Puerto Vallarta Festival de las Almas returns in 2026

The Festival de las Almas will take place from October 24 to November 15, 2026, with Puerto Vallarta among the 11 venues for its second edition. Promoted by the Government of Jalisco to commemorate Día de Muertos, the festival will include more than 350 free activities across the participating localities: San Pedro Tlaquepaque, Sayula, Mazamitla, Lagos de Moreno, Cocula, Guadalajara, Zapopan, Tlajomulco de Zúñiga, Chapala, Puerto Vallarta, and Zapotlanejo. Puerto Vallarta’s activities will follow a special schedule, with celebrations concentrated on days close to Día de Muertos and events distributed across different parts of the municipality. The programming will be organized into five conceptual stages: El umbral, El camino, La ofrenda, El encuentro, and La memoria. Activities will be adapted to the cultural identity and traditions of each locality. Along the Malecón, the monumental catrina will return to the esplanade of the Faro del Malecón. It will be modified with elements inspired by the marine environment, including waves, whales, manta rays, and bougainvilleas. La orilla de las ánimas will be one of the main spaces in Puerto Vallarta and is intended to represent the symbolic return of those who have already departed. At La orilla de las ánimas, the Malecón will feature cempasúchil flowers, catrinas, live music, and offerings facing the Pacific Ocean. La Hora Dorada de las Almas will be a ritual of lighting candles at sunset in front of the bay. On the island of the río Cuale, El Jardín de los Susurros will offer an immersive experience featuring copal, candles, shadows, and legends. The Día de Muertos parade, La Marea de las Ánimas, will travel through the streets in five thematic universes and will be led by catrines and catrinas dressed in the style of Viejo Vallarta. At Los Muertos beach, El Último Umbral will consist of an installation of flowers and light leading to the Faro de las Ánimas at the end of the pier. Las Pangas de Luz will pay tribute to fishermen through a monumental structure of boats decorated with flowers and illuminated at night. Visitors can plan a walk from the Malecón to the island of the río Cuale and Los Muertos beach to see the festival’s principal installations as Puerto Vallarta’s celebrations take place near Día de Muertos.