Get your cempasúchil and pan de dulce ready, because the southern part of Mexico City is pulling out all the stops. If you’re looking for an authentic, vibrant experience full of folklore, you’ve got to head to the 2026 International Day of the Dead Festival in Tláhuac.
Mark your calendar: this year’s festival will take place from October 30 to November 2.
The celebration will extend across the seven indigenous communities in the area, encompassing iconic sites such as San Andrés Mixquic, Santiago Zapotitlán, and San Francisco Tlaltenco. To make sure you don’t miss a thing, there will be a special route connecting key landmarks—from the Tláhuac Forest and the Lake of the Aztec Kings to the beautiful wetlands.
The lineup is packed with activities to make the dance floor shine:
Free headline concerts
Get ready to sing and dance with La Sonora Dinamita and Poder del Norte on Saturday, October 31, at the Bosque de Tláhuac.
Plus, there will be must-see performances by Emmanuel and Los Cadetes de Linares on the town hall plaza.
There will be plenty of other great performances, including mariachi music, plays, folk dancing, and an exhibition of offerings.
By bike
Join the Great Route of the Dead, a bike ride on the night of October 31, which will depart from Juan Palomo Park and head to the legendary Mixquic cemetery.
Food and Art
Enjoy the offering contest “With Color and Scent, on the Way to Mictlán,” savor the delights of the pan de muerto contest, and marvel at the impressive murals while cruising on trajineras. From community light displays and bazaars to sightseeing tours surrounded by cempasúchil flowers and parades, such as the Las Garbanceras parade.
Check the schedules for each activity here, and don’t miss the 2026 Day of the Dead Festival in the Tláhuac district.
More Day of the Dead options in the southern part of the city!
Adding to the southern region’s calendar is the traditional “La Llorona” performance in Xochimilco.
Meanwhile, in Coyoacán, you’ll enjoy a dazzling Day of the Dead concert. But if you’re looking for something with a spooky twist, you can catch the plays *Esquizofrenia* and *Infierno*.
