Oaxaca Day of the Dead 2026: Schedule, Itinerary & Tips From Someone Who’s Been

Day of the Dead in Oaxaca is the Mexico bucket-list trip so many people dream about.

I was one of those people, and now I’m lucky enough to say I have attended the Oaxaca Day of the Dead celebration twice.

This guide has everything I wish I had known before my first trip.

You’ll find the 2026 schedule, a day-by-day itinerary, where to stay, the best tours and the Oaxaca traditions you shouldn’t miss.

⚠️ Note: As this article covers A LOT of ground, use the Table of Contents to navigate to the information you need.

My Two Best Oaxaca Day of the Dead Tips

1. Book Oaxaca Accommodation ASAP

Check out these articles to help you pick the best Oaxaca hotels for Day of the Dead:

• Best 5-Star Hotels in Oaxaca City
• Best Boutique Hotels in Oaxaca City
• Best Hotels in Oaxaca with a Pool
• Best Hotels in Oaxaca City
• Best Hostels in Oaxaca City

⚠️ Note: Oaxaca City is a smaller town, and eventually, all Oaxaca Airbnbs, Oaxaca hotels, and Oaxaca hostels will sell out.

It happens every year, and I’m not kidding, fear-mongering, nor exaggerating when I say that.

If you have particular needs when it comes to where you stay (i.e., no stairs, quiet area, full kitchen, on-site parking), book early so you find a place that checks those boxes.

2. Book Day of the Dead Tours ASAP

If you’re looking to do a Day of the Dead tour in Oaxaca, you’ll want to book these well in advance, and as early as possible.

For the most part, tours are kept small at just 5-10 people, and thousands attend this Oaxaca festival — so the tours all end up selling out as well.

Best Oaxaca Day of the Dead Tours

Here are a few of the best tours in Oaxaca City, with a heavy focus on Day of the Dead and other uniquely Oaxacan cultural experiences.

• 7 Day Oaxaca Day of the Dead Tour
• Traditional Mexico Festival of the Dead in Oaxaca
• Tour of the Cemeteries of Oaxaca
• Celebrating Day of the Dead in Xoxocotlan
• Prepare an Altar for the Day of the Dead
• Oaxaca, Day of the Dead Deep Experience

Led by locals, they will know best to show you where to find the best cemeteries, fireworks, festivities taking place, and comparsas (boisterous parades).

Where to Stay in Oaxaca City: The 3 Best Neighborhoods & Hotels

Wondering where to stay in Oaxaca for Day of the Dead?

As they say — Location, location, location — because where you stay for Oaxaca Day of the Dead can make, or break, your trip.

For convenience, choose from the three Oaxaca neighborhoods listed below so you’ll have lots of amenities like restaurants, mezcal bars, ATMs and pharmacies within walking distance.

🌺💀🌺 Oaxaca Travel Tip: Day of the Dead is LOUD! You’ll want noise canceling ear plugs to get a good night’s sleep during this festive holiday.

1. Centro Historico (Downtown Oaxaca City)

Located within Oaxaca Centro Historico, you’ll find some of the best hotels in Oaxaca, like these:

• Quinta Real Oaxaca ($$$$)
• Casa Antonieta Oaxaca ($$$$)
• Casa Oaxaca Hotel ($$$$)
• Casa de las Bugambilias B&B ($$$)
• Hotel Casona Oaxaca ($$)
• Selina Hostel ($) — This is one of the best hostels in Oaxaca City, with single room dorms and private room options.

As with most cities in Mexico, you can’t go wrong staying in or around Centro Historico. This is the Historic City Center, or downtown.

This is the area where most Day of the Dead festivities take place, and a walkable part of town, so you won’t need to worry about catching a cab during this busy time in Oaxaca.

2. Jalatlaco Oaxaca City

Located one neighborhood over from Downtown Oaxaca, you’ll find trendy, colorful Jalatlaco (pronounced ha-lat-lack-oh).

This is a very safe area, with amazing restaurants, cool street art and colorful, colonial buildings.

Best Hotels in Jalatlaco Oaxaca

The best hotel in Oaxaca City’s Jalatlaco neighborhood is City Centro Hotel Oaxaca.

This is the pink Oaxaca hotel that’s famous on Instagram. It sells out quickly, but Hotel Cazomalli Oaxaca is another nearby option.

3. Xochimilco Oaxaca

Xochimilco (pronounced so-chee-mill-co), located north of Centro, is another one of the best neighborhoods in Oaxaca City.

This is the oldest, most historic Oaxaca neighborhood, so you’ll still get the colonial city feel in the buildings, but be further away from the crowds and noise.

Best Hotels in Xochimilco Oaxaca

Being on the outskirts of Centro Historico means great value at Oaxaca boutique hotels, like El Callejón Hotel ($$$) and Casa de Arte ($$).

In these, you’re also near one of the most historic and best things to see in Oaxaca City; an 18th century aqueduct that runs along Callejon Rufino Tamayo street.

💸 Traveling to Oaxaca on a budget? Backpackers and budget travelers will want to check these best hostels in Oaxaca City to see which ones have availability for Day of the Dead.

Oaxaca Day of the Dead Parade: The Magna Comparsa 2026 & Comparsas

The Magna Comparsa is the big parade that opens Day of the Dead in Oaxaca City.

Costumed dancers, brass bands and giant puppets called mojigangas wind through the historic center.

In 2024, it took place on October 30 in Centro Histórico.

The 2026 date isn’t official yet, since Oaxaca City usually announces its program in October. I’ll update this section as soon as it’s out.

How to Enjoy the Magna Comparsa Oaxaca

Get to the Zócalo area early to find a good spot. You don’t have to just watch, since anyone can join a comparsa as it passes.

After the Magna Comparsa, smaller comparsas go out day and night all week. Some go until about 1am (or even later), so pack ear plugs if you’re staying in Centro.

Many Oaxaca Day of the Dead tours include a comparsa as well, so if you miss the Magna Comparsa, don’t worry!

Oaxaca Day of the Dead 2026 Schedule

Here is how Day of the Dead week usually unfolds in Oaxaca City, with the 2026 dates.

Oaxaca City publishes its official program in October, so I will update this table when it comes out.

Date	What happens	Where to go
Oct. 28	Markets fill with marigolds, cockscomb and pan de muerto, and altars start going up around town	Mercado 20 de Noviembre and Mercado Benito Juárez
Oct. 29	Last chance to see the marigold fields before the harvest, plus Zaachila’s weekly market	Flower fields near Zimatlán; Zaachila sand tapetes
Oct. 30	Magna Comparsa, the parade that opens the festival (2026 date to be confirmed; it was Oct 30 in 2024)	Centro Histórico
Oct. 31	Families decorate graves, and some cemeteries hold an all-night vigil; comparsas at night	Panteón General; Xoxocotlán cemeteries
Nov. 1	Day of the Little Angels, honoring children who have died	Cemeteries; Sunday market in Tlacolula
Nov. 2	Day of the Dead, the main day; quieter family time at the cemeteries	Cemeteries in Oaxaca City and nearby villages

For more detail on each day, see my day-by-day itinerary below.

Oaxaca Day of the Dead Guide & Itinerary

October 31st: Your Oaxaca Day of the Dead Itinerary Starts Now

Wondering, When does Day of the Dead start? The first day is November 1 at midnight, which is why many say it starts on October 31.

In Oaxaca, the festival feels like it goes on for weeks because there’s so much to do, and there are events both day and night.

Before you arrive, take some time to make your Day of the Dead Oaxaca schedule using the info below.

When you arrive, head to the main Cathedral in Oaxaca, located near the Zocalo (Town Square), and pick up a schedule of events from the tourist booth. 

What to expect on All Saints’ Eve

Though not an official festival day, many families observe October 31st, the former All Saints’ Eve, by building elaborate ofrendas (altars) on the cemetery gravestone of their deceased loved one.

Some people in local homes and shops even leave their doors open so passersby can see the night vigils inside.

To try to see these, head to a pedestrian street, like Calle Macedonio Alcalá (AKA Andador Turistico).

As the eve of the souls returning, these preparations must be ready for the spirits’ arrival at midnight.

There’s a lot of energy in town, as people are ready to officially celebrate Dia de los Muertos after weeks of prep.

In fact, it will feel like the festival is in full swing, though the holiday hasn’t officially started.

Families visit the town’s cemeteries to decorate their loved ones’ graves and gravestones, and many put the finishing touches on the ofrendas (altars) outside of their homes.

What to do in Oaxaca on October 31

This is a great day to simply walk around the city, especially Centro Historico (Downtown Oaxaca City) and the Zocalo near the Oaxaca Cathedral.

An orientation walk like this is always a good idea so you get your bearings and get to know the city layout — and in recent years, there’s more to see than ever as this holiday in Oaxaca continues to get more popular.

You can pop into all the shops and art galleries to see all the elaborate altars and floral displays, but don’t forget to look down at the sand art on the ground.

If you missed the Magna Comparsa, you’ll still find smaller comparsas around downtown at night.

Magna Comparsa means Grand Parade, and this is the first official parade to open the Day of the Dead holiday.

You can also check out the local cemeteries listed below, as they’ll be decorated by now.

• Panteón General Oaxaca main cemetery in Jalatlaco Barrio
• Xochimilco cemetery in Xochimilco
• Panteón Viejo Xoxocotlán (AKA Xoxo Cemetery)

In fact, the decorations in some are usually up by October 27th, or sometime around the end of October; but definitely a few days before October 31st.

November 1st: Day of the Little Angels

What was formerly known as All Saints’ Day, is present-day Día de los Angelitos (Day of the Little Angels).

Note: You may also see this day called the Día de los Inocentes, or Day of the Innocents.

However, don’t confuse it with the Day of Holy Innocents Mexican holiday, which is on December 28th.

This Day of the Little Angels on November 1 honors the children who have passed. Their spirits returned the night before, at midnight, but parties continue all day.

What to expect on All Saints’ Day

Celebrations in cemeteries, as well as comparsas (theatrical parades), ofrendas (altars) in the streets and other city-wide festivities.

There are large booths with vendors set up near the Cathedral, selling Oaxaca art and Mexican folk art from other states in the country.

This will often last from early November until the end of the weekend following Day of the Dead.

What to do in Oaxaca on November 1

The entire town is decorated and in full festival mode, and you’ll want to spend time walking around the colorful Jalatlaco neighborhood and eating some delicious Oaxacan food.

There will be smaller parades all night in the city, or you can head to a giant celebration that’s off the beaten path — the San Agustin Etla Oaxaca Day of the Dead comparsa.

San Agustin Etla pueblo is located about 35-45 minutes from Downtown Oaxaca. It has the biggest, most wild comparsa, and most beautiful cemetery.

November 2nd: Day of the Dead

Formerly known as All Souls’ Day, November 2nd is the actual Day of the Dead day.

On this day, family members and loved ones celebrate the adults in their life who no longer walk the Earth.

The spirits of all adults returned the night before, at midnight, but parties will continue all day.

What to expect on All Souls’ Day

More celebrations in cemeteries, as well as comparsas (Oaxaca Day of the Dead parades), ofrendas (altars) in the streets and other festivities.

If Day of the Dead Oaxaca is starting to sound like one giant party, it is — but November 2 is often the most low-key day of the holiday.

What to do in Oaxaca on November 2

If there was any place you wanted to see in town, like a shop, restaurant, cafe or art gallery, you’ll want to head there early.

Many places have shortened hours for the holiday, though some don’t open at all.

If not, just enjoy the last few hours of parades and decorations and festivities.

Arriving Early: Before the 31st (3 Itinerary Options)

1. Visit the Oaxaca Flower Fields

A Oaxaca must do before Day of the Dead is to visit the flower fields — because the flowers will be harvested by October 30th, so you have to go before the festival.

There are a few flower fields near Oaxaca City, but the most popular one is Cultivos el Viejo.

This is located about one hour outside of the city, in the small town of Zimatlán de Álvarez, Oaxaca.

A popular spot for getting IG photos, YouTube videos and TikToks, you’ll want to either arrive early in the morning to beat the crowds, or get there in the late afternoon to catch the golden hour light (AKA magic hour).

There is no official entrance fee, but you are expected to give a donation of about $100 pesos ($6 USD) per person to enter this flower field in Zimatlán Oaxaca.

2. Visit Mitla for the La Catrina Exhibition

Located about one hour from Oaxaca City by car, San Pablo Villa de Mitla (or just Mitla for short) is best known as home to the Mitla Archaeological Site.

This is one of the most important ruins in Oaxaca. During the holiday, they also have this La Catrina & Skulls Exhibit.

A public art expo (Exhibición de Catrinas y Cráneo in Spanish), you’ll see large-scale La Catrina and sugar skull figures all over downtown Mitla.

In English, Mitla means “place of the dead,” so it seems fitting to visit this Oaxaca pueblo magico (magic town) during Day of the Dead!

The name originates from the Nahuatl word (or Aztec word), Mictlán. In Aztec mythology, Mictlán is the Underworld.

These Zapotec and Mixtec ancient ruins of Mitla are considered the second most important archaeological site in the entire state of Oaxaca, after Monte Alban Ruins.

Nearby, the prehistoric caves of Yagul and Mitla, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, hold some of the earliest evidence of farming in North America, from about 10,000 years ago.

⚠️ Oaxaca Day of the Dead Tips: If you keep going about 45 minutes past Mitla, you’ll be in Hierve el Agua. These Oaxaca waterfalls and thermal pools are one of the best places to visit in Oaxaca.

3. See the Zaachila Tapetes (Oaxaca Sand Carpets)

The word “tapete” literally means rug, but it has another meaning when it comes to Day of the Dead in Oaxaca City and the Central Valleys of Oaxaca.

The Day of the Dead sand tapestries have been associated with the holiday for centuries, and you can see them in Oaxaca City.

However, the best place to see Oaxaca tapetes made of sand is in the small town of Zaachila.

Located about one hour from Oaxaca City by car, head to Calle Coquiza Street in Zaachila and follow the sand carpet route to the Templo de Santa Maria de la Natividad church.

Trust me: This is like nothing you’ve ever seen!

⚠️ Note: The best day to visit Zaachila is Thursday so you can go to the Zaachila Market to buy some Oaxaca souvenirs.

After shopping, head to Mercado Gastronómico de Zaachila to try barbacoa and local Oaxacan food specialties.

Staying After the Festival: November 3rd and Beyond

As Oaxaca Day of the Dead is a two-day festival, many people arrive early or stay after to extend their trip.

⚠️ Here’s one of my best Oaxaca travel tips: Head to the best Oaxaca beaches, like Puerto Escondido, Zipolite, Huatulco and Mazunte, after the festival to decompress.

This is an easy road trip that many Oaxaca visitors do, and a great time of the year to visit the beaches.

If beaches aren’t your thing, there are plenty of things to do in Oaxaca City and the immediate area, like these:

• Enjoy a mezcal tasting or one of these best Oaxaca mezcal tours
• Visit Monte Albán Ruins archeological site
• Hike and relax in the hot springs at Hierve el Agua waterfalls
• Explore San Pablo Villa de Mitla, one of the Oaxaca pueblos magicos, or Mexico magic towns, famed for their indigenous culture.
• Shop the Oaxaca markets, both in and near the city, like Zaachila Market (Thursdays), Ocotlan Market (Fridays), and the popular Tlacolula Market (Sundays)

Day of the Dead Do’s and Don’ts

🟢 Do: Book your Oaxaca Airbnb, Oaxaca hotel, or Oaxaca hostel, and your Day of the Dead tours well in advance. (You’ve been warned 💀)

🟢 Do: Participate! When you see a parade going by, jump in and start dancing with the locals; it’s one of the best ways to participate.

This holiday is about remembering the deceased, so many local families in Oaxaca do love it when you ask about their departed loved ones honored on the altars.

🟢 Do: Have a day where your only plan is to walk the city. During Day of the Dead in Oaxaca, the whole town is transformed for this giant party, so explore as much as you can while the decorations are up.

🟢 Do: Ask for permission to take photos. To err on the side of caution, get permission from families in the cemeteries and at their ofrendas (altars), and when photographing people.

🟢 Do: Carry cash on you at all times. In Mexico, cash is still king, and in Oaxaca City, many places don’t take cards.

This is especially true with taxis, in any local market (mercados), and with street vendors, which will all be cash only.

🟢 Do: Pack noise canceling earplugs to get a good night’s sleep during this festive holiday.

Day of the Dead is basically a three-day party with loud music and city-wide celebrations.

🛑 Don’t: Treat this as a tourist attraction.

The Day of the Dead Festival is a centuries-old cultural tradition, so have fun, but know this is not the same thing as getting wasted on Bourbon Street during Mardi Gras in New Orleans.

🛑 Don’t: Touch or disturb anything, including altars, cemetery decorations, and sand art on the ground.

🛑 Don’t: Use flash photography anywhere.

To be safe you’ll want to just turn your flash on your camera from auto to off, so it doesn’t accidentally go off and flash at the wrong moment.

🛑 Don’t: Get wasted to the point that you lose your friends and have no idea how to get back to your hotel.

I get asked a lot Is Mexico safe?, and I usually reply that it’s as safe as you choose to make it.

🛑 Don’t: Wear American-style elaborate costumes — especially not the “sexy” variety you see on Buzzfeed lists.

Remember, this is Dia de Muertos in Mexico, not Halloween in the U.S., and it has a different vibe.

For an idea of what’s appropriate to wear, head here for Day of the Dead outfit ideas.

How to Dress for Day of the Dead

Wondering what to wear for Day of the Dead in Oaxaca? As mentioned, this is not a time for the “sexy costumes” that are popular in the United States.

However, since it is Dia de Muertos, you’ll probably want to pack a special dress or outfit to enjoy the nighttime festivities.

If not, you can buy something when you arrive in Oaxaca.

For this, you can head to a local Oaxaca City mercado (market), like Mercado 20 de Noviembre and Mercado Benito Juárez, to buy a dress or embroidered flower shirt.

Costumes are the norm for locals, and many do go all out, with traditional Oaxacan garments and face painting.

Want to get your face painted like La Catrina, the famous Day of the Dead Woman?

You don’t need to bring all your makeup for La Catrina face painting, as you can just pay someone about $50 pesos ($3 USD) on the street to do it.

You, however, will want to pack a good makeup remover to get it off at the end of the night. This should be one of your Day of the Dead essentials.

You’ll find plenty of vendors selling inexpensive flower crowns to complete the look — or you can go all out with one of 🌸 these elaborate flower crown headbands.

You can also visit one of the Oaxaca mercados mentioned above, as you’ll sometimes find vendors selling fresh flower crowns.

Oaxaca Day of the Dead: FAQ About the Festival and Holiday

It isn’t Mexican Halloween, and it isn’t sad, since it’s a celebration of the people we’ve lost.

Its roots go back to Aztec rituals for Mictecacíhuatl, the Lady of the Dead, which later blended with Catholic All Saints’ and All Souls’ days.

Learn more in my guides to Day of the Dead origins and Day of the Dead symbols.

That said, you’ll see some Halloween costumes on October 31, especially on kids.

Many children go door to door asking for their calaverita, a few coins or a piece of candy.

In Oaxaca, the night of October 31 is really about the dead, with families keeping vigil at cemeteries like Xoxocotlán.

As the spirits of our departed are said to return each day at midnight, many celebrations take place at night — so you might see some sources say Day of the Dead is October 31-November 2.

However, some celebrations start as early as October 28 in different parts of the Oaxaca state.

I always recommend visitors arrive to Oaxaca City by October 28th to enjoy all the amazing Day of the Dead vibes.

Since the first day of the celebration starts on November 1, the spirits will return at midnight, which is basically the night of October 31.

Though this is technically the “eve” of Dia de Muertos, much like Christmas Eve, many consider it a festival day.

As you might imagine with such an elaborate affair, the Oaxaca City preparations begin at least a week prior.

It’s really fun to see the city getting decorated with marigold flowers and watching the ofrendas (colorful altars) being constructed, and visiting the cemeteries and grave sites during the day.

Oaxaca, in a word, is magical. Oaxaca is the Mexico people imagine Mexico to be.

This state has it all: rich history, gorgeous beaches, colorful festivals, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, locally-made Oaxaca mezcal, beautiful nature, colonial architecture, artisan communities — and of course, Oaxaca food.

Mix all that with one of the most fun, beautiful, lively, cultural festivals on the planet, and you can’t go wrong with a Oaxaca trip to Dia de Muertos.

OAX has direct flights from U.S. cities including Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, LA and Chicago.

However, depending on where you’re coming from, you might not find direct flights to Oaxaca City.

In Mexico, you can catch a connecting flight to Oaxaca Airport from a number of places, including Mexico City, Tijuana, Guadalajara, Cancun and Monterrey.

Taxis are hard to find during Day of the Dead week, and I once waited over an hour for one. To skip the wait, book this Oaxaca airport transfer.

Mexico City to Oaxaca City

Domestic flight travel within Mexico is quick, convenient, and relatively inexpensive on low cost Mexican airline carriers like AeroMexico, Volaris and VivaAerobus.

✈️ Note: VivaAerobus is the equivalent to Spirit Airlines in the United States, so always remember, you get what you pay for.

In general, the bus from Mexico City to Oaxaca costs about $40 USD, and can take eight hours.

However, you can often find Oaxaca plane tickets for as little as $50-60 USD, for the one hour flight.

Of course, the bus has less of a carbon footprint, so some travelers might opt for the bus over a flight.

🚌 Mexico City to Oaxaca Bus

Mexico City is located about 7-8 hours by bus from Oaxaca City, with overnight trip options available.

If you’re looking into the buses, check for luxury class tickets through Mexico’s largest bus company, ADO.

The luxury tickets are a little more expensive, but a lot more comfy.

The Oaxaca City festival has more cultural connections, though it’s usually easier to travel to Mexico City for most people.

There are also other Mexico Day of the Dead celebrations like the Merida Day of the Dead festival called Hanal Pixan, the Tulum Day of the Dead festival, Campeche Day of the Dead festival, and many more.

Imagine walking around a historic colonial city, as you take in all the colorful decorations around you, listen to music from parades dancing past you, enjoy the smell of cempasúchil flowers (marigolds) in the air…

Perhaps the better question here is Why wouldn’t you want to celebrate Día de los Muertos in Oaxaca Mexico!?

⚠️ Coming to Oaxaca for Day of the Dead? Check out this detailed Oaxaca Safety Guide to get all my best tips for staying safe in Oaxaca City during your trip.

The best advice when packing for Oaxaca is to bring layers.

With such a big change from day to night, you need to be able to easily layer down in the daytime, and layer up at night.

I’ve traveled to Oaxaca for Day of the Dead as a solo female traveler, and I felt safe, but of course, safety is never guaranteed, so keep your wits about you.

For all my safety tips, read Is Oaxaca Safe? and Is Mexico Safe?.

Packing for Day of the Dead in Oaxaca

Wondering what to pack for Oaxaca Day of the Dead? Here’s a general list of the things I recommend.

✔️ Bring light layers, since warm days turn into chilly nights in Oaxaca City’s desert climate.

✔️ Pack a Water-To-Go bottle and eco-friendly sunscreen, because the days are super sunny, and it’s easy to get sunburned and/or dehydrated.

✔️ If you’re planning on drinking lots of mezcal and tequila, don’t forget these anti-hangover meds.

✔️ Since it is Dia de Muertos, you might want to pack a special dress or outfit to enjoy the nighttime festivities — like these.

You can also head to a local Oaxaca City mercado (market), like Mercado 20 de Noviembre and Mercado Benito Juarez, to buy a dress.

Want even more packing tips? Get my complete packing list for Mexico.

My Final Thoughts on Enjoying Oaxaca Day of the Dead in Mexico

The only caveat for going to Oaxaca Day of the Dead is you have to plan in advance.

As I aimed to make this blog post the Ultimate Guide to the Oaxaca Día de Muertos celebrations, I can’t stress this point enough.

Oaxaca is a small town, and all the Oaxaca Airbnbs, hotels, and hostels (especially the private rooms), will sell out — and so will all the best Day of the Dead tours.

If you make sure to book everything in advance, you’re in for the trip of a lifetime during your Day of the Dead celebration in Oaxaca City.