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

01How Day of the Dead is celebrated in Monterrey

Day of the Dead is a celebration of memory: on November 1 and 2 families honor those who are no longer here. In Monterrey the celebration centers on museums, esplanades and parks, and in recent years it has grown with parades, contests and theme parks.

Because November 1, 2026 is a Sunday, most out-of-town visitors come for a long weekend. That is a good reason to decide soon where you will sleep.

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Monterrey celebrates in museums, parks and altars, not only in cemeteries.

022026 agenda: dated events

These are the dated events we found, from official and press sources. Always confirm times on each venue’s official site.

• Museo de Historia Mexicana (Esplanade). Sunday, November 1: at 6:00 pm, the 2026 Catrín and Catrina contest “Dioses ancestrales, catrines inmortales,” with children’s, youth and adult categories and an opening runway parade; at 7:00 pm, the concert “Cantos vivos para los muertos”; and around 7:30 pm, the awards. It is free, according to the organizers.
• Ofrenda “Personajes de la cultura y las artes.” From Tuesday, October 27 to Wednesday, November 4, 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, in the lobby of the Museo del Noreste (MUNE), Dr. Coss 445 Sur, downtown; it is visited with museum admission.
• Xantoluz, Parque España. A Day of the Dead theme park with zones such as the Mictlán, a traditional cemetery, an alebrije area and more than 20 daily shows. Sources disagree on the exact calendar (one places it from October 1 to November 2; another, from October 7 to November 8); tickets are sold online and one source mentions about 280 pesos for adults. Confirm dates and price before you go.
• Catrina procession in Santiago. October 31 at 5:15 pm, at the Auditorio Santiago, with 50 catrinas; it is free, according to Monterrey Secreto.
• Cempasúchil field in Santiago. At Rancho El Venadito, from September 19 to November 8, 8:00 am to 7:00 pm, from 100 pesos per person, according to the same source.
• Festival Internacional de Santa Lucía. Through November 1 at the Explanada de Santa Lucía, according to a tourism calendar; confirm the program.

Some events the guides announce have already passed: for example, the calaveras parade on October 25. That is why it pays to check dates before building your plan.

03Where to stay: San Pedro, the center or Santiago

The events are spread across the center, San Pedro and Santiago, and Monterrey is a big city. Pick a base according to what interests you most and, if you can, book with free cancellation. These are options that specialist guides highlight; we do not guarantee availability or prices.

• San Pedro Garza García. The Presidente InterContinental, opened in November 2025 (293 rooms and 25 suites), the design hotel Habita MTY with its top-floor bar, and the JW Marriott are the most comfortable choice if you want to dine out and rest well.
• Downtown. The Gran Hotel Ancira, from 1912, and the colonial-style Quinta Real put you near museums and plazas, such as the MUNE.
• Live Aqua Urban Resort. A luxury hotel in Loma Larga, with nightlife in the area, for those who want modern Monterrey.
• Santiago. Hotel Rincón de Santiago, about 30 minutes from the city, with 80 suites and 15 villas, ideal if you want the cempasúchil field and the procession to be part of your plan.

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

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In Monterrey distance rules: choose the area before the hotel.

04A sample weekend: October 30 to November 2

A reasonable order if you arrive on Friday. Adjust everything to the official schedules.

• Friday 30. Arrive and dine in your area; if time allows, stroll downtown and leave the MUNE ofrenda for the next day.
• Saturday 31. Morning at the MUNE (10:00 am to 6:00 pm); in the afternoon, head to Santiago for the catrina procession at 5:15 pm and, if you like, the cempasúchil field.
• Sunday, November 1. Close the day at the Museo de Historia Mexicana: Catrín and Catrina contest at 6:00 pm, concert at 7:00 pm and the awards. Arrive early for a good spot.
• Monday 2. The Day of the Faithful Departed; if Xantoluz is still open on your dates, it can be a relaxed outing, as long as you confirm the calendar.

If you want to extend the trip to Guadalajara, see our guide to Monterrey and Guadalajara.

05How to visit with respect and stay safe

• Respect the mourning. For many families these days are not a show; ask before photographing people beside an ofrenda.
• Arrive early. Free Sunday events can fill up; leave with a margin and decide how you will get back.
• Avoid driving at night. Use ride-hailing or organized transfers, especially if you drink.
• Mind the basics. Little cash, phone put away in crowds and an itinerary shared with someone you trust.

If you go out at night after the events, see our guide to nightlife scams and safety in Monterrey.

06If you want to meet someone, take it slowly

Day of the Dead is not the date to look for a date, and that is fine. But if your Monterrey trip includes a few extra days, you can use them to meet someone to share a dinner with after the holiday, 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 Monterrey page and in our guide to meeting people in Monterrey.

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 the Nuevo León government site and from press reports from September and October 2026 about Day of the Dead activities.