Day of the Dead Oaxaca City: Full Schedule of Events and Parades 2026

Coming to Oaxaca City for Day of the Dead this year? Awesome!! The official 2026 program, “La Fiesta Más Viva de Todas” (The Most Alive Party of All), runs from 26 October to 3 November with more than 100 activities across the city and the surrounding villages.

This guide covers the official events in Oaxaca City’s Centro Histórico: the official parades, free concerts, sand tapestries and the big Zócalo nights.

Looking for the cemetery vigils? I’ve covered those separately 👉 Day of the Dead in Oaxaca: Dates, Cemeteries & Parades 2026

Quick note: I’ll keep this page updated. You can also check the official Oaxaca tourism board Facebook page for daily events.

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Day of the Dead Oaxaca 2026: The Highlights at a Glance

• Gran Comparsa (the main parade): Saturday 31 October, 18:00
• Verbena Popular “Xandú” (free tamales, chocolate and pan de muerto): Friday 30 October, 19:30, Zócalo
• Catrina contest awards: Saturday 31 October, 20:00, Alameda de León (Zocalo)
• “La Catrina” show: Saturday 31 October, 21:00, Zócalo
• Monumental sand tapestry: opens Thursday 29 October, 19:00, Zocalo

Day of the Dead Oaxaca 2026 Schedule: Day by Day

Monday 26 October: The Festival Begins

• 13:00 – Opening of the Day of the Dead sand tapestry at the Barrio Mágico Jalatlaco. The giant tapete de arena is made by three artists and stays on display through 3 November.
• 15:30 – Façade Contest Awards 2026 in the Centro Histórico. Oaxaca’s historic center competes for the best Day of the Dead decorations on its building fronts. The prizes are big, so the streets are worth a wander all week.
• 17:30 – Circuito “Flores que guían el alma” (Flowers That Guide the Soul). This route takes you to the marigold (cempasúchil) fields of San Jacinto Amilpas, San Antonio Arrazola, San Martín Tilcajete, Santo Tomás Jalieza, Teotitlán del Valle, Unión Zapata and Mitla. Free BinniBus routes are planned from Parque Juárez “El Llano”.

Wednesday 28 October

• 10:00 – Opening of Casa Hecho en Oaxaca: “Ofrenda y Herencia” at the Real Alhóndiga de Antequera. This craft showcase runs until 4 November, open 10:00 to 20:00, with around 90 artisans. It’s a great place to buy handmade pieces.

Thursday 29 October

• 18:00 – Ceramics exhibition inside the Palacio de Gobierno, Zocalo.
• 19:00 – Opening of the monumental Day of the Dead tapestry in the corridor of the Palacio de Gobierno, Zocalo.

Friday 30 October

• 16:00 – Divertimuertos 2026 – Varios workshops for kids and a costume contest in El Llano Park and then a Parade at 18:30 to the Alameda de León (Zocalo). This family-friendly event is great for the kids.
• 17:00 – Mega Compasa – Second biggest street parade of Muertos. Starts from the Cruz de Piedra, to Plaza de La Danza.
• 19:30 – Verbena Popular “Xandú,” in the Zócalo. This is one of the best free events of the week, a big street fiesta with free tamales, bread, chocolate and coffee.
• 22:00 – Third “Recorrido al Mictlán” night run at the Ex Convento de Santo Domingo de Guzmán.

Saturday 31 October: The Biggest Day

• 16:00 – Opening of the altar exhibition in the Zócalo. Expect monumental altars representing Oaxaca’s Indigenous peoples and Afro-Mexican communities.
• 18:00 – Gran Comparsa del Día de Muertos (the main parade). The parade runs from the Fuente de las Ocho Regiones on Calzada Porfirio Díaz to the Iglesia de La Merced. It includes cultural delegations, floats and giant mojigangas (huge dancing puppets). Get there early. The best spots along the route fill up fast.
• 19:00 – Illumination de Nichos, Altars and Tapete contests – General Cemetery – Good way to visit a cemetery very close to Centro.
• 20:00 – Catrina and contingents contest awards at the Alameda de León (Zocalo).
• 21:00 – “La Catrina” show in the Zócalo. This is a good way to end the night.

Concerts are also planned for the evening of the 31st in the city.

Sunday 1 November

• 18:00 – Muerteada de Chinas Oaxaquenas parade – Parque El Llano to Plaza de la Danza
• 18:00 – “Lenguas Vivas” concert at the Zocalo, celebrating Oaxaca’s living languages.
• 20:00 – Traditional Comparsa Del Barrio De Jalatlaco – Starts at the church.

Plus a few concerts/events in the Panteon General starting at 6pm.

Monday 2 and Tuesday 3 November

The main program winds down, but the exhibitions, the Casa Hecho en Oaxaca craft showcase and the sand tapestries stay open. The altars in the Zócalo also remain on display. Monday’s events in the image below.

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Daily Events Running All Week (26 October to 3 November)

These aren’t tied to a single time, so you can fit them in whenever suits you:

• Sand tapestry at Jalatlaco: a 250 m² artwork in the atrium of the Jalatlaco church.
• Façade contest: Centro Histórico, open all day.
• Workshops and exhibitions: at the Palacio de Gobierno and the Museo Erving Frissel, with pan de muerto making, sugar skulls and ceramics.
• Interactive five-room exhibit: Parque Primavera Oaxaqueña.
• Welcome arch: made of marigolds at San Jacinto Amilpas.
• Monumental sculptures: in Mitla and Santa Cruz Xoxocotlán.
• Atole Fair: Santa Cruz Amilpas.
• Alebrije expo-sale: San Martín Tilcajete, from 23 October.
• Cresta de Gallo flower festival: San Antonino Castillo Velasco, from 24 October to 1 November.

Tips for Visiting Oaxaca City During Day of the Dead

Getting around: from 31 October to 2 November the Centro Histórico usually has traffic restrictions in the afternoons and evenings due to parades. Road closures may mean taxis have to drop you a few blocks away, and journeys may take longer than usual.

Stay safe: crowds are big. Keep an eye on your bag and phone, especially on the 31st.

Walk as much as you can. Some of the best moments are the unplanned ones: a comparsa turning a corner, a street altar, a band that appears out of nowhere.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When is Day of the Dead in Oaxaca 2026?
The official festival, “La Fiesta Más Viva de Todas,” runs from 26 October to 3 November 2026. The traditional days are 31 October to 2 November.

When is the Day of the Dead parade in Oaxaca 2026?
The Gran Comparsa, the main parade, is on Saturday 31 October at 18:00, running from the Fuente de las Ocho Regiones to the Iglesia de La Merced.

Are the Day of the Dead events in Oaxaca free?
Most of the official events are free, including the Zócalo events, the parade and the Verbena Xandú, where tamales, chocolate and coffee are given out.

What’s happening in the Zócalo during Day of the Dead?
The Verbena Xandú on 30 October, the altar exhibition from 31 October and the “La Catrina” show on 31 October at 21:00.

Is it safe to visit Oaxaca during Day of the Dead?
Oaxaca is generally busy with visitors during Day of the Dead. Take normal precautions in crowds, and arrange transport in advance for cemetery visits at night.

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Final Thoughts

Day of the Dead in Oaxaca isn’t just a calendar of events. It’s a week when the whole city comes out: music in the streets, orange flowers everywhere. Use this schedule as your backbone, and leave room to wander.

Heading to the cemeteries too? Read my Day of the Dead cemeteries guide.

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