Equity in Grief Festival: Creating Space for Inclusive Conversations on Grief
Equity in Grief Festival: Creating Space for Inclusive Conversations on Grief
The Equity in Grief Festival 2026 was a one-day event dedicated to exploring equity in grief, honouring diverse traditions, and creating space for collective healing. Hosted by Dr Yansie Rolston, Patrick Vernon OBE, and Debi Lewinson, the festival took place at Landing Canary Wharf, London, bringing together communities, practitioners, and creatives.
Purpose of the Festival
The festival focused on addressing how grief is experienced differently across communities and aimed to create a more inclusive conversation around death, loss, and remembrance. It provided an opportunity to collaborate with communities that hold diverse experiences of end-of-life care, bereavement, and cultural practices around grief .
It also highlighted the importance of recognising voices that are often excluded from mainstream grief narratives and worked towards building an accessible, healing space centred on education, community, and transformation.
Programme and Activities
The event included a range of activities designed to engage participants in different forms of reflection and expression. According to the programme, attendees experienced:
- Opening rituals and shared reflection
- Keynotes, panel discussions, and community voices
- Workshops focused on culture, identity, loss, belonging, life-limiting illness, and disability
- Creative activities such as art, massage, storytelling, music, and memorial-making
- Youth perspectives and discussions
- Community rituals and reflections on individual loss
- Poetry, spoken word, music, and remembrance
Refreshments were provided throughout the day, and signing support was available for attendees with hearing loss.
Speakers and Performers
The festival featured a range of speakers and performers, including:
- Richie Brave – Broadcaster and host of ‘1Xtra Talks’ on BBC Radio 1Xtra
- Lucy Selman – Founding Director of Good Grief Festival
- Amber Jeffrey – Creator and host of The Grief Gang Podcast
- Alexander d’Great – Poet
The event also included music performances by DJ Martin Jay and Davina Songbird, along with other contributors .
Community and Participation
The festival was designed to be open and inclusive. It welcomed a wide audience, including health professionals, practitioners, families, young people, creatives, faith leaders, and anyone interested in identity, culture, or community healing .
The format encouraged attendees to participate at their own pace, with the guiding message: “Come as you are. Stay as long as you need. Leave feeling inspired.”
Event Details
- Location: Landing Canary Wharf, London
- Address: 12 Bank Street, Level One, Canary Wharf, London E14 4DD
- Date and Time: Friday, 6 February, 11am – 6pm
- Entry: Free to register, in-person attendance only