Día de los Muertos in San Antonio: 2026 Guide

Few U.S. cities do Día de los Muertos like San Antonio. Over a few weeks every fall the city fills with marigolds, sugar skulls and candlelit altars: a free three-day festival at Hemisfair, a river parade of glowing barges, giant catrinas at La Villita and neighborhood processions on the West Side. The season peaks the weekend of Oct. 23–25, 2026, and runs until the traditional days of Nov. 1 and 2.

This guide covers the official 2026 dates, what each celebration is like, and how to take part respectfully. Short on time this weekend? Our this-weekend page has the quick version.

What Día de los Muertos means

Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is observed on Nov. 1 and 2. Its roots are in Mexico and Central America, and it blends Indigenous Mesoamerican and Spanish Catholic practice. Families welcome their dead back for a symbolic homecoming, and at the center of it are altares (altars) and ofrendas (offerings): photos, favorite foods and drinks, personal mementos, candles, incense and cempasúchil (marigolds), which help the spirits find their way home.

Visit San Antonio puts it plainly: it's not a Mexican version of Halloween. The decorated skulls and costumes are there, but the heart of the holiday is remembrance. A few things you'll see everywhere:

• Ofrendas: altars built by families, schools, artists and businesses. Every one tells a different story, so look at the details.
• Calaveras: decorated skulls, from sugar skulls to giant painted sculptures.
• La Catrina: the elegant skeleton lady first popularized in 1913 by printmaker José Guadalupe Posada.
• Alebrijes: brightly colored, fantastical spirit-animal sculptures. The form traces back to a 1943 dream of Mexican artist Pedro Linares.

Muertos Fest at Hemisfair (Oct. 23–25)

Muertos Fest started as a small altar exhibition in 2013. Today it's a free, three-day festival that its organizers say welcomes 135,000+ people, making it one of the nation's largest Día de los Muertos celebrations.

2026 dates and hours - Friday, Oct. 23: 5–11 p.m. (sensory-friendly hours 5–7 p.m., with reduced sound and smaller crowds) - Saturday, Oct. 24: 10 a.m.–11 p.m. - Sunday, Oct. 25: noon–9 p.m.

Where: Hemisfair, 630 Nueva St., San Antonio, TX 78205 Admission: Free

What to expect: 80+ handmade altars (San Antonio's largest open altar exhibition), a community altar on display all three days, five stages of music, dance, poetry and DJs, the Muertos Mercado, workshops and kids' crafts. The two processions, with dancers, drummers, puppets and mobile altars, start Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. The official app has the schedule, the vendor map and altar voting.

The Day of the Dead River Parade (Oct. 23)

On Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, decorated barges, each representing a figure or tradition of the holiday, float down the River Walk with altars, catrinas and costumed riders. The parade starts at 7 p.m. near Lexington Avenue by the Tobin Center. Floats reach each section at a different time: about 7:45 p.m. at Arneson River Theatre, around 8:15 p.m. at Parade Plaza and around 8:20 p.m. near Rivercenter.

Ticket options - Standard reserved seats: an assigned chair, row and section. Food and drinks aren't included, but you can bring your own. - Parade Plaza Presented by Hennessy: general-admission standing room at the Convention Center Lagoon, with vendors and entertainment. Doors open at 5 p.m., and no outside food or drink is allowed. - Dinner and parade packages: a meal at a participating River Walk restaurant plus parade seating. - Free: a standing-room-only area from East Commerce Street through the end of the route, first come, first served. No chairs.

More free downtown celebrations

Day of the Dead San Antonio at La Villita (Oct. 23–25). La Villita becomes a free festival with live music, food, kids' face painting, altar-kit and painting workshops, and a community altar. Free activity hours are Fri noon–10 p.m., Sat noon–10 p.m. and Sun noon–7 p.m. The headliners are the art: giant alebrijes made by Mexico City artists, the Calavera Collection of oversized painted skulls, and what organizers call the largest Catrina and Catrín in the United States, 38.5 feet tall in Maverick Plaza. dayofthedeadsa.com

Día de los Muertos at Historic Market Square (Oct. 24–25). Free, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. both days, at 514 W. Commerce St. Expect traditional altars, live music, a marigold giveaway, face painting and the Las Monas Cultural Dance Procession from 1 to 2 p.m. each day. A free self-guided altar tour runs daily through Nov. 6 (10 a.m.–6 p.m.), and the Calaveras de Azúcar Festival follows on Oct. 31 (10 a.m.–9:30 p.m.) and Nov. 1 (10 a.m.–8:30 p.m.). marketsquaresa.com

Día de los Muertos Tradition Trail (Oct. 2–Nov. 2). A free, self-guided trail of 5-foot alebrijes, artist-painted calaveras, altars and towering catrinas along the River Walk and at downtown spots like La Villita and Hemisfair. It's the easiest way to see the season on a weekday. Tradition Trail

Beyond downtown: missions, Pearl and the West Side

These are often the more personal, neighborhood side of the tradition.

• Celebrando las Misiones, Mission Marquee Plaza (Sat, Oct. 24, 4–10 p.m.). The city's World Heritage Office hosts this free event at 3100 Roosevelt Ave. It honors descendants of the San Antonio Missions with a drum-and-dance procession from the Mission San José Granary, mariachi, folklórico, free sugar-skull face painting, a photo remembrance slideshow on the 1948 marquee screen and a Frankenweenie screening at 8:45 p.m.
• Día de los Muertos at the Missions (Sat, Oct. 24). Free viewing of ofrendas made by the parish communities of Missions Concepción, San José, San Juan and Espada. See El Camino de San Antonio Missions and our Alamo and Missions guide.
• Calaverita Run 5K & Family Walk (Sat, Oct. 24). At La Gloria at Pearl: Family Walk at 7 p.m., 5K at 7:30 p.m., photo-bib tributes and a community altar. Some registration types have sold out. Check RunSignup.
• Día de los Muertos at Pearl (Oct. 27–Nov. 3). Free ofrendas, live music, kids' activities and a Catrín & Catrina contest. Five 4-foot artist calaveras are on display Oct. 23–Nov. 5, and a communal procession crosses campus around 7:15 p.m. on Nov. 1. Pearl events
• Muertitos Fest at SAY Sí (Fri, Oct. 30, 6–9 p.m.). A free family evening at 1310 S. Brazos St.
• Día de Muertos at Rinconcito de Esperanza (Sun, Nov. 1, 4–10 p.m.). Free, at 816 S. Colorado St.: 20+ community altars, a community tapete, and a procession to the Alazán-Apache Courts with danzantes Kalpulli Ayolopaktzin. You can bring flowers, candles and reprinted photos for the community altar.
• La Vida de Los Muertos at Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center (Mon, Nov. 2, from 5 p.m.). Free at Plaza Guadalupe, 1327 Guadalupe St., with workshops at 5 p.m., a procession at 6 p.m. and dance at 6:30 p.m. Bring a lawn chair.
• URBAN-15 Carnaval de los Muertos (Mon, Nov. 2). Free at Elmendorf Lake Park, with a lantern release at 6:30 p.m. and an illuminated procession at 7:30 p.m. It's a smaller, more intimate crowd.
• Centro Cultural Aztlan "Altares y Ofrendas." The 49th annual altar exhibit, free at 1800 Fredericksburg Rd. #103. It opens Nov. 2 (6–9 p.m. per TPR, with an arts-and-crafts mercadito) and runs through Nov. 12, per Visit San Antonio.

Ticketed garden and zoo exhibits: Jardín de las Catrinas at the San Antonio Botanical Garden (through Nov. 2, included with garden admission) and Fiesta de los Muertos at the San Antonio Zoo (through Nov. 1, included with zoo admission).

Etiquette: how to celebrate respectfully

Visitors are welcome at all of these events. A few habits show respect:

• Treat ofrendas as memorials. Don't touch or move altar items, and keep kids' hands off too.
• Follow posted photo guidance. Some altars are personal. When in doubt, ask or skip it.
• Participate when invited. Many events (Muertos Fest, La Villita, Calaverita, Rinconcito de Esperanza) have community altars where you can add a photo, a name or a remembrance.
• Catrina face paint is part of the fun, and many events offer it. Wear it as a tribute, not a Halloween costume.
• Remember it's not Halloween. Joyful, yes, but the point is honoring people who have died.

Practical tips: parking, getting around, what to wear

• Expect crowds downtown Oct. 23–25. The city asks visitors to check event details, road closures and parking at SA.gov/GoDowntown. Event parking rates apply at city garages, and the SAPark site lists options.
• For the River Parade, the St. Mary's Street, Houston Street and Convention Center garages sit on the route, with event flat rates typically around $20 or less, according to organizers.
• Use VIA. Muertos Fest points visitors to VIA Park & Ride. Rideshare works too, but allow extra time.
• Stay central. Downtown hotels put you within walking distance of the River Walk, La Villita, Hemisfair and Market Square. Pearl, the Missions, Esperanza and Centro Cultural Aztlan are a short drive. See where to stay.
• What to wear: Late October can bring warm afternoons and cool evenings. Wear comfortable walking shoes, bring a light layer, and add sunscreen and water for daytime events. Check each event's bag and chair rules before you pack. Our packing list covers the rest.

FAQ

When is Muertos Fest 2026?

Friday, Oct. 23 (5–11 p.m.), Saturday, Oct. 24 (10 a.m.–11 p.m.) and Sunday, Oct. 25 (noon–9 p.m.) at Hemisfair, 630 Nueva St. Admission is free.

Is the Day of the Dead River Parade free?

Reserved seats are ticketed and nonrefundable, but a free standing-room area runs from East Commerce Street to the end of the route on a first-come basis. The parade starts at 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 23.

Are Día de los Muertos events family-friendly?

Yes. Muertos Fest, La Villita and Market Square all offer kids' activities such as face painting and crafts, and Muertos Fest has sensory-friendly hours on Friday from 5 to 7 p.m.

What's the best day to go?

For the full festival experience, go Saturday, Oct. 24, when Market Square, La Villita, Muertos Fest (with its 7 p.m. procession) and Celebrando las Misiones all run. For a quieter, more traditional feel, try the neighborhood events on Nov. 1–2.

Can I add a photo to an altar?

Often, yes. Muertos Fest, La Villita, the Calaverita Run and Rinconcito de Esperanza all have community altars. Bring a printed photo, not your only copy.

Some links on this page may be affiliate links. If you book through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend places we would send our own family.