNING LIVE Virtual Event! Be a part of The Good Death Movement and Community. ( $147 Value ) Jan 29th 2026 at 11:00am EST
BUY 3 BOOKS and GET:
2. CONFIDENT CAREGIVER COURSE ($997 Value) ( Get Instant Access )
The book is available in the UK and all of Europe through: Penguin UK
In Canada through: Amazon CA
In US through all book sellers: here
In Spanish through: El Granode
Book Reviews
“As a seasoned hospice and ICU nurse, I’ve witnessed firsthand how planning ahead can transform end-of-life experiences. The Good Death is an essential guide for every family. This invaluable book provides a clear, step-by-step framework for caregivers, offering compassionate support, expert insights, and grace in caring for a dying loved one. Suzanne O’Brien’s wealth of experience as a hospice nurse, oncology nurse, and death doula infuses every page with priceless wisdom. It’s a must-read for every family caregiver.”―Hospice Nurse Julie, New York Times bestselling author of NOTHING TO FEAR
“The Good Death is an invaluable roadmap for navigating one of life’s most challenging journeys with grace, compassion and empowerment. Suzanne O’Brien’s wealth of experience as a hospice nurse and death doula shines through on every page, offering practical guidance alongside profound spiritual insights. This book is a must-read for anyone seeking to transform fear into peace when it matters most.”―Kris Carr, New York Times bestselling author
“Suzanne O’Brien’s expertise and empathetic approach provide readers with a holistic understanding of end-of-life care, addressing every critical aspect – from physical comfort and emotional support to financial planning and spiritual preparation. As we face the inevitability of death, The Good Death offers not only practical advice but also a framework for creating a peaceful and dignified end-of-life experience. This book is an indispensable resource for caregivers and families, guiding them through the complexities of dying with grace and confidence, and ultimately inspiring a deeper appreciation for the fullness of life.”―Ken Ross, President of the Elizabeth Kubler-Ross Foundation
The Doulagivers Confident Caregiver Course is a condensed version of our award-winning and world-renowned Doulagivers Certified End of Life Doula Program designed specifically for family caregivers of end of life patients.
This comprehensive program equips family caregivers with all the knowledge they need to compassionately guide their loved ones through the end of life journey. When you buy 3 books, we ask you to keep one and simply give two away so that people you love can have this empowering and often life changing information. This is our collective effort in changing the end of life to be better for every single person everywhere in the world.
Suzanne B. O’Brien links (click below)
https://www.facebook.com/
https://www.tiktok.com/@
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