Fri – Sun · Oct 23–25, 2026
One of the nation's largest Día de los Muertos festivals, with 80+ handmade altars, processions (Sat 7 p.m., Sun 3 p.m.), music and a mercado.
Hemisfair, 630 Nueva St. · Downtown
Illuminated barges with altars, catrinas and costumed riders float through the heart of the River Walk.
Downtown River Walk · Downtown
Live music, food, kids' face painting and workshops, giant alebrijes, a calavera collection and a 38.5-foot Catrina and Catrín.
La Villita Historic Arts Village, 418 Villita St. · Downtown
Traditional altars, live music, a marigold giveaway and family activities at the city's historic Mexican market.
Historic Market Square, 514 W. Commerce St. · Downtown West
The city's World Heritage Office honors Mission descendants with a drum-and-dance procession, mariachi, folklórico, workshops and an outdoor movie.
Mission Marquee Plaza, 3100 Roosevelt Ave. · South Side / Missions
A remembrance run with photo-bib tributes, a community altar, a costume contest and mariachis at the finish.
La Gloria at Pearl, 100 E. Grayson St. · Pearl
San Antonio Magazine's first burger fest: tastings from 10 local spots, fries, paletas and live music by Mitch Webb & the Swindles.
St. Paul Square, 1160 E. Commerce St. · Downtown East
Roberto Forleo's gothic ballet inspired by Coppola's 1992 film, a fitting pre-Halloween night out.
H-E-B Performance Hall, Tobin Center, 100 Auditorium Cir. · Downtown
Sam Beam's folk project plays Pearl's music hall, with support from Dug.
Stable Hall, 307 Pearl Pkwy. · Pearl
James Brown's former music director leads a night of pure funk.
Carver Community Cultural Center, 226 N. Hackberry St. · East Side
This is the weekend San Antonio turns marigold orange. Muertos Fest fills Hemisfair, La Villita and Market Square throw free Día de los Muertos parties, and on Friday night lit-up barges glide down the River Walk for the Day of the Dead River Parade. Most of the big stuff is free, all of it is downtown, and you can walk between most of it.
If altars and processions aren't your thing (or you want a break from the crowds), there's a gothic ballet at the Tobin, a brand-new burger festival at St. Paul Square, and two strong concerts. The full list is above; below is how to plan the weekend.
For the full background on the tradition, etiquette and more events through Nov. 2, see our Día de los Muertos guide.
The City of San Antonio expects downtown to be very busy Oct. 23–25, with several Día de los Muertos events running at once. Check road closures and parking at SA.gov/GoDowntown before you leave.
Reserved parade seats are assigned by section along roughly 2.5 miles of River Walk, and all sales are final. Children 2 and older need a ticket. If you'd rather not pay, a free standing-room area runs from East Commerce Street to the end of the route. Chairs aren't allowed there, so get there early. Strollers, carriers and ice chests aren't permitted on the River Walk during the parade.
Reserved seats and the Parade Plaza party at the Convention Center Lagoon are sold on the official River Walk ticket page.
Local tip: City garages on the route (St. Mary's Street, Houston Street and the Convention Center garage) usually charge event flat rates of about $20 or less, according to the River Walk organizers. Park near the gate printed on your ticket.
Muertos Fest asks guests to carpool, rideshare, bike, walk or use VIA. If you drive, the festival's advice is to avoid exiting at Cesar Chavez/281 and approach Hemisfair from the south or west. Hemisfair, La Villita and the River Walk sit close together. Market Square and Pearl are a short ride away.
Día de los Muertos keeps going through Oct. 30–Nov. 1, with the focus moving from downtown to Pearl, the West Side and the neighborhoods:
The tradition's main days, Nov. 1 and 2, also bring URBAN-15's Carnaval de los Muertos at Elmendorf Lake Park and the Centro Cultural Aztlan altar exhibit on Monday, Nov. 2. Details are in the full guide.