Janal Pixan in Cancun Expected to Draw 125,000 Visitors

Cancun, Quintana Roo — More than 125,000 people are expected to attend Janal Pixan in Cancun this year as the traditional Day of the Dead festival expands to four days.

Carlos López, director of the Benito Juárez Institute of Culture and the Arts, said preparations are underway and that departments involved have been meeting to finalize the schedule and event details.

Highlights include the maritime procession in Puerto Juárez and the staging of La Muerte de los Suspiros (The Death of Sighs), along with the traditional Catrinas, contests and live performances.

López noted that attendance has grown steadily. In 2025, the event drew more than 100,000 visitors and was extended by a day because of demand. This year’s four-day celebration is expected to surpass 125,000, an increase of at least 25% from last year.

With that volume of visitors, security and mobility improvements will be key challenges, particularly in Puerto Juárez, where space is becoming limited. López said Puerto Juárez will remain the venue because the festival was created there, but he added that growth may eventually push the celebration into other parts of Cancun.

The program will showcase mostly local talent and include cultural and gastronomic activities to keep the event traditional and family-friendly.