Día de los Muertos 2026: A time of remembrance and festivities
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The Day of the Dead, or Día de los Muertos, is approaching, a time when death and joy meet through the remembrance of departed loved ones. Instead of focusing on grief, the holiday emphasizes reminiscence and connection. Though often associated exclusively with Mexico, the holiday is traditionally celebrated in several Latin American countries, while its many iterations in the United States reflect diaspora traditions distilled through generations of cultural sharing.
Observed annually over two days—Nov. 1 and 2—Día de los Muertos invites the spirits of deceased loved ones back to the world, welcoming them with vibrant altars constructed by their family and friends and adorned with marigolds, candles, photographs and offerings of their favorite foods and drinks. Today, Día de los Muertos is an opportunity to celebrate and preserve cultural heritage and traditions that continue to evolve and make space for new interpretations of the holiday.
For those looking to experience Día de los Muertos firsthand, here are some events taking place over the next week in Washington, D.C.
Saturday, October 31
Day of the Dead at the National Museum of the American Indian
The National Museum of the American Indian hosts Day of the Dead event on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with arts and crafts activities, educational workshops, live dance performances and story times. Free.
D.C. Catrinas Parade & Cultural Festival
The D.C. Catrinas Parade & Cultural Festival takes place on the National Mall Saturday, starting at 11 a.m. with the festival running till 7 p.m. The event celebrates Mexican heritage through the tradition of Catrinas, the elegantly dressed skeleton figures associated with the holiday. Free.
Día de Muertos y luchas libre
For those interested in lucha libre, on Friday and Saturday, Lucha Libre Promotions has a Día de los Muertos & Luchas DC showcase at Kraken Kourts. General admission tickets begin at $23.18 including fee.
Rockville community celebration: Día de los Muertos
Meadowside Nature Center will hold a community celebration and shared art exhibition in Rockville on Saturday from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Through art activities and conversations about cultural traditions, the event explores how people remember those they have lost.
Sunday November 1
Celebración Día de los Muertos at The Wharf DC
The Wharf in D.C. hosts a Día de los Muertos outdoor festival on Sunday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., with local bands, traditional dance performances, decorated altars, face painting, skull decorating and a community light procession. Free entrance. Food and drinks for sale.
A Día de los Muertos Evening Picnic
The Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington hosts its Día de los Muertos Celebration with an evening picnic on Sunday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. with food trucks, live dance, musical performances and family-friendly activities. Bring a photo of your dearly departed to add to the ofrenda. Free entrance. Food and drinks for sale.
El Día de los Muertos at the National Portrait Gallery
The Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery holds its annual Día de los Muertos celebration on Sunday from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. with live music by Son de Fandango, Mexican folk dance performances by D.C. Folklórico Dance Company, art workshops and outdoor video art projections by MasPaz and Gauche.
Perreito and Coffee: Día de los Muertos
Hook Hall is hosting a Día de los Muertos edition of Perreito and Coffee Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The daytime gathering brings together coffee, food, music and dancing for all ages. Tickets start at $23.86 including fee.
Coco Live-to-Film Concert
Watch Miguel’s film journey through the Land of the Dead accompanied by live music performed by the 20-member Orquesta Folclórica Nacional de México at Strathmore in North Bethesda, Maryland. Performances of the Coco Live-to-Film Concert on Saturday and Sunday. Ticket prices: $28 – $78 apiece.
Sunday, November 15
Día de los Muertos: Vibrations From the Afterlife
The Capital Wind Symphony brings “an immersive evening” to Capital One Hall in Tysons, Virginia for Vibrations From the Afterlife on Nov. 15, starting at 6 p.m. The night will include mariachi music, dancing, food, art activities and a community altar and bilingual storytelling. Tickets: $22 apiece.
Looking for fun Latine events in D.C. or Boston? Check out Hola Cultura’s going-out guide Events Calendar, updated every Thursday with our top picks for the week ahead.
— Story by SPEL’s Arts and Humanities team members Valeria Lopez, Jessica Mendez-Perez, Audrey E. Baeten-Ruffo, Mazreha Shahid and Lourdes Parra
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