Festivals in Mexico: A Calendar of Holidays and Celebrations

Key takeaways

• Public holidays: only a handful of dates are mandatory rest days under Mexico's Federal Labor Law. Semana Santa, Cinco de Mayo and Día de Muertos aren't among them.

• Semana Santa 2027: Palm Sunday is March 21 and Easter Sunday is March 28.

• Carnaval 2027: Mazatlán's runs from February 4 to 9.

• Día de Muertos: November 1 and 2, on UNESCO's intangible heritage list since 2008.

Mexico's festival calendar

• February (Feb 4 to 9 in 2027): Carnaval; Mazatlán, Veracruz

• March 21 to 28, 2027: Semana Santa; Nationwide

• May 5: Cinco de Mayo; Puebla

• Mid to late May: Fiestas de Mayo; Puerto Vallarta

• Last two Mondays of July: Guelaguetza; Oaxaca

• September 15 and 16: Independence Day; Nationwide

• November 1 and 2: Día de Muertos; Nationwide

• December 12: Virgin of Guadalupe; Mexico City

• December 16 to 24: Las Posadas; Nationwide

Spring: Carnaval, Semana Santa and Cinco de Mayo

Carnaval takes place in the days before Lent. Mazatlán's culture institute has set the 2027 carnival for February 4 to 9, and Veracruz holds its own in the days before Lent, usually in February. Semana Santa, the week before Easter, is a major holiday week for Mexican families and schools, although it isn't a mandatory rest period under the labor law.

Cinco de Mayo marks the Mexican army's victory over French forces at Puebla on May 5, 1862. It's a civic commemoration that isn't one of the mandatory rest days, and Puebla holds the largest events. Our Cinco de Mayo guide has more on how it's celebrated. Later in May, Puerto Vallarta celebrates its anniversary as a municipality, on May 31, with the Fiestas de Mayo fair.

Summer and fall: Guelaguetza, Independence and Día de Muertos

The Guelaguetza brings dance groups from across the state of Oaxaca to Oaxaca City, with the main performances on the last two Mondays of July, the Lunes del Cerro. The 2027 program hadn't been published as of October 2026.

Independence celebrations begin on the night of September 15 with the Grito, the cry of independence given from town squares across the country, and September 16 is a public holiday.

Día de Muertos, on November 1 and 2, honors family members who have died, with altars, marigolds and visits to cemeteries. UNESCO added it to its intangible heritage list in 2008. Our guide to Day of the Dead festivals covers where to see it.

Winter: Guadalupe, the posadas and Christmas

The feast of the Virgin of Guadalupe on December 12 draws millions of pilgrims to the Basilica in Mexico City; the city's government counted about 13 million by the early hours of December 12, 2025. The posadas follow from December 16 to 24, and the season runs on to Día de Reyes on January 6. For the coast in December, see our guide to the holiday season in Los Cabos.

Mexico's public holidays

Under article 74 of the Federal Labor Law, the mandatory rest days are January 1, the first Monday of February, the third Monday of March, May 1, September 16, the third Monday of November, December 25 and the day of ordinary federal or local elections, according to Mexico's labor-rights agency, Profedet. Since a 2024 reform, October 1 is also a rest day every six years when a new president takes office. Banks and government offices follow their own calendars, which can include other dates such as Holy Week.

Frequently asked questions

Is Cinco de Mayo a holiday in Mexico?

No. It commemorates the 1862 Battle of Puebla, but it isn't a mandatory rest day, and the biggest events are in Puebla.

When is Día de Muertos?

November 1 and 2. Families set up altars and visit cemeteries, and many towns hold events in the days before.

When is Semana Santa in 2027?

Palm Sunday is March 21 and Easter Sunday is March 28, 2027.

When is the Guelaguetza?

The main performances take place in Oaxaca City on the last two Mondays of July.