If you want to see a Día de Muertos ofrenda in person this year, you don’t have to wait for November 1. Los Angeles, San Antonio and Chicago open some of their biggest celebrations between Friday, October 23, and Sunday, October 25, 2026, and most of them are free.
The only big one with a ticket is Hollywood Forever in L.A. Everything else on this list just needs you and your familia.
¿Where are the biggest Día de Muertos events this weekend?
The biggest Día de Muertos events this weekend are in Los Angeles, San Antonio and Chicago. Grand Park and Hollywood Forever open in L.A. on Saturday, October 24, Muertos Fest takes over Hemisfair in San Antonio from October 23 to 25, and Chicago’s National Museum of Mexican Art hosts Día de los Muertos Xicágo on October 24.
| Event | City | Dates | Hours | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Downtown Día de los Muertos, Grand Park | Los Angeles | Oct. 24 to Nov. 2 | 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily | Free |
| Día de los Muertos at Hollywood Forever | Los Angeles | Sat., Oct. 24 | Noon to midnight | Paid ticket |
| Muertos Fest at Hemisfair | San Antonio | Oct. 23 to 25 | Sat. and Sun., 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. | Free on Sat. and Sun. |
| Día de los Muertos Xicágo, Harrison Park | Chicago | Sat., Oct. 24 | 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. | Free |
Los Angeles: one free park, one big night at a cemetery
Gloria Molina Grand Park, at 200 N Grand Ave, opens a 10-day outdoor exhibition of 17 altars made by artists and local organizations. Opening day, Saturday, October 24, runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. with live music by El Río, Grupo Bella, Anaís Azul and Mariachi Arco•Iris de Los Angeles, plus face painting and sugar skull workshops.
As of October 2026, Grand Park says the exhibition is free, no ticket is needed, and anyone selling tickets should be reported. There’s also a community altar where you can leave a framed photo, a keepsake or a message for someone you miss.
Across town, Hollywood Forever hosts its 27th annual Día de los Muertos on the same Saturday, from noon to midnight, according to the City of Los Angeles. This one is ticketed. Uno TV reported official prices between about $27 and $46, with entry windows during the day and no refunds.
The organizers’ FAQ adds a few things worth knowing: the event happens rain or shine, Día de Muertos outfits and face paint are encouraged, and some vendors may not take cards, so bring cash.
¿Is Muertos Fest in San Antonio free?
Yes. Muertos Fest at Hemisfair is free on Saturday, October 24, and Sunday, October 25, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., according to Centro San Antonio. The 14th edition brings more than 80 altars, five stages, workshops, two processions and more than 75 art vendors.
It starts the night before. Friday, October 23, is “¡Presente! A Night to Remember,” with a fashion show, performances on the main stage and sensory-friendly hours from 5 to 7 p.m., a good window for families with kids who get overwhelmed by crowds and noise.
If you’re downtown that Friday, the Day of the Dead River Parade floats illuminated barges with altars and costumed performers down the River Walk at 7 p.m., according to Axios San Antonio.
Chicago lights up an ofrenda on a museum wall
The National Museum of Mexican Art hosts Día de los Muertos Xicágo on Saturday, October 24, from 3 to 8 p.m. at Harrison Park. It’s free and happens rain or shine, the museum says, with community ofrendas, folklórico and mariachi.
The moment to wait for comes around 6 p.m., when an illuminated ofrenda is projected onto the outside of the museum, showing photos of people the community is remembering. If you can’t be there, it streams on the museum’s YouTube page during the memorial.
Inside, the museum’s 40th annual Día de Muertos exhibition, “Where Memory Lives: 40 Years of Día de Muertos,” runs through November 29, 2026, with works by artists including José Guadalupe Posada and Carmen Lomas Garza.
Pick the one closest to you, take a photo of someone you love for the community altar, and tell us which city you’re celebrating in this year.
