Chapultepec Park hosts Day of the Dead festival from 29 October
Published on 10/04/2026 at 06:05 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Chapultepec Park, also called Chapultepec Forest, will host the Day of the Dead Festival from 29 October to 4 November 2026 in Mexico City. The public programme will take place at Paseo de los Compositores and Lago Mayor in the park's Second Section.
The event forms part of Mexico City's wider Day of the Dead programme and gives travellers a specific reason to visit the park during the final days of October and the start of November.
Day of the Dead Festival runs from 29 October
The city government's visitor guide lists the festival from 29 October to 4 November 2026. It names the location as Paseo de los Compositores and Lago Mayor, both in the Second Section, and describes the programme as a large-scale immersive experience.
The programme is organised around The Cempasúchil Trail. It combines artistic expressions, music, dance, gastronomy, altars and a nighttime drone show. The city government programme also lists a separate Great Day of the Dead Parade for 31 October, starting at 2pm on Avenida Paseo de la Reforma.
Chapultepec Park links the festival to a four-section landscape
The festival's location matters because the Second Section has a recreational and cultural character distinct from the older First Section. The official visitor guide describes the park as one of the largest city parks in the Western Hemisphere, covering about 686 hectares and centred on Chapultepec Hill.
The park is divided into four sections. The First Section contains Chapultepec Castle and several major museums, while the Second Section contains museums and lakeside areas. The Third Section is primarily a wildlife reserve and cemetery, and the Fourth Section has been developed as a cultural area. This arrangement places the festival beside water and open public space rather than at the castle or the park's main museum cluster.
Chapultepec Hill was a retreat for Aztec rulers, and Chapultepec Castle later became the official residence of Mexican presidents until 1940. These historical layers sit alongside the contemporary festival programme in a park that remains a major cultural and green space in the capital. The official park guide confirms the park's sections and principal historical landmarks.
Visiting Chapultepec Park: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The Day of the Dead Festival runs from 29 October to 4 November 2026 at Paseo de los Compositores and Lago Mayor in the Second Section.
- The festival programme includes music, dance, artistic performances, altars and a nighttime drone show. The city guide does not state a separate admission charge.
- The venue is in Mexico City, in the Miguel Hidalgo area. The park's four sections are spread across a large urban landscape, so the Second Section should be identified before setting out.
- The park includes lakes, wooded areas, museums and open public spaces. Visitors should expect an outdoor setting and varied walking surfaces around the festival locations.
- Mexico's official language is Spanish and its national currency is the Mexican peso.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
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Frequently asked questions about Chapultepec Park
When does the Day of the Dead Festival take place at Chapultepec Park?
The festival runs from 29 October to 4 November 2026 at Paseo de los Compositores and Lago Mayor in the Second Section.
What is Chapultepec Park?
It is a large urban park in Mexico City covering about 686 hectares and divided into four sections, with museums, lakes, wooded areas and historic sites.
Where is Chapultepec Park and how do you get there?
It is in Mexico City, with the festival venue in the Second Section at Paseo de los Compositores and Lago Mayor. The city guide identifies the locations but does not specify a single transport route.
