Day of the Dead 2025 (Día de los Muertos): dates, traditions, and this weekend’s biggest celebrations

Día de los Muertos arrives this weekend with the same bright mix of remembrance and joy that has made it one of the world’s most recognizable cultural observances. In 2025, the heart of the holiday runs from Saturday, November 1 to Sunday, November 2, with processions, candlelit vigils, and community altars unfolding across Mexico and in Mexican and Latin American communities worldwide.

When is Day of the Dead 2025?

• November 1 — Día de los Inocentes / Angelitos: Honors children and those who died young.

• November 2 — Día de los Difuntos: Honors adults and all departed loved ones.

Some cities begin earlier with parades and festivals in the last week of October, and a few extend programming into the first days of November.

What happens during Día de los Muertos

Families build ofrendas (altars) at home and in public spaces, layering photos of the departed with marigolds (cempasúchil), candles, pan de muerto, papel picado, and the favorite foods or mementos of those being remembered. Cemeteries glow with evening gatherings; musicians play, children paint calaveras (sugar skulls), and communities share stories—often humorous—about loved ones. The point is not sorrow, but connection: the belief that love can bridge worlds for a night.

What’s new and notable in 2025

• Mexico City’s pre-holiday spectacles: The season’s lead-up featured massive processions of catrinas—elegant skeletal figures—along Reforma, with artists and community groups turning avenues into rivers of flowers, face paint, and towering headdresses. The city’s Gran Desfile (Grand Parade) caps the run of events around the holiday itself.

• Oaxaca’s expanded calendar: Across the state, cultural institutions, barrios, and villages staged more than a week of programming—music, sand tapestries (tapetes de arena), comparsas (costumed street parades), and late-night cemetery vigils—drawing visitors who plan months ahead for lodging and tours.

• United States gatherings: From Texas plazas to California cemeteries, major community festivals pair traditional altars with live music, artisan markets, and children’s workshops. Several flagship events reached capacity days in advance, a sign of surging interest and careful crowd management.

Where the biggest crowds are this weekend

• Mexico City: Downtown plazas, Reforma, and main cemeteries fill with parades, public altars, and late-night vigils. Expect road closures and packed transit; arrive early for curb space along parade routes.

• Oaxaca City & surrounding towns: Neighborhood comparsas and cemetery visits in nearby communities (e.g., Xoxocotlán) intensify after sunset. Guided visits help first-timers navigate respectfully.

• San Antonio & Texas corridor: Multi-day festivals with procession times posted in advance, plus altar trails at museums and historic sites.

• Los Angeles & Southern California: Large, ticketed gatherings at heritage venues and free neighborhood events with community ofrendas, dance, and marigold installations.

(If you share your city, I can pull the specific parade times, road closures, and altar locations.)

Traveler and attendee tips

• Go respectfully: Ofrendas are sacred spaces, even at big festivals. Ask before photographing people or private altars; never touch offerings.

• Plan the evening: The most evocative moments happen after dark—bring layers, cash for vendors, and a flashlight for cemetery paths.

• Transportation: Expect detours and tight parking near parade routes. Use transit where possible and budget extra time.

• Support local makers: Look for hand-cut papel picado, handwoven textiles, and locally baked pan de muerto—purchases directly sustain the communities that keep the traditions alive.

A quick guide to symbols you’ll see

• Cempasúchil (marigolds): Their color and scent are believed to guide souls home; petals often form pathways to ofrendas.

• Calaveras: Sugar or chocolate skulls, often personalized with names, celebrating the sweetness and brevity of life.

• Pan de muerto: A tender bread with bone-shaped adornments, shared among family and visitors.

• La Catrina: The iconic elegantly dressed skeleton, a satirical figure embraced as a symbol of equality in death and the joy of remembrance.

2025 calendar at a glance

The spirit of the holiday

Día de los Muertos is a dialogue between worlds—rooted in Indigenous belief, shaped by Catholic feast days, and renewed each year by families who turn memory into art. In 2025, that dialogue feels as vibrant as ever. Whether you’re lighting a candle at home or joining a citywide procession, let the marigolds lead you: remember, celebrate, and carry the stories forward.