Xcaret hosts Festival of Life and Death from 30 October

Xcaret and the Festival of Life and Death return together in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, from 30 October to 2 November 2026. The 20th edition brings Guanajuato to the park as guest state, with a programme spanning theatre, music, dance, exhibitions, workshops and altars.

The festival is a current visitor event rather than a general seasonal listing: its dates, venues and programme are published by the park operator for this four-day period.

Xcaret schedules Festival of Life and Death for four days

The festival runs across Xcaret from 30 October to 2 November 2026. The operator says the park's plazas, paths and other spaces will host the main programme, including theatre performances, concerts, dances, workshops, craft displays and exhibitions.

The opening ceremony is scheduled for 30 October at the Xcaret Park Esplanade. The programme also includes the featured concert Serenata Para Las Almas, presented by Lorenzo Negrete and Mariachi Monumental de Xcaret at the Xcaret Open-Air Forum. A separate gala concert by Pandora and Flans is scheduled for 31 October at Gran Tlachco. The 2026 programme details identify Guanajuato as the guest state and list events throughout the four days.

Guanajuato connects the programme with Xcaret venues

The guest-state theme is visible in the programme's subject matter as well as its performers. The schedule includes regional stories, dance, workshops, traditional music, food and crafts linked to Guanajuato and Quintana Roo.

Several named parts of the park become stages for that material. The Guadalupe Chapel is listed for theatre, the Main Plaza for a performance about Guanajuato legends, and the Xcaret Plus Caves for a theatrical journey involving the guest state's history. The operator's Festival information page describes the wider event as a Day of the Dead programme with offerings, altars, workshops, handicrafts, exhibitions, theatre, dance and gala concerts.

This distribution matters for visitors because the festival is not confined to one auditorium. Its link to the park's open spaces, chapel, plazas and performance venues makes the site itself part of the programme.

Visiting Xcaret: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• The Festival of Life and Death takes place at Xcaret from 30 October to 2 November 2026, with the opening ceremony at the park's Esplanade on 30 October.
• The programme is spread across plazas, paths and named venues including the Guadalupe Chapel, Main Plaza, Xcaret Plus Caves and Gran Tlachco.
• Xcaret is in Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, Mexico, at the Chetumal-Puerto Juarez Federal Highway, kilometre 282, in Rancho Xcaret.
• The programme includes theatre, dance, music, workshops, exhibitions and altars, so visitors should expect movement between outdoor and indoor venues rather than one single performance space.
• Spanish is the principal language used in Mexico, and the 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 Xcaret

When does the Festival of Life and Death take place at Xcaret?

The 20th edition runs from 30 October to 2 November 2026 at Xcaret in Playa del Carmen.

What is included in the Xcaret festival programme?

The operator lists altars, offerings, workshops, handicrafts, exhibitions, theatre, dance and gala concerts across the four-day programme.

Where is Xcaret and how do you get there?

Xcaret is in Rancho Xcaret, Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, Mexico, on the Chetumal-Puerto Juarez Federal Highway at kilometre 282.