Four days in Charlotte, North Carolina, for one of the world's biggest funeral conventions. Innovation, international connections, NASCAR, a few disappointments and, unfortunately, a disappearing voice.
I've attended quite a few funeral conventions around the world this year, but there's something about the American ones that operates on an entirely different scale.
The 2026 National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) International Convention & Expo took place in Charlotte, North Carolina, from October 25–28, bringing together almost 5,700 people from across the funeral profession. And when Americans do a convention, they certainly don't do it by halves!
There were 387 exhibiting companies, dozens of educational sessions, keynote speakers, networking events, award ceremonies and more funeral-related products than you could possibly explore in four days. But as always, for me, the most interesting part wasn't necessarily what was happening on the main stage. It was the people, the conversations and the unexpected discoveries along the way.
A Funeral Family Reunion — With an International Twist
This year's convention coincided with the annual FIAT-IFTA meeting, bringing 415 international attendees from 45 countries and territories to Charlotte. And you could tell! There was a noticeable international flavour to the convention, from the accents to the fashion choices and the different approaches to networking.
Having spent much of my summer travelling through Europe, attending funeral conventions and meeting professionals in Italy, Spain, Germany, France and the UK, I was delighted to see so many familiar faces. It's funny how quickly the international funeral world starts to feel like a relatively small community. You meet someone in Bologna, bump into them again in Düsseldorf, and suddenly you're catching up in Charlotte as though you see each other every week. Beyond the social side, these relationships are genuinely valuable. Every country approaches death, funerals and remembrance a little differently, and I find those conversations endlessly fascinating.
The Innovation That Really Impressed Me
The exhibition floor was enormous. Everything from hearses and embalming equipment to artificial intelligence, memorial technology, personalised products and some wonderfully creative approaches to remembering people. One product in particular really stuck with me.
The Impression Vault's Almorial.
The concept involves creating a three-dimensional impression of a deceased person's hand, allowing loved ones to place their own hand into that impression.
Just think about that for a moment. Being able to place your hand where your loved one's hand once was.
There is something incredibly intimate and powerful about that physical connection, particularly in a world where so much of our remembrance is becoming digital. The Impression Vault shared third place in the NFDA Innovation Awards, and personally, it was one of my favourite discoveries of the entire convention.
The overall Innovation Award went to Chptr, a company using technology to help funeral homes distribute obituaries, memorial videos and life stories through local television, radio and digital media. Having grown up in Ireland, where death notices and community remembrance are such an important part of our culture, I find developments like this particularly interesting. Technology isn't always the answer, but when it genuinely helps families share stories and preserve connections, I'm all for exploring it.
Education, Inspiration and the Occasional Disappointment
There was plenty of education on offer, covering everything from artificial intelligence and marketing to grief support, leadership, embalming and changing family expectations. I was particularly interested in the continuing discussions around collaboration between funeral directors, celebrants, death doulas and other end-of-life professionals. It's a conversation I've been having for years. Families benefit when professionals understand one another's roles and work together, rather than seeing every new service or profession as competition.
The keynote speakers were a mixed bag. Shawn Kanungo discussed innovation and disruption, while Dr Magie Cook explored purpose, leadership and the importance of understanding why we do the work we do. The closing keynote was delivered by author John Kenney, whose book 28,000 Days explores what death can teach us about living. I actually enjoyed the book. But I had listened to his interview on the NFDA podcast before the convention and suspected he might not be the strongest live speaker.
Unfortunately, I wasn't wrong.
Sometimes a brilliant idea or a good book doesn't necessarily translate into an engaging presentation, particularly in a large convention setting. And when you're closing out four days of education and networking, you really want someone who sends everyone home energised.
NASCAR, Networking and Some Questionable Hospitality
One of the big social events was the welcome reception at Charlotte's NASCAR Hall of Fame. Now, I have to say, the cars were impressive! It's an incredible venue, particularly if you're interested in motorsport or simply appreciate the spectacle of American racing history.
The experience of actually getting into the event, however, was another story. We were rather herded into the space like cattle, with a receiving-line-style procession of handshaking that felt a bit excessive. It was uncomfortable, somewhat disorganised and not exactly the relaxed welcome I had imagined. And then there was the bar. Or rather, the lack of an open bar. For a major sponsored reception at an international convention, that was disappointing. Perhaps it's my Irish hospitality expectations showing, but when people have travelled considerable distances, paid substantial registration fees and supported the event, the welcome experience matters.
The FIAT-IFTA International Gala was another event I would have loved to attend, especially with so many European colleagues in town. But the ticket price was simply too steep for me to justify. And I wasn't alone. Quite a few of my European colleagues felt the same. Which got me thinking.
Are some of these big industry events pricing people out of the very networking opportunities they're supposed to create?
And with all the sponsorship attached to receptions, galas, sessions and awards, I'd genuinely love to know what kind of return those sponsors see. Are they generating meaningful business and relationships? Is it primarily brand visibility? Or are we sometimes sponsoring events simply because that's what the industry has always done? It's an interesting conversation, particularly as conference costs continue to be a consideration for smaller businesses and independent professionals.
And Then I Lost My Voice...
As if navigating an enormous convention wasn't enough, I managed to get sick and completely lose my voice on day two. Not exactly ideal when you're The Glam Reaper and talking to people is a fairly significant part of your job! I'd planned to record interviews, catch up with colleagues and capture plenty of content for the podcast. Thankfully, I had someone step in and film interviews on my behalf. So while I might not have been able to ask the questions myself, we still managed to capture some interesting conversations and insights from the convention.
You can watch our NFDA interviews and other deathcare adventures on The Glam Reaper YouTube channel.
And yes, losing your voice at a funeral convention is a particularly cruel bit of irony.
What Did I Take Away from Charlotte?
Despite a few disappointments, I'm glad I attended. I reconnected with international colleagues, discovered genuinely innovative products, had conversations that will undoubtedly lead to future collaborations and came away with plenty to think about.
The biggest takeaway for me continues to be that innovation doesn't have to mean abandoning tradition. I've seen that repeatedly during my travels this year. The funeral profession is evolving, but the most meaningful developments aren't necessarily the most technologically advanced or expensive. Sometimes they're the ones that bring us back to something very human. Like placing your hand into the impression of someone you love. Or sharing stories with colleagues from the other side of the world and discovering that, despite our different cultures, we're all trying to do the same thing: help people navigate death with dignity, compassion and a little more humanity. And perhaps there's another lesson from Charlotte too.
The biggest events aren't always the best experiences, and the most expensive ticket doesn't necessarily guarantee the most meaningful connection. Sometimes the real value happens over a coffee, during an unexpected conversation or while catching up with someone you first met thousands of miles away.
I'll continue travelling, asking questions, exploring new ideas and sharing what I discover.
Hopefully with my voice fully intact next time!