Every year, grave diggers from around the world gather in Hungary to compete in the International Grave Digging Championship.

Every year since 2016, with the exception of 2020 and 2021, Hungary’s Association of Cemetery Operators and Maintainers (MTFE) has been inviting grave diggers from all over the world to the European country to compete for the title of World Grave Digging Champions. Working in teams of two, grave diggers must put their abilities to the test by digging graves that are 2 meters long, 80 centimeters wide, and 1.6 meters deep within two hours, and then shoveling the approximately 2.5 tons of dirt back into the holes to create a neat burial mound. It sounds easy enough, but speed, accuracy, and attention to detail are the main criteria by which contestants are judged.