Puerto Vallarta is getting ready to put its own seaside spin on Día de Muertos. From October 24 through November 2, the city will join Jalisco’s Festival de las Ánimas (Festival of Souls), bringing Catrinas, cultural activities, and evening events to the waterfront and historic center.
This year’s celebration is a little different. For the first time, more than 11 municipalities across Jalisco will coordinate their Día de Muertos activities as part of one statewide festival, giving visitors an opportunity to experience the holiday in several different communities.
The Festival de las Ánimas is being organized by the Jalisco State Entertainment Agency and the Jalisco Tourism Secretariat, with participating destinations in the Valles region, the Guadalajara Metropolitan Area, Chapala, and Puerto Vallarta.
In Puerto Vallarta, the local program is called La Orilla de las Ánimas (The Shore of the Souls). Banderas Bay will be at the heart of the celebration, bringing Día de Muertos traditions together with the ocean and fishing, two elements deeply connected to the city’s history and identity.
Approximately 28 activities are planned throughout the city. Visitors strolling along the Malecón or wandering through the historic center can expect Catrinas, traditional ofrendas, cultural activities, and nighttime events with the bay as a backdrop.
And yes, the monumental Catrina will be back for 2026. The larger-than-life figure has become a familiar part of Puerto Vallarta’s Día de Muertos celebrations and will once again provide a memorable centerpiece for the festivities.
But the festival is about much more than taking photos with a giant Catrina. It is an opportunity to experience Mexican traditions while discovering how different communities across Jalisco observe Día de Muertos in their own way.
Each destination will bring its own customs, history, surroundings, and traditions to the festival, creating a collection of experiences rather than one single Día de Muertos event.
The celebration also has a tourism goal. By offering several days of cultural and recreational activities, organizers hope to encourage visitors to stay two or three days and explore more of the participating destinations.
For Puerto Vallarta, the festival offers another chance to showcase the city beyond its beaches and sunsets. With the sea, fishing, Banderas Bay, and Día de Muertos traditions coming together, La Orilla de las Ánimas will give visitors a distinctly Puerto Vallarta way to experience one of Mexico’s best-known cultural celebrations.
The Festival de las Ánimas will run October 24 through November 2, although the specific schedule for Puerto Vallarta’s approximately 28 activities has not yet been released. More details are expected as organizers finalize the local calendar.
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