Xcaret Festival of Life and Death Returns for 20th Edition With Guanajuato as Guest State

Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo — The Xcaret Festival of Life and Death will mark its 20th edition from Oct. 30 to Nov. 2, 2026, at Xcaret park in the Riviera Maya, with Guanajuato as the guest state.

Over four days, visitors and families will find more than 37 altars, or ofrendas, along with music and dance performances, guided tours, legends, workshops, food and other Day of the Dead activities. A gala concert by Pandora and Flans will require a separate ticket.

Festival Dates

The 20th edition will run across four days:

• Friday, Oct. 30, 2026
• Saturday, Oct. 31
• Sunday, Nov. 1
• Monday, Nov. 2

Activities will take place in different areas of Xcaret, combining Day of the Dead celebrations with artistic performances, regional traditions and contemporary proposals. Organizers designed the programming so that moving through the park is part of the experience, with events spread across the site.

Guanajuato to Bring Its Traditions to the Riviera Maya

Guanajuato’s role as guest state is one of the main draws of this edition. The state will bring its culture, cuisine, music, dance and Day of the Dead traditions to the Riviera Maya, creating an encounter between the customs of central Mexico and the cultural expressions of the country’s southeast. Among the scheduled activities are traditional Guanajuato jarabes, along with food and artistic offerings.

More Than 37 Altars

The altars are a centerpiece of the celebration, featuring flowers, candles, food and other objects tied to the memory of the deceased. Visitors can walk through the park to see a range of altar designs while learning about the cultural traditions behind them. Music, catrinas, staged settings and other activities will round out the experience.

Theater, Music and Dance

The program spans several artistic disciplines. Theater spaces will host puppetry, staged tours, legends and performances by guest companies. Music will include mariachi, estudiantina, sones, huapango and traditional music of the Yucatan Peninsula, along with a performance by Lorenzo Negrete.

Dance will also play a major role, with folkloric ballet, contemporary dance, staged rituals, sones and jarabes from Guanajuato.

Workshops, Exhibits and Food

For visitors looking for a more hands-on experience, the festival will offer interactive workshops, exhibitions, murals and displays tied to Mexico’s artisanal traditions.

Food will be another focal point, with a fair featuring 18 stands serving traditional flavors from the region and from Guanajuato.

Ticket Prices

Prices vary by type of admission and visitor status. For Quintana Roo residents, the options listed are:

• Festival admission: 909 pesos
• Xcaret park plus festival admission: 1,379 pesos

For visitors from other states, the park options include:

• Xcaret de Noche: from 1,814 pesos
• Xcaret Plus: from 2,980 pesos
• Xcaret: from 2,480 pesos

These prices apply to the 2026 edition and are subject to change, availability and sales conditions. The Pandora and Flans gala concert requires an additional ticket, separate from festival admission.

Where the Festival Takes Place

The event will be held inside Xcaret park in the Riviera Maya, Quintana Roo, with activities distributed across the site so that visitors move between altars, stages, performances, workshops and food stands. The celebration coincides with the main dates of Mexico’s Day of the Dead tradition.