Day of the Dead in Guadalajara 2026: events, dates and where to stay

01What to expect from Day of the Dead in Guadalajara

Day of the Dead honors loved ones who are no longer here: on November 1 and 2 families build ofrendas, visit cemeteries and share food. In Guadalajara the date has also become a citywide cultural program.

The 2026 Festival de las Almas is the second edition, organized by Jalisco’s Agencia Estatal de Entretenimiento and the state tourism department. According to the press, it brings more than 350 activities from October 24 to November 15 across 11 municipalities, including Guadalajara, Zapopan, Tlajomulco de Zúñiga, Tlaquepaque and Chapala, and the programming is free.

Think of this guide as an agenda for one weekend: the hard part of the logistics (hotel, transport and schedules) is the part to settle first.

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In Jalisco, Day of the Dead is lived in the street, at the altars and at the table.

022026 agenda: what is on and when

These are the dated activities we found while preparing the guide. Times can change, so confirm on the official channels of the festival and of each venue.

• Plaza de las Almas (Guadalajara). Plaza Guadalajara becomes a Day of the Dead installation from October 30 to November 2, with monumental altars and a catrina parade, according to one of the sources we consulted.
• Calaveritas Zapopan. Friday, October 30 and Saturday, October 31, from 5:30 pm to 10:30 pm at the Parque de las Niñas y los Niños: between 17 and 20 altars, children’s workshops, traditional food and, on Saturday the 31st from 6:00 to 7:30 pm, a costume contest.
• San Pedro Tlaquepaque. One of the festival’s newcomers: a 25-square-meter clay ofrenda and around 80 activities, the most of any municipality, according to one source. We found no dates per activity.
• Panteón de Belén. The museum at Calle Belén 684 runs a tour marathon from October 27 to November 4. The regular night tours leave Wednesday to Saturday at 8, 9, 10 and 11 pm, and general admission is 111 pesos, paid in cash at the box office on the same day. Ask about special hours on the busiest dates.
• Outside the city. Some installations are in other municipalities, such as Zapotlanejo, with a 22-meter catrina, or Chapala, with a water ofrenda; if that appeals, plan a day trip.

We did not find a confirmed date or route for a cabalgata in Guadalajara: the only one the sources mention, with more than 200 charros, is in Lagos de Moreno. Check the full calendar the authorities publish.

03Where to stay depending on your plan

The main plan is spread across the center, Zapopan and Tlaquepaque, so decide on your base first and book with free cancellation when you can. These are options that specialist guides highlight; we cannot guarantee availability or prices.

• Boutique mansions in the center. Villa Ganz (a 1930s mansion with ten rooms), Del Carmen Concept Hotel (nine rooms in an 1867 mansion) and Casa Pedro Loza (eight rooms and a honeymoon suite) are small options if you want to be near the plaza and the Panteón de Belén.
• Lafayette and Chapultepec. Hotel Demetria and Casa Fayette are in the Lafayette area, with bars and restaurants nearby; a good base if you plan to dine out and walk.
• Andares and Zapopan. The Hyatt Regency Andares, with 257 rooms and direct access to the mall, is in Zapopan, the Calaveritas municipality.
• Quinta Real. A luxury hotel set in a former bullring, for those who prefer something classic.
• Tlaquepaque. Hotels such as La Villa del Ensueño and Casa del Retiro let you sleep in Tlaquepaque itself, which helps if your plan revolves around the clay ofrenda.

For a wider comparison, see our guide to luxury hotels in Guadalajara and the one on discreet hotels.

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Pick the hotel by the area of what you want to see, not by the lobby photo.

04A sample weekend: October 30 to November 2

A reasonable order if you arrive on Friday and want to see the essentials without rushing. Adjust everything to the official schedules.

• Friday 30. Arrive, drop your bags and stroll through Plaza Guadalajara at dusk to see the Plaza de las Almas calmly; then dinner nearby.
• Saturday 31. Morning in Tlaquepaque to see the clay ofrenda and have lunch there; in the afternoon, Calaveritas in Zapopan (5:30 to 10:30 pm; the costume contest is from 6:00 to 7:30 pm).
• Sunday, November 1. The busiest day. Plan your visits early and leave the evening free for a quiet dinner; if you want a Panteón de Belén tour, ask about special hours in advance.
• Monday 2. The Day of the Faithful Departed: for many families, the most intimate part of the holiday. If you visit a cemetery, do so respectfully and away from camera crowds.

If you want to stretch the trip, Monterrey and Guadalajara work well as a multi-day getaway.

05How to visit with respect and stay safe

• Respect the mourning. For many families these days are about memory, not spectacle. Ask before photographing people beside an ofrenda or a grave.
• Skip driving. On dates with closed streets and big crowds, ride-hailing or organized transfers are simpler; agree on your return point in advance.
• Mind the basics. Carry little cash, keep your phone put away in crowds and tell someone you trust your itinerary.
• Drink thoughtfully. Never leave your glass unattended, and see our guide to nightlife scams and safety in Guadalajara if you go out at night.

If you are booking your own stay, also read the guide to Guadalajara’s areas to choose where to sleep.

06If you want to meet someone, take it slowly

Day of the Dead is not a date to look for a date, and that is fine: these are days of family and memory. But a long trip to Guadalajara can also be a good chance to meet someone to share a dinner with after the festival, with time and without pressure.

Premium Dating Mexico is a private introduction service mediated by the administrator: it is free for women, nobody pays for a meeting, identities are verified and photos are protected. Learn more on the Guadalajara page and, to plan a first meeting, in our guide to meeting people in Guadalajara.

Events and hotels change, so confirm dates, hours and prices on each event’s official channels and with each hotel before you go. We have no relationship with any of the places mentioned, and the listings are not paid. The information comes from press reports from September and October 2026 about the Festival de las Almas, from the Panteón de Belén guide published on October 15, 2026, and from specialist hotel guides.