Day of the Dead in Mexico City 2026: Dates, Parade and Where to Stay

What Día de Muertos is

Día de Muertos is when Mexican families welcome back the souls of their loved ones. Homes, markets and public squares fill with ofrendas — altars with marigolds (cempasúchil), candles, papel picado, sugar skulls, pan de muerto and the favorite food and photos of those being remembered. UNESCO recognizes the celebration as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

The traditional days are 1 November, devoted to children who have died, and 2 November, for adults. In Mexico City the season starts well before: parades, processions and public altars take over the last two weeks of October.

Key dates in Mexico City, 2026

Dates are as announced by Mexico City authorities and the local press in September 2026. Exact times and closures are confirmed closer to each event, so check the Mexico City Ministry of Culture (cultura.cdmx.gob.mx) before you go.

Mega Procesión de Catrinas — Sunday 25 October

Thousands of people dressed and painted as catrinas — the elegant skeleton figure made famous by José Guadalupe Posada — walk from the Ángel de la Independencia along Avenida Juárez and Avenida 5 de Mayo to the Zócalo, starting at 6:00 PM. The route passes the door of Hotel Bellas Artes, so you can watch it from the street or join in and be back in your suite a few minutes later.

Gran Desfile de Día de Muertos — Saturday 31 October

The city's big parade leaves the Puerta de los Leones in Chapultepec and follows Paseo de la Reforma to the Zócalo, with giant puppets, floats, dancers and music. Reforma gets very crowded: arrive early and choose a spot on the stretch closest to the Historic Center if you want to walk back rather than wait for transport.

The monumental ofrenda in the Zócalo

Each year the Plaza de la Constitución hosts a large public altar with a different theme, usually open from the end of October into the first days of November. It is a five-minute walk from the hotel, and it is at its best in the evening, when the candles and marigolds are lit.

Day of the Dead within walking distance

• The Zócalo and the Metropolitan Cathedral — the monumental ofrenda and the end point of both parades.
• Museo de Arte Popular — Mexican folk art, from alebrijes to catrinas, a short walk from the Alameda.
• Palacio de Bellas Artes and the Alameda Central — the heart of the neighborhood and a good place to see the city dressed for the season.
• Calle Madero — the pedestrian street that links Bellas Artes with the Zócalo, busy with painted faces and street performers in the evenings.
• Bakeries and sweet shops downtown — look for pan de muerto, the sugar-dusted bread of the season, and sugar skulls with names written on them.

Beyond the center

• San Andrés Mixquic (Tláhuac) — one of the most traditional celebrations in the city, with an all-night candlelit vigil in the cemetery on the night of 1–2 November. It is far from the center, so plan the trip with a guide or a driver.
• Coyoacán — plazas and markets decorated with altars, and a good place for an afternoon among families.
• Mercado de Jamaica — the city's great flower market, overflowing with cempasúchil in the days before 1 November.

Practical tips

• Book your room early. Late October and the first days of November are among the busiest weeks of the year in the Historic Center.
• Walk rather than drive. Streets close for the parades; the Historic Center is best enjoyed on foot.
• Arrive early for the parades and bring water, a light jacket for the evening and comfortable shoes.
• Be respectful at cemeteries. They are family gatherings; ask before photographing people or altars.
• Face painting is offered on the street during the parade days — part of the fun for visitors of every age.

Your base for Día de Muertos

From Hotel Bellas Artes, at Av. 5 de Mayo 10, the Zócalo is five minutes away on foot, the Catrinas procession passes on our street, and Patio Bellas Artes is ready for breakfast before the parade and dinner after. Book direct for the best rate, or see our suites with a balcony on 5 de Mayo.