From Virtual Reality to ‘Pick Your Own Afterlife’ - Creative Festival of Death Comes to Exeter Library 

A claw machine where you can choose your own afterlife, a virtual reality journey beyond death, and a miniature puppet show about grief are just some of the experiences coming to Exeter Library this May. 

Afterlives, a family-friendly arts festival running from 15th – 17th May 2026, invites people of all ages to explore death, dying and end-of-life choices through creativity, play and storytelling. The festival features a mix of bookable events and drop-in sessions, including workshops, installations, performances and interactive experiences. Other festival highlights include opportunities to contribute to a large-scale community artwork, take part in creative workshops, and experience an award-winning, choose-your-own-adventure style theatre show about grief by Naomi Westerman. 

Afterlives is part of a national project led by Newcastle City Library, in partnership with Libraries Unlimited, Vision Redbridge Culture and Leisure, and Northumbria University. The festival also brings together a wide range of organisations and artists, including Luna Arts, Resting Reef and Co-op Funeralcare. 

The festival builds on nearly a decade of work developing Death Positive Libraries, a movement that helps communities engage more openly with death through books, art, film and shared experiences. Afterlives is taking place in libraries across England, transforming them into spaces for creativity, reflection and conversation.  

Stacey Pitsillides, Festival Director, said: “Libraries are places where ritual and imagination coincide. Our Afterlives festival will meet people where they are, with art, stories and experiences that make talking about death feel human, joyful and real.” 

Alex Kittow, CEO of Libraries Unlimited said: “Afterlives demonstrates how libraries are evolving to meet the changing needs of our communities. By bringing together art, technology and conversation, we’re creating a safe space for people to engage with topics like death and loss in ways that are imaginative, accessible and inclusive.” 

There’s a combination of paid and free events during Afterlives at Exeter Library in May, some are bookable only, but most activities across the weekend are free. Find out more, explore the programme and book your place via by visiting https://afterlives.uk/