Day of the Dead 2026: Día de los Muertos Falls on Sunday, Nov. 1 and Monday, Nov. 2, Right After Halloween
Día de los Muertos 2026 is Sunday, Nov. 1 and Monday, Nov. 2, the weekend clocks fall back. The dates, what each day honors and how ofrendas are built.
In this article
Día de los Muertos 2026 falls on Sunday, Nov. 1 and Monday, Nov. 2. Many families begin the night before, on Saturday, Oct. 31, so this year the Day of the Dead shares a single weekend with Halloween and with the end of daylight saving time, when clocks fall back at 2 a.m. on Nov. 1.
Day of the Dead 2026 dates
| Date | Day | Observance |
|---|---|---|
| Oct. 31 | Saturday | Many families finish their altars; Halloween |
| Nov. 1 | Sunday | Día de los Angelitos (children); All Saints’ Day; clocks fall back |
| Nov. 2 | Monday | Día de los Muertos (adults); All Souls’ Day |
The dates are fixed every year. What changes is the weekday: in 2026 the main days fall on a Sunday and a Monday, so cemetery visits and family gatherings on Nov. 1 land on a weekend.
What the two days mean
Día de los Muertos is a Mexican tradition, rooted in Indigenous practice and blended with the Catholic feasts of All Saints and All Souls. Families welcome back the spirits of relatives who have died. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), which added the festivity to its list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2008, describes families laying flower petals, candles and offerings along the path from the cemetery to their homes to guide the souls back.
By tradition, the souls of children return first, on Nov. 1, often called Día de los Angelitos. The souls of adults follow on Nov. 2. In many places families spend the night of Nov. 1 or Nov. 2 at the cemetery, cleaning and decorating graves, sharing food and telling stories about the people they remember.
Building an ofrenda
The ofrenda, a home altar, is the center of the celebration. Common elements include:
- Photos of the loved ones being honored.
- Cempasúchil, orange marigolds, whose color and scent are said to guide the spirits.
- Candles, lit to light the way.
- Food and drink the person enjoyed, along with pan de muerto, a sweet bread.
- Calaveras, sugar skulls, often with a name written on the forehead.
- Papel picado, cut paper banners.
- Water and salt, for the journey.
Altars are often set up in the last week of October and taken down after Nov. 2.
Day of the Dead in the United States
Día de los Muertos is not a federal holiday, so on Monday, Nov. 2, federal offices, banks and the Postal Service keep normal hours. It is widely celebrated across the country, from community altars in schools and libraries to parades and cemetery events in cities such as Los Angeles, San Antonio and Chicago. Local museums and cultural centers often post their event dates in October.
The busy weekend ahead
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| Saturday, Oct. 31 | Halloween; our Halloween 2026 guide has sunset times by city |
| Sunday, Nov. 1 | Día de los Angelitos; clocks fall back one hour at 2 a.m. |
| Monday, Nov. 2 | Día de los Muertos |
| Tuesday, Nov. 3 | Election Day |
For other festivals of the season, see our Diwali 2026 guide, which falls the following Sunday, Nov. 8. The when is Halloween and daylight saving time pages give those dates for future years, and the whole month fits on a November 2026 printable calendar.
Frequently asked questions
When is Day of the Dead 2026?
Sunday, Nov. 1 and Monday, Nov. 2, 2026. In many communities the celebrations begin on Oct. 31, and some families start setting up altars in late October.
Is Day of the Dead the same as Halloween?
No. Halloween on Oct. 31 has Celtic and Christian roots and centers on costumes and trick-or-treating. Día de los Muertos is a Mexican tradition for remembering and welcoming back the spirits of family members who have died.
What is the difference between Nov. 1 and Nov. 2?
Nov. 1, often called Día de los Angelitos or Día de los Inocentes, is for children who have died. Nov. 2 is for adults. The days line up with All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day.
What goes on an ofrenda?
Photos of the loved ones being remembered, candles, orange cempasúchil (marigold) flowers, their favorite food and drink, pan de muerto, sugar skulls, papel picado and often water and salt.
Is Day of the Dead a holiday in the United States?
It is not a federal holiday, so offices, banks and the mail run normally on Monday, Nov. 2. It is widely celebrated in communities across the country, especially in the Southwest and in cities with large Mexican American populations.
Sources
- Indigenous festivity dedicated to the dead (UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage)
- Día de Muertos (Government of Mexico, Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores)
- Federal Holidays (U.S. Office of Personnel Management)
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