Malecón hosts Festival de las Almas from 31 October
Published on 10/31/2026 at 13:21 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSFestival programme and waterfront art
- Puerto Vallarta’s official programme runs at the Malecón from 31 October to 3 November 2026.
- Fifty catrina sculptures and a 1 November unveiling connect the festival with the waterfront promenade.
- The boardwalk’s bronze works include The Boy on the Seahorse, installed in 1976.
Malecón hosts Festival de las Almas in Puerto Vallarta from 31 October 2026, bringing Day of the Dead art and performances to the waterfront. The programme places the Pacific promenade at the centre of a public cultural celebration in Mexico.
Festival de las Almas brings art to the waterfront
The Puerto Vallarta programme runs from Saturday, 31 October to Tuesday, 3 November 2026. It forms part of Jalisco’s wider Festival de las Almas, organised by the state government through its Ministry of Tourism and State Entertainment Agency.
The official schedule includes an open-air display of 50 monumental catrina sculptures along the Malecón through 3 November. On 1 November, the Monumental Catrina is unveiled at 7pm on the El Faro lighthouse esplanade.
On 2 November, the Grand Day of the Dead Parade starts at the 5 de Diciembre Municipal Cemetery and reaches Los Muertos Beach Pier. Other scheduled activities include video mapping opposite Plaza de Armas on 30 October, folk ballet at Los Arcos on 31 October and a community pet walk from Hidalgo Park to Los Arcos on 3 November. The official Puerto Vallarta programme lists the venues and dates.
Malecón sculptures meet a Day of the Dead gallery
The boardwalk follows the Pacific shoreline through central Puerto Vallarta and continues towards the Romantic Zone. It is known for its open-air collection of public sculptures, including works by Ramiz Barquet, Alejandro Colunga and Sergio Bustamante.
The Boy on the Seahorse, by Rafael Zamarripa, dates from 1976 and is one of the city’s recognised symbols. During Festival de las Almas, that established sculpture route becomes the setting for new catrina installations, altars, marigold displays and live cultural activity.
This connection gives the programme a specific setting: visitors encounter temporary Day of the Dead art among permanent bronze works, while the lighthouse esplanade provides the venue for the 1 November unveiling. A guide to the boardwalk sculptures identifies the promenade’s artists and named works.
Puerto Vallarta programme links the sea with local tradition
The event uses more than the promenade itself. Plaza de Armas, Los Arcos, the Historic Downtown, Los Muertos Pier and Cuale Island are also listed as venues between 31 October and 3 November.
The programme’s waterfront focus is reflected in its content. Traditional fishing boats, oceanfront altars and candle-lighting rituals are scheduled alongside music, dance and visual installations. The parade route also links the cemetery with the coast, ending at Los Muertos Beach Pier on 2 November.
Visiting Malecón: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The main Puerto Vallarta programme runs from 31 October to 3 November 2026, while the 50 catrina sculptures remain on the boardwalk through 3 November.
- The 1 November unveiling takes place at the El Faro lighthouse esplanade, and the 2 November parade runs from the 5 de Diciembre Municipal Cemetery to Los Muertos Beach Pier.
- The Malecón is a waterfront pedestrian promenade in central Puerto Vallarta, extending south towards Los Arcos, the Cuale River and the Romantic Zone.
- The route includes permanent public sculptures and open-air spaces, while the festival adds temporary catrinas, altars, video mapping, music and dance.
- 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 Malecón
When does Festival de las Almas take place at Malecón?
The Puerto Vallarta programme runs from 31 October to 3 November 2026, with the catrina exhibition continuing through 3 November.
What is happening at Malecón during the festival?
Fifty monumental catrinas, altars, video mapping, music, dance and a 1 November unveiling are scheduled along the waterfront and nearby venues.
Where is Malecón and how do you get there?
The promenade is in central Puerto Vallarta beside the Pacific, with festival venues extending towards Los Arcos, the Cuale River and the Romantic Zone.
