Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, October 29, 2026 – A 32-meter Catrina went on display in Mexico City on Thursday, surpassing Puerto Vallarta’s certified height as the capital seeks the Guinness title.
The skeletal figure stands in the Zócalo, the capital’s main square. Its announced height of about 105 feet puts it 3.85 meters, or roughly 12.6 feet, above Vallarta’s documented 28.15-meter figure.
What does a taller Catrina elsewhere change for the Malecón attraction that has become part of the city’s Día de Muertos celebrations?
The height comparison is clear, but formal recognition requires care. At the time of publication, the Guinness World Records public listing still named Puerto Vallarta as the record holder. Guinness cautions that “Records change on a daily basis and are not immediately published online.” This article could not independently verify that Mexico City received certification.
The capital has openly targeted Vallarta’s mark. Mexico City’s official announcement of its holiday program said Culture Secretary Ana Francis López Bayghen presented the 32-meter figure as a Guinness record attempt. The installation includes approximately 100,000 cempasúchil plants, decorated axolotl sculptures and seasonal lighting.
The Catrina is the centerpiece of the Zócalo’s monumental ofrenda, or commemorative altar. The capital’s official tourism calendar lists the exhibition from October 29 through November 2, with a tribute to illustrator José Guadalupe Posada.
Vallarta’s record history began four years ago. According to Guinness’ account of the original achievement, the city earned the title on November 2, 2022, with a 22.67-meter Catrina. Local artist Alondra Muca led the project, and Guinness adjudicator Alfredo Arista attended to oversee the attempt and present the certificate.
Puerto Vallarta raised its own mark to 28.15 meters on November 3, 2023, the date recorded in Guinness’ current listing. That distinction matters: the larger certified measurement dates to 2023, not the original 2022 installation.
By 2024, as Vallarta Daily reported when the city opted against another record attempt, the giant figure was returning without needing another increase in height.
This year’s waterfront display is also moving ahead with a planned 25-meter Catrina, with 22 artists, craftspeople and specialists working on an accompanying installation that includes maritime elements. That announced height is separate from Vallarta’s Guinness World Records measurement.
For residents planning an evening downtown or taking visiting friends to see the decorations, the local program still centers on the Malecón in Centro. The Puerto Vallarta Tourism Board’s publication includes an exhibition of 50 monumental Catrinas along the promenade through November 3.
The main figure’s unveiling is scheduled for Sunday, November 1, at 7 p.m., on the esplanade beside the Malecón lighthouse.
