Mexico Events 2026: November and December Festivals in Cities and Magical Towns

The last stretch of 2026 is the busiest time of the year to travel in Mexico: in ten weeks you get the Day of the Dead, the November 16 long weekend, the big city fairs and the Christmas season in the Magical Towns. We gathered the dates already announced so you can plan ahead. Every event has its own page in the festival calendar.

We checked these dates in October 2026 against official sources and local press. When an edition isn't confirmed yet we mark it as an estimated date: verify before you book.

Day of the Dead (October 24 to November 8)

Cities

• Festival of the Ánimas, Mérida — October 24 to November 2. The Walk of the Souls leaves the General Cemetery for the San Juan district on Friday, October 30 at 6 pm, and there's a catrina parade from the Plaza Grande on Saturday the 31st.
• Mexico City Day of the Dead Parade — Saturday, October 31, 2 pm. The 10th edition, with over 4,000 performers, runs from the Diana Cazadora to the Zócalo. The monumental alebrijes stay on display along Reforma until November 8.
• Mixquic Candlelight Vigil, Tláhuac — October 31 to November 2. On the night of the 2nd the cemetery glows with thousands of candles.
• Calaveras Cultural Festival, Aguascalientes — October 30 to November 8. Skull parade on the 30th at 7 pm and a tribute to José Guadalupe Posada, creator of La Catrina.
• Mexico City Grand Prix F1 — October 30 to November 1. Same weekend as the parade: the priciest weekend of the year to stay in the capital.

Magical Towns

• Festival of Souls in Valle de Bravo, through November 2.
• Festival of Light and Life on the lagoon of Chignahuapan, October 30 to November 2.
• Night of the Dead in Pátzcuaro and Janitzio, Xantolo in Xilitla and Hanal Pixán in Valladolid, October 31 to November 2.

For more ideas, read our guide to the best Magical Towns for the Day of the Dead.

November: balloons, jazz and fairs

• Jazz & Blues Festival, San Miguel de Allende — November 11–15. Concerts at the Ángela Peralta Theater and other downtown venues.
• International Livestock Fair, Querétaro — November 12–30. 100-peso admission with 17 free concerts at the Teatro del Pueblo. Make time for Bernal and Tequisquiapan, under an hour away.
• International Balloon Festival, León — November 13–16. Its 25th edition falls on the November 16 long weekend, with dawn lift-offs and Magic Nights of glowing balloons. From León you're close to Jalpa de Cánovas and Dolores Hidalgo.
• Mazunte Jazz Festival — mid-November (estimated). Free beachfront concerts in Mazunte.
• Atlixco Illuminated Village — from November 13 (estimated) to early January. Downtown Atlixco fills with light sculptures.

Christmas in the ornament towns

• Christmas Ornament Fair, Tlalpujahua — October 7 to December 18. More than 650 glassblowing workshops open to visitors in its 27th edition. Closing may be moved up to December 15.
• National Tree and Ornament Fair, Chignahuapan — late November (estimated). In 2025 it ran November 21–30.

Late November and December

• Guadalajara International Book Fair — November 28 to December 6. The book fair turns 40 with Italy as Guest of Honor. From November 30 to December 2 the general public can only enter in the afternoon.
• National Tequila Fair, Tequila — November 28 to December 12 (estimated). Pair it with the book fair: the town is an hour from Guadalajara.
• National Silver Fair, Taxco — November 29 to December 6.
• Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mexico City — December 11–12. The Mañanitas are sung at midnight at the Basilica.
• Night of the Radishes, Oaxaca — Wednesday, December 23. Carved radishes in the Zócalo; the line can take hours.

Kicking off 2027

• Alfonso Ortiz Tirado Festival, Álamos — January 22–30, 2027. Book now: lodging in Álamos sells out.
• Candlemas Festival, Tlacotalpan — late January to early February. The river procession is on February 2.

Tips for this season

1. Book the long weekends first. The October 31 weekend (parade, F1 and Day of the Dead) and the November 16 weekend (León balloons) fill hotels in the capital, the Bajío and Michoacán.
2. Sleep in a nearby Magical Town. For city events it's often cheaper and calmer: see the Magical Towns near Mexico City, near Guadalajara or near León.
3. Subscribe to the calendar. From the festival calendar you can add every event to Google Calendar or your iPhone and get date changes automatically.