The Day of the Dead in Nayarit (Día de Muertos) happens mostly at home and in the cemetery: altars with marigolds, candles, water and each loved one’s favorite food, graves scrubbed and decorated, and families spending the afternoon (sometimes the night) beside their dead. In 2026 the key dates fall on a long weekend: altars are finished on Saturday, October 31; children who have died are remembered on Sunday, November 1; and adults on Monday, November 2.
Here the tradition isn’t a show staged for tourists, which is exactly what makes it worth experiencing. This guide covers how it’s celebrated in Tepic, on the north coast (Santiago Ixcuintla and Mexcaltitán), in Jala and in the Cora and Wixárika (Huichol) sierra; the 2026 calendar; what to eat; a table of places and dates; and the etiquette for visiting cemeteries and communities.
How the Day of the Dead is celebrated in Nayarit
The altar, or ofrenda
The heart of the celebration is the altar each family builds at home from late October. It usually has two or three tiers and gathers the elements shared across Mexico: water for the souls’ thirst after the long journey, salt to purify, candles to light the way, cempasúchil (Mexican marigold) whose petals mark the path for the spirits, papel picado (cut-paper banners), copal incense, a photo of the deceased and whatever they loved to eat, drink or smoke. In Nayarit you’ll often see pan de muerto (sweet bread of the dead), calabaza en tacha (candied squash), atole, tamales and, on the coast, shrimp dishes on the ofrenda.
The cemetery and the vigil
In the days before, families clean, paint and decorate the graves. On November 1 and especially November 2 the cemeteries fill with flowers, music, shared food and visits that can last for hours. Some towns keep the velación, or vigil, in which relatives stay with their dead through the night by candlelight. The mood mixes reverence and togetherness: it isn’t a sad day, but it isn’t a party for just anyone either.
Schools, plazas and catrinas
In the cities, schools, universities and government offices build huge altars and hold altar contests, and you’ll see calaveritas (satirical verses), catrina costumes and parades. Tepic has two events that have repeated in recent years: the city’s Festival de las Almas Eternas at Panteón Hidalgo, and the state government’s Nayarit en Altares y Catrinas at Parque La Loma. On the coast, Sayulita has its own festival. Dates and venues are below.
Where to experience the Day of the Dead in Nayarit
Tepic
The capital is the easiest choice: hotels, transport and the largest number of public altars in plazas, schools and downtown buildings. Panteón Hidalgo, the city’s historic cemetery, receives hundreds of families on November 2 and is a good place to understand the tradition quietly. During the day, explore the historic center and museums; everything you need is on our Tepic page.
Santiago Ixcuintla and Mexcaltitán
On the north coast the celebration is about family and small towns: altars at home, packed cemeteries on November 2 and estuary cooking on the table. Santiago Ixcuintla is about an hour from Tepic and 36 km from the island of Mexcaltitán, reached by boat from the La Batanga landing. By November the rains are over, the island’s streets are dry, and it’s a good time to try tlaxtihuil (a savory shrimp-and-corn atole) and shrimp tamales. There’s no tourist program: come respectfully and let people tell you about their customs.
Jala and the southern Magical Towns
In Jala, Nayarit’s first Pueblo Mágico (Magical Town), families spend hours tidying graves and surrounding them with flowers and their loved ones’ favorite food, while the basilica bells mark the rhythm of the days. It makes a calm base for the long weekend: 75 km (1 hour) from Tepic on the Guadalajara highway, with Ceboruco volcano and the Juanacatlán plateau close by. Ixtlán del Río and Compostela celebrate in a similar way, with altars on the main square and busy cemeteries.
The sierra: Náayeri (Cora) and Wixárika communities
The Náayeri (Cora) and Wixárika (Huichol) peoples live in Del Nayar and the rest of the sierra. Many families blend the Catholic November tradition with their own customs, and for the Wixaritari the bond with their ancestors is part of a ceremonial cycle that doesn’t always match these dates. These aren’t tourist events: attending ceremonies or entering communities requires permission from the traditional authorities. Jesús María, the municipal seat, is about 4 hours from Tepic on mountain roads; if you want to see Cora culture, Holy Week is the public occasion.
Day of the Dead 2026 calendar in Nayarit
| Date | Day | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| October 25–30 | Sunday to Friday | Marigolds, candles and pan de muerto on sale in markets; graves are cleaned; altars go up in schools and offices |
| October 29 | Thursday | The Festival Internacional Día de Muertos Bahía de Banderas opens, based in Sayulita (through November 2) |
| October 31 | Saturday | Home altars are finished; in 2025 this was opening day of the Festival de las Almas Eternas at Tepic’s Panteón Hidalgo |
| November 1 | Sunday | Todos Santos (All Saints): children who have died are remembered; vigils in some towns that night |
| November 2 | Monday | Fieles Difuntos (All Souls): the busiest day in cemeteries across the state |
November 2 isn’t a mandatory public holiday under Mexican law, but many schools and offices close. The festivals with set dates are in the next section; for altar contests in other towns, check with each town hall.
Day of the Dead festivals in Nayarit in 2026
As of October 8, 2026, the only 2026 program published is Bahía de Banderas’s. Tepic’s two festivals ran in 2025 on the dates below; use them as a guide and confirm the 2026 edition on the official channels of the City of Tepic and the Nayarit state government.
| Event | Dates | Where | What’s on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Festival Internacional Día de Muertos Bahía de Banderas 2026 | Oct 29 – Nov 2, 2026 (confirmed) | Sayulita (main venue), Bucerías, San Pancho, San Juan de Abajo and Valle de Banderas | Altars, catrina contests, parades, music and food; the Día de Muertos International Surf Tournament (3rd edition) in Sayulita, Oct 29 – Nov 1 |
| Festival de las Almas Eternas (City of Tepic) | 2025: Oct 31 – Nov 2 (5th edition); 2026 to be confirmed | The avenue in front of and inside Panteón Hidalgo, Tepic | Video mapping on the cemetery facade, “talking tombs” telling the stories of local figures, a catrina and catrín costume contest, guided walks and music |
| Nayarit en Altares y Catrinas (Nayarit state government) | 2025: Nov 1–2 (2nd edition); 2026 to be confirmed | Avenida México and Parque La Loma, Tepic | Catrina parade (in 2025, Saturday Nov 1 at 4 p.m., from Zapata and Av. México along Querétaro to La Loma), altar exhibition and shows |
What to eat for the Day of the Dead in Nayarit
- Pan de muerto: a sweet, orange-scented bread decorated with dough “bones”, sold in neighborhood bakeries and markets from mid-October.
- Calabaza en tacha: squash simmered in piloncillo (raw cane sugar) and cinnamon, a must on the ofrenda.
- Atole and champurrado: warm corn drinks (champurrado has chocolate) for chilly nights at the cemetery.
- Tamales: sweet corn, meat and, on the north coast, shrimp.
- Pozole: hominy stew, the dinner of many families after visiting their dead.
- Tejuino: a fermented corn drink served with lime sorbet from street carts in Tepic and other towns.
To learn more about each dish and where to try it, see traditional dishes from Nayarit.
Places and dates: a planning table
| Place | What to experience | Best day | From Tepic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tepic | Public altars, Festival de las Almas Eternas at Panteón Hidalgo, Parque La Loma, historic center | Oct 31 – Nov 2 | — |
| Sayulita (Bahía de Banderas) | International Day of the Dead festival and surf contest | Oct 29 – Nov 2 | approx. 2 h |
| Santiago Ixcuintla | Cemetery and family altars, shrimp cooking | Nov 2 | approx. 1 h |
| Mexcaltitán | Island and food; family tradition | Nov 1 or 2 | approx. 98 km, including the boat |
| Jala | Cemetery, basilica, quiet town | Nov 2 | 75 km / 1 h |
| Jesús María (Del Nayar) | Permission only; community tradition | Varies | approx. 4 h |
Etiquette for visiting cemeteries and communities
- It’s a family space. Keep your voice down, don’t step on graves or offerings and stay on the paths.
- Ask before photographing people, graves or altars; in Indigenous communities, never photograph ceremonies without explicit permission.
- No drones over cemeteries and no costume photo shoots among the graves.
- Buy local: flowers, bread and candles from the town market; it’s a way of saying thanks.
- Book early: in 2026 the October 31–November 2 long weekend fills hotels in Tepic, Jala and on the coast.
- Bring a layer: November nights are cool, especially in Jala and the sierra.
Frequently asked questions
How is the Day of the Dead celebrated in Nayarit?
With home altars (water, salt, candles, marigolds, photos and the loved one’s favorite food) and visits to the cemeteries, where families clean and decorate graves and spend time together on November 1 and 2. Cities also have public altars and altar contests.
When is the Day of the Dead in Nayarit in 2026?
Children are remembered on Sunday, November 1, and adults on Monday, November 2; home altars are finished on Saturday, October 31.
Where is the best place to see the Day of the Dead in Nayarit?
Tepic, for its public altars and the Festival de las Almas Eternas at Panteón Hidalgo; Sayulita, with its festival from October 29 to November 2, 2026; Jala and the southern Magical Towns; and on the north coast, Santiago Ixcuintla and Mexcaltitán.
What do people eat for the Day of the Dead in Nayarit?
Pan de muerto, calabaza en tacha, atole, tamales (shrimp ones on the coast), pozole and tejuino.
Can tourists visit the cemeteries?
Yes, they’re public spaces, but go quietly, don’t step on graves and ask before taking photos.
Do the Cora and Huichol peoples celebrate the Day of the Dead?
Many Náayeri and Wixárika families remember their dead with their own customs blended with Catholic tradition. Their ceremonies aren’t public and require permission from the traditional authorities.
Area map
- 1Panteón Hidalgo (Tepic) Tepic's historic cemetery; busiest on November 2.21.5008, -104.8843 · Open in Google Maps
- 2Tepic Cathedral Historic center: public altars and events (check the official program).21.5119, -104.8913 · Open in Google Maps
- 3Mexcaltitán Island in Santiago Ixcuintla; boat from La Batanga. Family tradition and shrimp cooking.21.9057, -105.4752 · Open in Google Maps
- 4Jala (Magical Town) Cemetery and basilica; 75 km from Tepic.21.1031, -104.4368 · Open in Google Maps
- 5Jesús María Seat of Del Nayar (Náayeri); ceremonies only with permission.22.2513, -104.518 · Open in Google Maps
