Festival 2026
The To Absent Friends festival takes place across Scotland from 1-7 November 2026.
It is an opportunity to remember, to tell stories, to celebrate and to reminisce about people we love who have died. To Absent Friends, a People’s Festival of Storytelling and Remembrance is an opportunity to revive lost traditions and create new ones.
Below is a list of the events taking place around Scotland and online.
These listings are live, so new events will be added in the coming weeks. If you have an event or activity you’d like to add, please email details to samara@palliativecarescotland.org.uk.
Wind Phones for Absent Friends
Organised by groups and individuals around Scotland in collaboration with Good Life, Good Death, Good Grief
1-7 November 2026
Leith Walk Policebox, Edinburgh (Sunday 1st November, 11-4 drop in)
St Vincent’s Hospice, Howwood
Wild Meadows Eco Cemetery, Kinghorn
Perth
“Because my thoughts couldn’t be relayed over a regular phone line, I wanted them to be carried on the wind.” - Itaru Sasaki, creator of the original Wind Phone, Otsuchi, Iwate Prefecture, Japan
This year, as part of the To Absent Festival, Good Life, Good Death, Good Grief is supporting four Scottish communities to create Wind Phones.
This November will see Wind Phones appear in Edinburgh, Howwood, Kinghorn and Perth.
Every Wind Phone is different. That’s part of their charm. If you see one, pick up the receiver. Dial a dead loved one’s number, or speak into it, or just listen.
Photo credit: Anne Spratt via Unsplash
Celebration of Life
Organised by Richmond’s Hope
22 November
Glasgow
This activity is for the Richmond’s Hope community and is by invitation only.
Richmond’s Hope is delighted to host its annual Celebration of Life event for families who have been supported by our Glasgow bereavement service. This special gathering offers children, young people and their families an opportunity to come together to remember and celebrate the lives of the people who are no longer with us.
Held in a relaxed and welcoming environment, the event encourages families to share memories, connect with others who have experienced bereavement, and take time to reflect. Richmond’s Hope’s Therapeutic Grief Practitioners will be present throughout the event, offering compassionate guidance and support.
As part of the celebration, families are invited to submit photographs of the person they are remembering, along with songs that hold special meaning. These will be featured in a moving tribute displayed on a large screen during the event, creating a shared space for remembrance and reflection.
The afternoon will conclude with a dove release by Acts of Dove, providing a meaningful and symbolic moment for families to honour the memories of their loved ones.
For more information about Richmond’s Hope, visit www.richmondshope.org.uk
This activity is supported by a To Absent Friends small grant.
Photo credit: Richmond’s Hope
Music for Absent Friends
Organised by NHS Borders Health Charity
17 November 2026, 7-9pm
MACARTS, Galashiels
This activity is open to the public (14+). No need to book in advance.
You are invited to an evening shaped by the Margaret Kerr Unit Bereavement Playlist - songs to sing, music to listen to and memories to share. This evening is open to anyone affected by loss or grief. Participation is welcome.
Musical participation is welcome, so please bring your instrument if you’d like. You can also sing, listen, or talk. There will be refreshments available.
This activity will start at 7, and doors will open at 6:30.
This activity is supported by a To Absent Friends small grant.
Memories
Organised by NHS Forth Valley Spiritual Care Department
2 - 16 November 2026
Forth Valley Royal Hospital, Falkirk Community Hospital and Bellfield Centre, Stirling Health & Care Village
These activities will be held in the Spiritual Care centres, which are open to the public.
Some people may no longer be with us, but the love, memories and stories they leave behind remain part of who we are.
This November, NHS Forth Valley Spiritual Care Department invite staff, patients, families and friends to take a moment to pause, reflect and remember those who have died and the lasting impact they continue to have on our lives.
From 2nd – 16th November 2026, there will be Memory Trees at:
- Forth Valley Royal Hospital
- Falkirk Community Hospital
- Bellfield Centre, Stirling Health & Care Village
Write a message, share a memory, add a ribbon to the tree, or take a ribbon with you as a tangible reminder of someone special.
Together, let us remember, celebrate and honour our absent friends.
Those we love never truly leave us; they live on in the stories we share and the memories we treasure.
This activity is supported by a To Absent Friends small grant.
PAMIS Absent Friends Celebration
Organised by PAMIS
12 November 2026
Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice, Glasgow
This activity is for the PAMIS community.
PAMIS will host its annual Absent Friends Gathering on 12 November at The Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice, Glasgow, providing a safe, supportive and compassionate space for families who have experienced the loss of a loved one with profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD).
Bereavement support is a vital part of the PAMIS service. Following the loss of a son, daughter, sibling or family member, many carers experience profound grief, isolation and the loss of their long-held caring role. This event offers an opportunity for families to come together with others who understand these unique experiences, reducing social isolation and promoting emotional wellbeing.
The gathering will begin with a reflective walk through the hospice grounds, leading to the Remembrance Viewing Hut. Participants will be invited to light candles, share memories and take part in a moment of remembrance to honour loved ones who have died. Following this, families will enjoy lunch together in the welcoming surroundings of the hospice, creating opportunities for connection, peer support and meaningful conversation.
The event is designed to provide comfort, reflection and a sense of community, helping families to feel remembered, valued and supported in their ongoing bereavement journey. For many attendees, this annual gathering is an important opportunity to maintain connections with others who have shared similar life experiences and to remember their loved ones in a dignified and caring environment.
PAMIS (Promoting A More Inclusive Society) is Scotland’s leading organisation supporting people with profound and multiple learning disabilities, their families and professionals. Through family support, advocacy, education and inclusive community opportunities, PAMIS works to ensure people with PMLD and their families are valued and included throughout every stage of life.
For more information about PAMIS, visit www.pamis.org.uk.
This activity is supported by a To Absent Friends small grant.
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