Day of the Dead in Mexico City has two sides. Downtown it's a public celebration: parades on Reforma, the giant ofrenda (altar) in the Zócalo and the city lit up at night. In the southern villages, such as Mixquic and Xochimilco, it's a family tradition, with graves covered in flowers and candles all night. This guide covers both, with the confirmed 2026 dates.
In 2026 October 31 is a Saturday, November 1 a Sunday and November 2 a Monday, so expect a very busy weekend. Further down you'll find the events already in the Entre Lugares listings for those days.
The dates at a glance
- Saturday, October 17: Monumental Alebrijes Parade. The figures stay on Reforma until November 8.
- October 18 to November 1: marigold flower festival on Reforma.
- Sunday, October 25, 6 pm: Mega Procesión de las Catrinas, from the Angel to the Zócalo.
- October 29 to November 2: Ofrenda Monumental in the Zócalo and 12 community altars around the city.
- Saturday, October 31, 2 pm: the Day of the Dead parade.
- October 31 to November 2: Day of the Dead in San Andrés Mixquic, ending with La Alumbrada on Monday night.
The Day of the Dead parade: Saturday the 31st
It starts at 2 pm and runs along Paseo de la Reforma to the Zócalo. According to the city's official guide, this year's floats include tributes to Juan Gabriel, to film director Emilio "El Indio" Fernández, to the Red Queen of Palenque and to lucha libre, along with bands, dancers and giant puppets.
For a good view, arrive an hour early at a stretch of Reforma between the Angel and Avenida Juárez, where the sidewalks are wider. Use the Metro or Metrobús, since the whole corridor is closed to traffic. If you like the atmosphere but not the crowds, the Catrinas procession on Sunday the 25th follows almost the same route.
The Zócalo ofrenda
From Thursday, October 29 to Monday, November 2, free. The 2026 altar honors José Guadalupe Posada's Catrina with a 32-meter papier-mâché figure, sawdust carpets and thousands of marigolds, alongside free concerts announced by the city's culture department.
At night the facades of the government buildings and the historic center are lit up until Wednesday, November 4. To avoid the crowds, go early on a weekday or on Monday the 2nd in the morning.
The city also sets up 12 community altars from October 29 to November 2. One is in the Plaza de las Tres Culturas in Tlatelolco; the others are spread across boroughs such as Coyoacán, Iztapalapa, Tláhuac and Tlalpan.
Mixquic, in Tláhuac: La Alumbrada
San Andrés Mixquic is an indigenous village on the southeastern edge of the city, in the borough of Tláhuac, and its Day of the Dead is the most traditional in Mexico City. The cycle begins on September 29 with the calling of the souls, when families clean the graves.
- Saturday, October 31: the souls of children arrive, welcomed with white petals and sweets.
- Sunday, November 1: the adults arrive. Altars are set with their favorite food and paths of marigold petals.
- Monday, November 2: La Alumbrada. The colonial cemetery goes dark and families light thousands of candles on the graves, with prayers and songs.
It's also the most crowded place: in 2025 the borough reported more than three million visitors to its villages over four days of festival. Arrive early, stay quiet during La Alumbrada, don't sit or step on the graves and ask before taking photos. Try the local mixmole, romeritos and candied pumpkin. Since the 2nd is a Monday and the Metro closes at midnight on weekdays, plan your way back before you go in.
Xochimilco: altars on the canals
In Xochimilco there are night tours on trajineras (painted boats) through the chinampas, the floating gardens, with altars and marigolds along the way. Several operators run them from early October to early November, with different schedules and prices. Confirm the date and departure point before you go and use the official boat landings.
Coyoacán and San Ángel: altars without the crowds
To see altars on foot without the crush of downtown, Coyoacán and San Ángel work well. Museums, cultural centers and plazas put up altars during the last two weeks of October. The Frida Kahlo Museum and the Anahuacalli usually have beautiful ones; check their official websites for this year's hours and tickets.
On Saturday the 31st and Sunday the 1st, from noon to 7 pm, the national theater school at the Centro Nacional de las Artes holds its free Day of the Dead festival, La primera muerte.