The Day of the Dead will be celebrated in a big way in the heart of Mexico City! From October 29 to November 2, the capital’s Zócalo will be filled with flowers, colors, and monumental figures as part of the 2026 Monumental Offering, which this year will feature a 32-meter-tall Catrina.
The installation will pay tribute to José Guadalupe Posada, creator of the Calavera Garbancera, which inspired the famous Catrina. It will also feature sawdust rugs, thousands of cempasúchil flowers, and papier-mâché elements crafted by artists from Mexico City.
100,000 cempasúchil plants, axolotls, and a giant Catrina!
One of the most striking features of the 2026 Zócalo Monumental Offering will be the inclusion of approximately 100,000 cempasúchil plants, purchased from growers in the capital’s conservation areas.
These flowers, characteristic of Day of the Dead celebrations, will be part of the decorations at the Plaza de la Constitución.
There will also be axolotls transformed by artists and cultural collectives, which will be integrated into the traditional elements of the offering.
For its part, the monumental Catrina will be crafted using papier-mâché techniques by artists from the eastern part of Mexico City, who will bring their handcrafted work to the heart of the Historic Center.
And that’s not all! The buildings surrounding the Zócalo will be illuminated with themed lighting, adding another visual highlight to the celebration.
Will the Catrina in the Zócalo attempt to break a Guinness World Record?
That’s the goal! During the project’s presentation, organizers mentioned their intention to surpass the height of a 28-meter-tall Catrina installed in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco.
The figure in the Zócalo will measure 32 meters, although it remains to be confirmed whether the attempt will receive official recognition from Guinness World Records.
- 📅 Dates: October 29 through November 2, 2026, according to the published dates
- 📍 Location: Zócalo, Mexico City, Historic Center
- 🎟️ Cost: free admission.
