Has your favorite time of year arrived? Get your Catrina or La Llorona costume ready because the 2026 Day of the Dead is just around the corner, and in Mexico City, activities, parades, and much more are starting to be confirmed.
In this guide, you’ll find the main events, food festivals, culture, art, immersive experiences, outdoor activities, and even options near Mexico City.
The 2026 Day of the Dead parade is more than confirmed! It’s one of the season’s must-see events; you’ll see dance troupes, giant figures, floats, and much more.
One of the must-see events is the Mega Procession of the Catrinas, a parade featuring Day of the Dead characters. Catrines and Catrinas will parade through the main streets of Mexico City, and you can join in wearing your best costume.
There will be professional makeup artists on site to help you look your best! Each makeup artist charges a different rate.
The Water Lantern Festival is organizing an edition focused on the Day of the Dead in Chapultepec Forest. The event features live music, culinary offerings, a market with items from local artisans, and activities centered on Mexican traditions.
The main activity involves writing a message on a lantern made of natural wood, paper, and an LED candle. After personalizing their lanterns, groups gather at the lakeshore and release them into the water all at once. At the end of the event, the team collects all the materials to leave the area clean and free of plastic waste.
The UNAM 2026 Mega-Offerings celebrate the University’s 475th anniversary with monumental installations and sustainable materials.
The UNAM 2026 Mega-Offering, part of the 29th University Day of the Dead Festival, will be on display on the Universum esplanade in Ciudad Universitaria from October 31 to November 2, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. This year’s edition pays tribute to the University’s 475th anniversary with the theme “475 + Paths That Sustain Us.”
The first Xoloitzcuintle Dog Festival will take place in Mexico City’s Historic Center from October 26 to November 1, 2026, featuring activities centered on music, science, art, and history, with participation from local agencies and museums.
The Day of the Dead is approaching, and this festival in the southern part of the city awaits you with over a hundred options to enjoy a classic pan de muerto dipped in hot chocolate. For its tenth anniversary, the event brings together coffees from different regions of Mexico, cacao, handicrafts, and a large food court.
To celebrate its first decade, the program includes an immersive experience, a parade of catrinas, and live music. Plus, there’s a picnic area set up on the grounds so you can sample all your purchases right there and enjoy the autumn afternoon.
If you’re a chocolate lover, the Anahuacalli Museum will dedicate four days to one of the most important ingredients in Mexican cuisine. Just in time for the Day of the Dead long weekend, this event brings together producers, artisans, and experts to celebrate the history, cultural significance, and knowledge surrounding cacao.
During your visit, you can explore the traditional exhibition and market to discover the work of artisanal chocolatiers and sample traditional drinks or new culinary creations. The event is complemented by lectures, workshops, live music, and artisanal markets at one of the most attractive cultural venues in the southern part of the city.
A string quartet takes the stage by the light of thousands of candles to perform a musical program that pays tribute to Halloween and the Day of the Dead.
The repertoire ranges from classic horror movie soundtracks and pop culture hits—such as *Psycho*, *The Addams Family*, *Ghostbusters*, and *Stranger Things*—to traditional Mexican melodies including *La Llorona*, *La Bruja*, *La Martiniana*, and songs from the movie *Coco*. The event is designed for ages 8 and up, and seating is assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.
The Day of the Dead season in Mexico City brings back one of its most anticipated sporting events. The Calaveritas Run takes to the trails of the First Section of Chapultepec Forest for a night race that combines running with Mexican tradition.
You can choose between 5K and 10K distances, while younger participants have special children’s categories. The route turns into a true party under the stars, as it’s the perfect excuse to run in Catrina makeup, costumes, and accessories themed around the celebration.
Get ready to dip your pan de muerto in hot chocolate at this festival dedicated to the flavors of the season. Three courtyards filled with vendors await you, offering everything from classic and filled versions to the eye-catching black bread made with totomoxtle ash, as well as traditional recipes from Puebla, Oaxaca, Guerrero, and Guanajuato.
The event features two food zones where you can sample chipilín tamales, cemitas poblanas, choripanes, or codfish sandwiches, accompanied by flower-infused and fruit-flavored drinks. You can also get your hands dirty with activities like the metate cacao-making workshop, cookie decorating, or painting catrinas on ceramic.
Day of the Dead activities have already begun! This immersive experience by Fantasy Lab is inspired by the Mexica worldview to take you through the nine levels of the underworld. The tour recreates the journey souls take after death through various rooms filled with art, lighting, and technology.
The event is suitable for all ages and features newly renovated spaces for this edition. Have your cell phone camera ready, because every corner is designed for taking incredible photos.
If the Day of the Dead takes you to Coyoacán every year, this festival is a new stop on the route. The event brings together Mexican artisans, producers, and entrepreneurs on a journey inspired by the season’s visual imagery.
Instead of just buying artisanal and culinary products, here you’ll talk directly with the creators to learn about the techniques and stories behind each piece. Plus, your admission ticket gives you the chance to enter a raffle for a kit featuring exclusive items from the various exhibitors.
The Camino de las Ánimas is a nighttime tour guided by fishermen and locals along the shores of Lake Pátzcuaro. The experience is notable for its floating altars, set up on canoes and illuminated with candles and cempasúchil flowers to celebrate the Animecha Kejtsïtakua. The journey on the water culminates with the Andangútakua (duck hunt) and a reenactment of the offering to the souls.
During the main weekend, the celebration includes a festival of traditional music and dance. This theatrical spectacle is part of the grand “Night of the Dead” program that spans different regions of Michoacán, where a getaway awaits you, filled with decorated balconies, mole fairs, and skies ablaze with marigolds.
A Catrín and a Catrina lead this themed tour through the foundations and secret passageways of the Monument to the Mexican Revolution. During the tour, the characters recount the history of the revolutionary heroes and their connection to the tradition of the dead.
At the end of the walk through the heart of the park, the Adelita Dining Car offers hot chocolate and pan de muerto. You can also round out the tour with a souvenir photo or by heading up to the monument’s observation deck.
Would you like to experience the Day of the Dead outside the capital and discover one of Puebla’s most striking traditions? The INAH is organizing a special tour to admire the famous monumental altars of Huaquechula, all under the guidance of historian Sergio Fuentes Martínez.
The itinerary includes a stop at the former Convent of San Martín de Tours, a 16th-century Franciscan building, before heading to the city’s main attraction: the impressive altars that residents set up for their deceased loved ones. Here you can see up close how elements of the Christian religion and the indigenous world blend together.
During your visit, you’ll also witness the solemn chimes announcing the arrival of the souls, and you’ll have free time to eat and explore downtown Huaquechula at your own pace.
Hurry up and get your costume! Get your bike, roller skates, or skateboard ready to join the season’s traditional ride. You can do the route on wheels or on foot, since it’s an activity designed for the whole family to enjoy the capital’s festive atmosphere.
Although the exact route will be revealed soon, the parade route runs from Reforma Avenue to the heart of the city. As in previous years, the night promises surprises along the way, with live music and the classic costume contest where you can show off your best Catrina outfits.
The famous monumental skulls return to the streets of southern Mexico City to celebrate the Day of the Dead season. These large-scale pieces, crafted by cardboard artists, artisans, and local residents, are installed on the pavement to look as if they’re emerging directly from the ground.
The parade route winds through the Santa Cecilia neighborhood, featuring new creations and themes for this year’s edition. Throughout the exhibition, a variety of cultural activities will take place, making this event one of the most spectacular and photogenic stops of the season.
If you’re planning a Day of the Dead getaway near the city, Atlixco will offer an immersive, multisensory experience inspired by this tradition. One of the main attractions is the Catrinia Parade, a theatrical spectacle featuring music and mystical characters, complemented by themed areas such as the Cemetery and the Alley of the Dead.
The big new feature of this year’s event is the Sendero Ancestral, an immersive pedestrian route that combines flowers, scents, and visual stimuli. This path connects directly to the Valle de Catrinas event, revealing a new monumental catrina along the way. The experience is complemented by the Mercado de Sabores del Más Acá, where seasonal dishes and live music await you.
Monumental cardboard Catrinas take over the streets of Atlixco in an edition that pays homage to pre-Hispanic gods. Local artists and collectives design up to 15 giant sculptures that reinterpret different deities from Mexico’s indigenous cultures, creating a journey through the municipality’s public spaces. Among the highlights of the route is a piece installed directly in a field of cempasúchil flowers.
This year’s project also includes taking some of the figures to other states and even abroad, with destinations yet to be revealed. In addition to this sculptural tour, there’s the immersive Catrinia experience at the Convention Center—an extra stop to round out your Day of the Dead getaway.
Open House is back with an event that blends architecture, design, and one of Mexico’s most important traditions. In this special edition, you can visit five venues across the city to admire contemporary altars created by various architects, firms, and designers.
The idea is to view the offerings from a different perspective. Each installation engages directly with the site’s architecture through various materials and creative approaches to explore rituals and memory. Among the participants bringing these concepts to life are Miguel de la Torre, Lucio Muniain, Bandido, Raúl de la Cerda, and Taller Nacional.
In addition to the exhibits, the program features tours, workshops, and special activities designed to connect this holiday with urban life in the capital. You have five days to dive in, explore the interpretations, and discover the stories hidden within these spaces.
Switch to “Catrina mode,” because the Magical Town of Tepotzotlán will celebrate the Day of the Dead with legends, celestial shows, and even a witch hunt. The Hotel Hacienda de Los Dolores is organizing the “dog-friendly edition” of this experience, so your dog is also invited on the adventure—just 90 minutes from Mexico City.
The program, held at the iconic Arcos del Sitio, features a hot-air balloon display, live mariachi music, cantoya balloons, a costume contest, a “calaveritas” scavenger hunt, and a pumpkin-carving workshop. To warm up during the parade, there’s pan de muerto and hot chocolate.
Some stories are best enjoyed after dark. This ecotourism experience takes you along the dark trails of San Nicolás Totolapan Ejidal Park while you listen to seven stories and legends native to the area. The darkness and the natural forest landscape provide the perfect setting to immerse yourself in the mystery.
At the end of the guided walk, a bonfire awaits to warm you up with a complimentary cup of champurrado and pan de muerto. The activity is designed for people ages 12 and up, making it an ideal option for planning a spooky nature getaway in the foothills of Ajusco.
Discover the Metropolitan Cathedral from a completely different perspective during the Day of the Dead season. This nighttime experience takes you on a behind-the-scenes exploration of the site’s most enigmatic corners, with the tour focusing on the memories, history, and art associated with this time of year.
The route includes stops to admire the Cathedral’s offering, the historic organs, the Chapel of the Relics, and the imposing Altar of the Kings. The highlight of the journey is the descent into the Archbishops’ Crypt, an underground space that will allow you to see how the Day of the Dead tradition coexists side by side with the religious heritage of the Historic Center.
Would you dare to walk in total darkness while listening to stories about La Llorona, witches, and nahuales? This forest experience combines traditional tales with special effects, audio, and lighting designed to give you goosebumps during the season’s celebrations.
The storyline is inspired by a book over 400 years old written by the Discalced Carmelites. During the walk through the trees, the Ruiz Valdés sisters bring iconic and spine-chilling local tales to life, including El Descabezado de San Mateo, Cosme el Monje, the mysterious Km 31, and La Chocani.
The legend of La Llorona comes to life on the canals of Xochimilco with a nighttime theatrical and musical performance. The event begins with a 90-minute trajinera boat ride under the moonlight, followed by a one-hour live show that adapts the traditional tale to the natural setting of the Day of the Dead.
Since the event takes place outdoors and on the water, be sure to bring a jacket and mosquito repellent, and arrive with plenty of time to board. The venue has staff on hand to assist people with limited mobility, and the show is suitable for children ages 3 and up.
The world’s only theme park dedicated to the Day of the Dead returns to Guadalajara to transform the outdoor space into an experience filled with technology, art installations, performances, live music, and traditional Mexican cuisine.
The event features multimedia shows, immersive projections, and themed photo spots designed for taking pictures and celebrating the season’s traditions with your family.
Toluca will celebrate the Day of the Dead season with a new edition of the Alfeñique Fair. The city’s public spaces will be filled with artisanal stalls where you can buy sugar and chocolate skulls, papel picado, traditional sweets, and everything you need to set up an ofrenda.
At the Juárez Market, there will be free concerts featuring rock, salsa, regional Mexican music, and rap; among the most anticipated shows are the Caifanes concert and the 31 Minutos children’s show.
The festival also features the Enchilada Fair, an International Pavilion, the Saitama Fest with Japan as the guest country, workshops, exhibitions, plays, nighttime tours of the Panteón de la Soledad, and a zombie walk.
Can you imagine exploring an ancient castle surrounded by offerings, marigolds, and catrinas? This experience transforms the iconic Puebla hacienda into a spectacular setting for celebrating the Day of the Dead—perfect for a quick getaway from Mexico City.
The main attraction is the lake surrounding the castle, where you can hop aboard one of the trajineras and sail among floating figures. If you’re looking for a spookier experience, the tour includes three haunted houses and legend-themed walks with special lighting.
