Jalisco, Mexico – October 21, 2026 -- From October 24 to November 15, 12 Jalisco municipalities will host more than 350 free Day of the Dead activities as part of the second Festival de las Almas, organized by the state's Tourism Secretariat and State Entertainment Agency.
The festival has doubled in size from six municipalities in 2025. Its theme is "one state, many identities, one shared memory." The program covers the Guadalajara Metropolitan Area, the mountains, the Lake Chapala region, the agave valley, Los Altos, and the coast, and includes altars, exhibitions, parades, tours, and musical performances.
Six new municipalities join the lineup
San Pedro Tlaquepaque, Tequila, Sayula, Mazamitla, Lagos de Moreno, and Cocula are the newcomers. They join Guadalajara, Zapopan, Tlajomulco de Zúñiga, Chapala, Puerto Vallarta, and Zapotlanejo from the first edition.
Guadalajara stages a charro-themed exhibition and a parade
The El Espíritu del Charro exhibition runs October 30 to November 13, with monumental catrina figures in Plaza Guadalajara. Projection mapping lights up the Cathedral on October 31 and November 1. The main parade takes place October 31 from 6 to 8 p.m., and theatrical nighttime tours visit the Belén and Mezquitán cemeteries.
Tlajomulco and Tlaquepaque build large-scale programs
In Tlajomulco de Zúñiga, El Mictlán is open October 31 to November 2. It features a monumental arch, the Alley of Legends, the Tree of Souls, and a performance of La Llorona in canoes on Lake Cajititlán.
San Pedro Tlaquepaque offers about 80 activities from October 25 to November 2 under the title Living Tradition, Clay That Transcends. Highlights include the opening parade on October 25, the El Alabado procession on October 30, the Walk of Souls on November 1, and a procession of catrina brides on November 2.
Smaller towns lean on local culture
Sayula honors writer Juan Rulfo with altars and sawdust carpets. Cocula, known for its mariachi connection, hosts performances at the Mariachi Museum and the Templo de la Cruz. Mazamitla offers catrina fashion shows and mountain cuisine.
Zapotlanejo displays a 22-meter-tall Catrina and cinematic sets honoring its textile industry. Lagos de Moreno stages a horseback parade of charros in formal attire and the Grand Offering of Los Altos Pride. Tequila pairs its agave landscape with cultural tours, a traditional fair, and façade-decorating contests.
Chapala lines its waterfront promenade with a path of marigolds and hosts projection mapping at City Hall. Puerto Vallarta installs Boats of Light and Guardian of the Ocean along its waterfront promenade. Zapopan's Path of Corn takes over the Andador pedestrian walkway.
Travel times from Guadalajara range from one to four hours
Chapala and Tequila are just over an hour from Guadalajara, while Mazamitla and Lagos de Moreno are just over two hours away. Puerto Vallarta is less than four hours away, based on the route travel times indicated by organizers.