Hanal Pixán 2026 in Mérida: Paseo de las Ánimas, dates and where to stay

01Festival de las Ánimas 2026 calendar

These are the dates from the program published by the Mérida city government and local media. Times and registrations can change, so confirm them on the festival’s official page, merida.gob.mx/animas, before you head out. Sources checked on October 26, 2026.

• Already past: the lighting of the Ánimas iluminadas at Parque de San Juan (October 24; the figures stay on until November 20), the Feria del Mucbipollo in San Sebastián (October 25) and Pixán Pet (October 25, Ciudad Caucel).
• October 24 to 27: guided night tours of the Cementerio General, at 6:00, 6:30, 7:00, 7:30 and 8:00 pm. Capacity is limited and prior registration is required; by now, check with the city government whether any places are left.
• Wednesday, October 28, 8:00 pm: Rodada de las Ánimas, a ride on wheels that leaves La Ermita for the Cementerio General.
• Thursday, October 29: Pixán Paalal, a children’s activity at Parque de Chuburná.
• Friday, October 30, 6:00 pm: Paseo de las Ánimas, from the Cementerio General to Parque de San Juan. The route is more than two kilometers long, with altars, a food corridor, an entrepreneurs’ area and video mapping; more than a thousand costumed ánimas and about 300 altars are announced. A local guide recommends arriving 60 to 90 minutes early.
• Saturday, October 31, 8:00 pm: Desfile de Catrinas, from the Plaza Grande to Parque de La Plancha. That day there is also a night bike ride on Paseo de Montejo.
• October 31 to November 2: Caminos Misteriosos de Xcunyá-Misnébalam, in the outlying communities; you need your own transport or a ride-hailing app.
• At the Plaza Grande: a monumental altar where visitors can leave photos and memories, according to local press.
• November 1 and 2: Hanal Pixán offering ceremony at the Plaza Grande. On Sunday the 1st there are also Ánimas at the Dzibilchaltún archaeological site.

Most of the festival’s public activities are free, according to local media; capacity for the cemetery tours is limited.

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In Mérida, Hanal Pixán happens in the street, in the parks and at the cemetery, almost all on foot and at night.

02What Hanal Pixán is and how each day is lived

Hanal Pixán translates as “food of the souls”. It is a family tradition, both Maya and Catholic: food is prepared for the dead, altars are built and the cemetery is visited. It is not a Yucatecan Halloween.

• October 31, U Janal Palal. The day for children who have died; their altars often carry sweets and toys.
• November 1, U Janal Nucuch Uinicoob. The day for adults; the altar holds photographs, candles, flowers and each person’s favorite food.
• November 2, U Janal Pixanoob. The day for all souls, with Mass and cemetery visits; it is quieter than the festival nights.
• The mucbipollo. A large tamal wrapped in banana leaf and cooked underground; many families make it these days, and the Feria del Mucbipollo was held on October 25 in the San Sebastián neighborhood.

If you want to understand the date before you go, the most useful thing is to listen to whoever tells you about their altar: there is no single formula, and every family has its own way. Meanwhile, the Gran Museo del Mundo Maya (Calle 60 Norte 299 E) is open Wednesday to Monday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm and closed Tuesdays, according to ADN40; confirm before you go.

03Where to stay depending on your plan

Mérida is flat and the main events are close to each other, so location matters more than hotel category. A local outlet recommends staying in the Centro or near Paseo de Montejo so you can walk to San Juan, La Ermita and the Plaza Grande.

• Centro and Plaza Grande. The most practical for the Desfile de Catrinas and the offering ceremony. There will be more people and noise on festival nights.
• La Ermita and San Juan. This is where the Ánimas iluminadas are and where the Rodada starts; a good base for the Paseo de las Ánimas.
• Paseo de Montejo. A tree-lined boulevard with mansions, a short ride from the center; it works if you want something calmer that is still near the night bike ride.
• Outside the city. Chablé Yucatán, in Chocholá, is about 35 minutes from Mérida; arrange a transfer for the return at night.

At this time of year the nights are warm and humid, and October is still part of the rainy season, which runs from June to October; bring light clothing and something for the rain.

04Hotels for Hanal Pixán in Mérida

Hotels in central Mérida are small, so festival dates sell out fast. These have details verified in the Michelin Guide and in the press; the list is not exhaustive and not paid.

• Hotel Sevilla. 21 rooms in a 16th-century colonial villa, at Calle 62 number 511, next to the Plaza Grande, with a pool, a spa and a rooftop bar. According to Michelin, guests 15 and over count as adults. Rooms facing the street are noisier than the courtyard ones, and on festival nights it is worth asking for an interior room.
• CIGNO. 10 rooms in a 19th-century mansion in La Ermita, with a courtyard pool and another on the roof. La Ermita is one of the venues of the Ánimas iluminadas and the starting point of the Rodada.
• TreeHouse Boutique Hotel. 15 rooms in the historic center, adults only, with courtyards, gardens and a small plunge pool.
• Decu Downtown. 8 suites in the center, with a pool, a rooftop terrace and a restaurant.
• Hotel Sureño. 17 rooms in a 1920s building near Paseo de Montejo, with a pool and a rooftop bar.
• Rosas & Xocolate. 17 rooms and suites in two historic mansions on Paseo de Montejo, with a pool and a spa.

To compare at a calmer pace, see our guide to discreet luxury hotels in Mérida. If you prefer to plan ahead, the guides on meeting people in Mérida and restaurants for a first date give ideas for the nights outside the festival.

05How to visit respectfully and avoid surprises

Hanal Pixán is a family remembrance before it is a show. A travel guide specialized in Yucatán recommends a few rules.

• Treat altars in homes as family spaces. Do not touch or move offerings or photos, and do not walk into a home just because you see an altar.
• Ask permission before photographing people up close; photography is more accepted at public parades than at the cemetery.
• At the Cementerio General, keep your voice low, do not use flash during prayers, do not step on graves and follow staff instructions.
• Costumes are optional. Catrina costumes and skull makeup are common at public events, not at the cemetery.
• Bring what you need: water, comfortable shoes, light clothing and repellent, and leave original documents in the hotel safe.

On the busiest nights, such as the Paseo de las Ánimas and the Desfile de Catrinas, agree on a meeting point and a time to head back with whoever you go with, and order your ride from a well-lit place.

06A plan as a couple, or meeting someone with discretion

Hanal Pixán is a date to go with someone: the night walk, the altars and a quiet dinner afterward make a good setting for meeting someone calmly, with something to see and no rush.

If you are traveling alone or staying in town, a daytime first meeting in a public place such as the Plaza Grande or a café in the center is a natural way to start. It helps to arrive with your own transport, tell someone you trust and decide on the spot whether you want to continue.

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. If you would rather have someone organize it with discretion and verified identities, learn more on the Mérida page.

Venues change, so confirm hours, reservations and policies with each hotel before you go. We have no relationship with any of the places mentioned, and the listings are not paid.