TANEXPO 2026: Where is the culture of the final farewell moving to?

PEGAS visited the international fair in Bologna, which reveals new directions in funeral design, materials and approaches to personal farewells.

The PEGAS funeral service participated in the international TANEXPO fair in Bologna, Italy, from 7 to 9 May 2026, which is one of the most important European meetings of professionals in the field of funeral and memorial services.

Tradition meets new directions

Every year, the fair connects manufacturers, designers, suppliers and professionals from dozens of countries around the world. This year, it hosted more than 225 exhibitors from 65 countries and over 14,500 visitors. The program also included professional conferences, workshops and presentations focused on innovation, design, cremation or digital services.

This year, PEGAS did not present its own exhibition. Participation was primarily an opportunity to meet, be inspired and learn about new approaches to what a dignified and personal farewell can look like.

“We wanted to see what’s new. How aesthetics, materials, symbolism and the needs of families are changing. TANEXPO shows that even in our industry, new ways of thinking about important moments are emerging,” says PEGAS Product Manager Ivana Běhounková.

Craft, detail and personal symbolism

This year’s strong theme was individuality and craftsmanship. For example, handmade ceramic urns, designer jewelry, and new materials and approaches to funeral design were on display. During the fair, PEGAS established further contacts with European suppliers, including smaller Italian workshops that combine traditional hand-made production with current trends.

The Italian cultural context played a significant role at the fair. Compared to the Czech Republic, traditional burial in the ground still significantly prevails here. Therefore, a large part of the exhibits was dedicated to coffins, their materials, textures, and processing details. Elegant upholstered coffins and design sets connected with floral decorations appeared, creating a unified visual appearance of the ceremony.

How the form of farewell changes 

Attention was also drawn to non-traditional elements of contemporary funeral design, such as illuminated epoxy catafalques or urns shaped like handbags.

“It is inspiring to see how differently individual countries can approach farewells. And at the same time how similar the need for dignity, personal meaning and human detail remains,” adds Jiří Haman, director of the PEGAS funeral service.

For PEGAS, participation in the TANEXPO trade fair is part of a long-term interest in modernizing the industry and finding new forms that give farewells a deeper and more personal meaning.

You can find more information in the attached press release (tisková zpráva).