Day of the Dead 2026 is celebrated on Sunday, November 1 and Monday, November 2. November 2 is not a mandatory day off under Mexico's [Federal Labor Law](https://www.diputados.gob.mx/LeyesBiblio/pdf/LFT.pdf), so most workplaces operate normally, but basic education students in SEP schools have no classes that Monday and get a four-day weekend, from Friday, October 30 to Monday, November 2, according to the 2026-2027 school calendar cited by [TV Azteca](https://www.tvazteca.com/aztecanoticias/megapuente-dia-muertos-2026-hay-clases-este-viernes-30-octubre-sep-aclara/) and [AS México](https://mexico.as.com/actualidad/habra-megapuente-en-noviembre-del-2026-por-dia-de-muertos-sep-revela-la-verdad-f202610-n/).
The festivity, which UNESCO inscribed in 2008 on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, celebrates "the temporary return to earth of deceased relatives and loved ones", according to UNESCO's official entry. Here are the dates, the rules on days off and the basics of setting up an ofrenda (altar).
Day of the Dead 2026 dates
| Date | Day | Who is remembered or what happens |
|---|---|---|
| October 30 | Friday | No basic education classes in SEP schools due to the School Technical Council |
| October 31 | Saturday | Grand Day of the Dead Parade in Mexico City (2:00 p.m.); many families welcome deceased children |
| November 1 | Sunday | All Saints' Day: traditionally the day of deceased children ('angelitos') |
| November 2 | Monday | All Souls' Day: the day of deceased adults; no SEP classes |
| November 3 | Tuesday | Return to basic education classes |
Sources: TV Azteca, AS México, Infobae and El Universal. The dates of the tradition vary by region and family: in some places children are welcomed from October 31 and adults on November 1 and 2. In San Luis Potosí, according to AS México, the school break starts on Thursday, October 29.
Is the Day of the Dead an official holiday in Mexico?
No. Article 74 of the Federal Labor Law sets the mandatory days off, and November 1 and 2 are not on the list. That means employers are not required to give the day off or pay double if employees work. The school break is a decision by the SEP for schools, not a labor rule.
| Group | Day off on November 2, 2026? | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Private sector workers | Not mandatory; depends on the company or collective agreement | LFT, art. 74 |
| Preschool, primary and secondary students (SEP) | Yes, no classes | 2026-2027 school calendar |
| Teachers | No classes on November 2; on October 30 they attend the Technical Council | School calendar |
| Government employees | Depends on each agency or state government | Official calendars |
The first mandatory day off in November is Monday, November 16, for the anniversary of the Mexican Revolution, which also falls during El Buen Fin 2026. If you work that day, you are entitled to double pay on top of your normal wage. The full calendar of days off next year is in Mexico's 2027 holidays.
When to set up the Day of the Dead ofrenda
There is no single date, but most families build the altar in the last days of October so it is ready when the souls "arrive". According to the Catholic tradition described by El Universal, children are remembered between October 31 and November 1, and adults on November 2. Many families take down the ofrenda on November 3 or 4 and share the food.
| Ofrenda element | What it represents according to tradition |
|---|---|
| Cempasúchil (marigold) flower | Its color and scent guide the souls to the altar |
| Candles | Light that shows the way back; hope and faith |
| Water | Quenches the souls' thirst after the journey |
| Salt | Purification |
| Copal or incense | Purifies the air and draws the dead with its scent |
| Pan de muerto (bread of the dead) | A shared offering; its shape evokes bones and tears |
| Photos and personal items | Remember the person being honored |
| Favorite food and drink | What the person liked in life |
| Papel picado (cut paper) | Festive decoration that ties the altar together |
Source: El Universal and popular tradition; meanings change from region to region. Altars can have two levels (heaven and earth), three (heaven, earth and the underworld) or seven, representing the soul's steps toward rest.
The 2026 Grand Parade in Mexico City
- Date and time: Saturday, October 31, from 2:00 p.m.
- Route: starts at the Diana Cazadora roundabout, follows Paseo de la Reforma and Avenida Juárez, enters along 5 de Mayo and ends at the Zócalo; about 8 kilometers.
- Length: about four and a half hours; it is expected to end between 6:30 and 7:00 p.m.
- Cost: free.
- Crowds: the 2025 edition drew 1,450,000 people, according to the city government.
Source: Mexico City government, cited by Infobae. The Monumental Ofrenda in the Zócalo stays up until November 2.
What is celebrated and where the tradition comes from
According to UNESCO, the festivity takes place every year in late October and early November, coinciding with the end of the annual maize cycle. It blends pre-Hispanic beliefs with the Catholic calendar of All Saints' and All Souls' Days. It is not the same as Halloween, which comes from the Anglo-Saxon tradition on October 31, although both celebrations coexist in cities. Besides home altars, many families visit cemeteries, clean and decorate the graves and spend the night beside their loved ones.
Frequently asked questions
Is November 2, 2026 a public holiday in Mexico?
It is not a mandatory day off under the Federal Labor Law. Basic education schools in the SEP system have no classes that Monday.
Is there school on October 30, 2026?
Not in SEP basic education: it is a School Technical Council day. Students return on Tuesday, November 3.
When do you set up the Day of the Dead ofrenda?
It is usually set up in late October. Traditionally, children are remembered on October 31 and November 1, and adults on November 2.
When is the 2026 Day of the Dead parade in Mexico City?
Saturday, October 31 at 2:00 p.m., from the Diana Cazadora to the Zócalo.
Do I have to be paid double if I work on November 2?
Not by law, because it is not a mandatory day off. The first mandatory day off in November is Monday the 16th.
