A Matter of Life and Death Festival, organised by community group BrumYODO, returns for another thought-provoking edition, from May 5 -17, transforming spaces across Birmingham – from tattoo parlours to libraries, pubs to country parks – into hubs for open discussions about mortality, grief, and end-of-life care.

Festival Highlights:

May 6 – Death Café & Undertakers’ Discussion

• Sun Rising Burial Ground (Warwick): The festival kicks off with a Death Café – an informal space to chat about life and death over tea and cake.
• A Natural Undertaking (Hall Green): An evening of wine, cheese, and candid conversation on making difficult discussions about death more comfortable.

May 7 – Memorial Tattoos at Lucky Rabbit

• The festival’s newest venue, Lucky Rabbit Tattoo Studio (Jewellery Quarter), hosts a talk on memorial ink—exploring tattoos as a way to honor lost loved ones.

May 8 – Interfaith Walk (Handsworth)

• A guided walk through Handsworth’s places of worship, uncovering diverse funeral rites, mourning customs, and spiritual perspectives on death.

May 9 – Kathryn Mannix Talk (Stourbridge)

• The bestselling author of With the End in Mind shares insights on compassionate end-of-life care. (Due to high demand, a second session has been added.)

May 10 – Walking Tours

• Morning: Five Ways to Die in Birmingham – a macabre yet fascinating tour of lost cemeteries, plague pits, and the grave of the lightbulb inventor.
• Afternoon: A wellbeing poetry walk in Lickey Hills, blending nature, remembrance, and creative writing.

May 13 – Meet the Undertakers (Kings Heath)

• A rare chance to tour A Natural Undertaking, ask burning questions, and demystify the funeral process.

May 15 – Death at the Museum & Tea Room Death Café

• Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery: A curator-led tour of death-themed artworks.
• Edwardian Tea Rooms: Reflective discussions over cake in an elegant setting.

May 17 – Pop-Up Death finale (Birmingham Library)

• The festival closes with an interactive, all-ages event featuring coffin decorating, storytelling, and art installations—bringing death out of the shadows and into public conversation.

Why It Matters:

As the UK’s first Compassionate City, Birmingham leads the way in breaking taboos around death. BrumYODO’s festival offers safe, creative, and sometimes surprising ways to engage with a subject often left unspoken.

Emma Waterford, BrumYODO board member, said “We are thrilled to close the festival at Birmingham Library in the city centre. With its glass walls overlooking Centenary Square, we aim to bring visibility to the often hidden topics of death and dying, encouraging open conversations about living well until we die.”

Most events are free or low-cost. Some require booking—check the full program:
🔗 brumyodo.org.uk/events
📱 Follow updates: @BrumYODO