Día de los Muertos in Houston is a three-day stretch this year. Day of the Dead is traditionally observed on Nov. 1 and 2, which fall on a Sunday and Monday in 2026, and the area’s public celebrations run from Saturday, Oct. 31, through Monday, Nov. 2. Expect free festivals at MECA and Discovery Green, ofrendas (altars) at the Houston Zoo and in Sugar Land, a Galveston parade and evening gatherings in League City and Pearland.
We pulled every date, time and price below from organizer and venue pages on Oct. 27, 2026. Plans can change, so check each official link before you go.
What Día de los Muertos honors
UNESCO, which inscribed the observance on its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2008, describes it this way: “As practised by the indigenous communities of Mexico, el Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) commemorates the transitory return to Earth of deceased relatives and loved ones.” According to UNESCO, families lay flower petals, candles and offerings along the path from the cemetery to their homes, and they place the person’s favorite dishes on the home shrine with flowers and handicrafts such as paper cut-outs. UNESCO also describes the observance as a fusion of pre-Hispanic religious rites and Catholic feasts.
Several events below invite you to add a remembrance to a community ofrenda. For Discovery Green’s altars, organizers suggest bringing a copy of a photo rather than an original. Treat each altar as a personal tribute: look, don’t touch, and ask before you photograph anyone placing items on it.
Saturday, Oct. 31: MECA opens, a Galveston parade and Spring’s art market
MECA Día de Muertos Festival (Houston)
MECA’s free two-day festival runs Saturday, Oct. 31, and Sunday, Nov. 1, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on its campus in the Old Sixth Ward. Expect an ofrendas exhibition, artist and artisan vendors, festival food, three performance stages and children’s art activities. Admission is free. Food and drink tickets are 25% off if you buy them during MECA’s presale.
1900 Kane St., Houston 77007 · meca-houston.org: Día de Muertos
Galveston LULAC Council 151 Día de los Muertos Fiesta & Parade (Galveston)
Galveston LULAC Council 151 hosts its 7th annual fiesta Saturday. The line-up social starts at noon at Galveston City Hall, near 26th Street and Ball, and the parade rolls at 1 p.m. Visit Galveston lists live music, food and arts-and-crafts vendors, ballet folklórico and Azteca dancers, and an altar with offerings for the rest of the day. Registration to march is free.
Line-up: Galveston City Hall, 823 Rosenberg St., Galveston 77550 · lulac151.org: Día de los Muertos · visitgalveston.com: Día de los Muertos
Pearl Fincher Museum Día de los Muertos Family Day & Art Market (Spring)
The Pearl Fincher Museum of Fine Arts holds a free Día de los Muertos Family Day & Art Market from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. The museum lists an art market, food vendors, art activities and performances.
6815 Cypresswood Drive, Spring 77379 · pearlmfa.org: Family Day & Art Market
Día de los Muertos on The Woodlands Waterway (The Woodlands)
The Woodlands Waterway Marriott sets up altars, marigold displays and decorated sugar skulls on its Acqua Patio from 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday with live entertainment, street food and tequila tastings. Admission is free; food and drinks are sold separately. You can bring a photo of a loved one for the community ofrenda.
1601 Lake Robbins Drive, The Woodlands 77380 · visitthewoodlands.com: Día de los Muertos
Sunday, Nov. 1: Día de los Muertos Houston festivals, ofrendas and a stage show
Discovery Green (Houston)
Discovery Green’s free celebration runs from 3 to 7 p.m. on Sunday. Bring a copy of a photo or a keepsake for the community ofrenda created by Houston artist Angel Quesada; a separate altar honors pets. The afternoon includes the Catrín y Catrinas Parade and contest, performances, food, crafts and vendors. La Musical Ofrenda, a tribute concert led by Nick Gaitan and the Tejas Roots Band, is paired with a visual showcase by artist Vincent Valdez. The park “welcomes people of all backgrounds.”
1500 McKinney St., Houston 77010 · discoverygreen.com: Día de los Muertos
Living near Discovery Green: The park sits on downtown’s east side, next to the George R. Brown Convention Center, with high-rise apartments and condos around it. See our downtown Houston area guide.
Houston Zoo (Houston)
The zoo celebrates Sunday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Monday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The zoo lists glowing decorations, photo spots, a craft station and an ofrenda that honors animals, so you can bring a photo of a pet or other animal you miss. La Catrina is on-site Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Día de los Muertos tamales and sugar skull cookies are sold during the event. It’s included with general admission and free for members.
6200 Hermann Park Drive, Houston 77030 · houstonzoo.org: Día de los Muertos
Children’s Museum Houston (Houston)
The museum’s Día de los Muertos day runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday and is included with general admission. Mini-ofrenda workshops run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Spanish and English storytimes are at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., and Intempo Dance performs at noon and 2 p.m. in Brown Auditorium.
1500 Binz St., Houston 77004 · cmhouston.org: Día de los Muertos
Last day: Sugar Land Heritage Museum ofrendas (Sugar Land)
Sunday is the final day of the museum’s free Día de los Muertos exhibit, open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Local residents built the altars to remember ancestors who lived in Sugar Land and helped build the city.
198 Kempner St., Building B, 2nd floor, Sugar Land 77498 · slheritage.org: Hispanic Heritage & Día de los Muertos
Día de los Muertos Fashion Show at The Grand 1894 Opera House (Galveston)
Latinas for the Arts presents the first Día de los Muertos Fashion Show at The Grand on Sunday. The show is ticketed and proceeds benefit the opera house. It runs from 2 to 5 p.m. The Grand invites guests to come in costume, and Visit Galveston says you can bring photographs of loved ones for a community ofrenda.
2020 Postoffice St., Galveston 77550 · thegrand.com: Día de los Muertos Fashion Show · visitgalveston.com listing
Living near The Grand: The opera house is on Postoffice Street in downtown Galveston, a few blocks south of The Strand. Lofts and apartments sit above historic storefronts downtown, and historic residential streets lie to the south and east. See our Galveston area guide.
Calavera con Calavera at the Hobby Center (Houston)
Teatro Índigo’s original musical returns for its 13th season at 7 p.m. Sunday in Zilkha Hall. It’s performed in Spanish with English subtitles and features live mariachi and folklórico dance. General admission is $39, with student and senior discounts. The Hobby Center lists audio description, open captions and ASL for the performance.
800 Bagby St., Houston 77002 · thehobbycenter.org: Calavera con Calavera
Monday, Nov. 2: Evening gatherings south of Houston
League City Día de los Muertos Celebration (League City)
League City Parks & Recreation hosts a free celebration from 5 to 9 p.m. at the League City Community Center, with food, music and a memorial table where you can place a photo of a loved one.
400 S. Kansas Ave., League City 77573 · leaguecitytx.gov: Día de los Muertos Celebration
South Park Día de los Muertos Celebration (Pearland)
South Park Funeral Home & Cemetery holds its annual celebration from 4 to 8 p.m. The evening includes an In Loving Memory service, a butterfly release, live mariachi, folklore dancers, lotería and a Catrina contest.
1310 N. Main St., Pearland 77581 · southparkfunerals.com: Day of the Dead Celebration
Thinking about living near one of these spots?
Curious about life near one of these celebrations? Browse our area pages or call (281) 724-3966. For event questions, contact each organizer.
