Dying.dialogues 2026

February 2–3, 2026
Hybrid event: In-person at OCAD University, Toronto + Online

Dying.dialogues 2026 is a two-day symposium that invites reflection, conversation, and collective inquiry into how design and art shape our understanding of death and end-of-life experiences. Presented as part of the DesignTO Festival, the symposium brings together designers, artists, scholars, health-care practitioners, community members, and the wider public to explore creative approaches to death, dying, loss, and grief.

Through a curated program of presentations, discussions, and participatory sessions, Dying.dialogues 2026 examines how design can support meaningful conversations about mortality, memory, and care. The event highlights a wide range of practices, including speculative projects and prototypes, community-based interventions, research collaborations, and artistic works that expand the cultural narratives around dying.

As an initiative of the Dying.series, this symposium continues our ongoing effort to foster death literacy and reimagine our relationship with dying. Participants are invited to engage openly, get comfortable with the uncomfortable, and join cross-disciplinary dialogue on what truly matters at the end of life.

Format:
This is a hybrid event. Attendees may join in person at OCAD University in Toronto or online via livestream.

Venue:
OCAD University, Toronto (exact room TBA)
Online attendance link will be shared closer to the date.

We look forward to welcoming you to two days of thoughtful exchange, reflection, and community learning.

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Host or Publisher Health Design Studio at OCAD University