Día de Muertos in Mexico City: Parade, Ofrendas and Mixquic
From the alebrijes parade in mid-October to La Alumbrada in Mixquic on November 2, the capital's Day of the Dead season, recapped from 2026 with dates for next year.
Día de Muertos in Mexico City centers on October 31 to November 2, when families build ofrendas (home altars) and visit cemeteries to welcome back the dead. The city adds large free events: in 2026 the Gran Desfile parade ran on Saturday, October 31, from Reforma to the Zócalo, and the Monumental Ofrenda filled the Zócalo from October 29 to November 2. In 2027, November 1 falls on a Monday and November 2 on a Tuesday.
What happens on each day?
Traditions vary by family and neighborhood, but the city’s official tourism guide describes the cycle like this, using Mixquic in the borough of Tláhuac as the reference:
| Date | What families mark |
|---|---|
| Late September | The “call to the souls” (Llamado a las Ánimas) opens the ritual cycle in Mixquic, and graves are cleaned |
| October 31 | Souls of children are welcomed |
| November 1 | Adults who have died are honored |
| November 2 | Night vigils in cemeteries; in Mixquic, La Alumbrada, when the colonial cemetery goes dark and is lit by candles on the graves |
Ofrendas usually carry cempasúchil (Mexican marigold), candles, papel picado, food and drink the person liked, and photos. The orange marigolds are said to light the way for returning souls.
What were the big public events in 2026?
The city’s official Día de Muertos guide listed these events for 2026:
- Alebrijes parade (18th edition): October 17, from the Zócalo to Paseo de la Reforma.
- Cempasúchil flower festival: October 18 to November 1, on Reforma between the Angel of Independence and the Ahuehuete.
- Mega Procesión de las Catrinas: October 25, on Reforma.
- “El Camino” light installation: October 23 to November 8, on Reforma from the Angel to the Puerta de los Leones of Chapultepec.
- Monumental Ofrenda: October 29 to November 2 in the Zócalo, honoring José Guadalupe Posada’s Catrina with a 32-meter sculpture.
- Community ofrendas: October 29 to November 2 at 12 sites, including the Plaza de las Tres Culturas in Tlatelolco.
- Gran Desfile de Día de Muertos: Saturday, October 31 at 14:00, from Reforma to the Zócalo.
- UNAM’s Megaofrenda: early November at Ciudad Universitaria.
The guide also pointed visitors to the historic centers of Coyoacán and Tlalpan, and to night trajinera boat tours in Xochimilco past ofrendas on the chinampas.
Where else can you see ofrendas in the city?
Beyond the Zócalo, the 2026 program spread across the city. The community ofrendas ran at 12 sites from October 29 to November 2, the Zócalo was lit up from October 29 to November 4, and Chapultepec held a festival called “La Puerta entre dos mundos” over the same days. The “El Camino” light installation stayed on Reforma until November 8. Neighborhood plazas, markets, schools and museums also set up their own altars, so a walk through the center of Coyoacán, San Ángel or Tlalpan in the first days of November turns up many of them.
Families set up home ofrendas from late October and take them down after November 2. If a neighbor or colleague invites you to see theirs, it is polite to bring flowers, candles or bread of the dead (pan de muerto).
How do you visit Mixquic respectfully?
San Andrés Mixquic, in Tláhuac on the southeastern edge of the city, keeps one of the best-known cemetery traditions in the capital, and it gets crowded on the night of November 2. The city’s tourism guide asks visitors to:
- Arrive early, since traffic and parking fill up by evening.
- Ask before photographing families and graves.
- Keep quiet during La Alumbrada.
- Never sit or step on graves.
Food stalls sell local dishes such as mixmole, romeritos and candied squash (calabaza en tacha).
What closes and what changes around the parade?
The parade and the Zócalo events close streets along the route between Reforma and the Historic Center for hours, and nearby Metro and Metrobús stations can close or skip stops. The city announces closures in the days before; our page on the Metro and the MI card covers fares and lines for getting around them.
November 2 is not one of the official rest days in Article 74 of the Federal Labor Law, so private employers do not have to give the day off. Our list of Mexico public holidays explains which days are mandatory.
How should you plan for next year?
In 2027, October 31 is a Sunday, November 1 a Monday and November 2 a Tuesday. The city publishes the parade date and the season’s program on its official tourism site and city channels. Book anything near the Zócalo early, and plan a cemetery visit for the night of November 1 or 2.
Bottom line
For 2027, mark the last two weekends of October for the parades and the first two days of November for the Zócalo ofrenda and Mixquic. Use the Metro to reach the center on parade day, and bring cash for food stalls and flowers.
FAQ
Is the Day of the Dead parade free?
Yes. The parades, the Zócalo ofrenda and the community ofrendas listed by the city were free in 2026. Arrive early for a spot along the route.
Can I build an ofrenda at home as a foreigner?
Yes. Many residents set up an ofrenda for their own family members, with photos, marigolds, candles and favorite foods. Markets such as Jamaica sell cempasúchil and decorations in late October.
Was the parade always part of the tradition?
No. The big parade is a recent city event added to much older family and cemetery traditions. The cemetery vigils and home altars remain the core of the holiday.