Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, November 1, 2026 – Puerto Vallarta will officially unveil its 25-meter Catrina honoring Mexican painter Frida Kahlo at 7 p.m. tonight at the Malecón lighthouse, as Día de Muertos celebrations continue.
The ceremonial unveiling is part of the third annual Recuérdame por el Festival de las Almas, which has already brought traditional altars, public art and cultural performances to Puerto Vallarta’s Historic Center.
For residents planning to attend, tonight’s event is one of the festival’s main attractions, while Monday’s Día de Muertos parade will bring a larger procession through the city. Both are free to attend.
The monumental Catrina was completed Thursday night, ahead of its official unveiling. This year’s 25-meter structure incorporates imagery inspired by Frida Kahlo and maritime elements associated with Puerto Vallarta.
The installation also includes a 12-meter whale and a nine-meter dog, adding to the exhibition of 50 large-format Catrinas positioned along the Malecón. The sculptures are scheduled to remain on display through November 3.
Puerto Vallarta’s monumental Catrina has long attracted international attention. Previous installations earned Guinness World Records recognition in 2022 and 2023. This year’s 25-meter figure is not a new record attempt. As Vallarta Daily recently reported, Mexico City has installed a 32-meter Catrina and is seeking recognition for its own display.
This year in Vallarta, the focus is on the Frida Kahlo tribute and the surrounding cultural celebrations.
The official Jalisco festival schedule confirms that Sunday’s unveiling begins at 7 p.m. at the Faro del Malecón. Beginning at 7:30 p.m., students from the Multimedia program at the University of Guadalajara’s Centro Universitario de la Costa (CUCosta) will present Día de Muertos videomapping in the Historic Center. The projections are scheduled to continue until 10:30 p.m.
Other Sunday activities include Mexican music at Los Arcos del Malecón, traditional danzón in Plaza de Armas, folkloric dance performances and cultural programming at Parque Hidalgo and Parque Lázaro Cárdenas.
The festival officially opened Friday at Plaza de Armas with the installation of traditional altars and a ceremony attended by municipal representatives.
Councilwoman Laurel Carrillo Ventura, representing Mayor Luis Ernesto Munguía González, emphasized the meaning behind the public celebrations. In remarks reported from the opening ceremony, she described Día de Muertos as a time to remember those who have died while also, in her words, “honoring their stories.”
That distinction is reflected in the broader program. While the monumental Catrinas draw attention along the waterfront, the city’s altars and cemetery activities remain directly connected to the families and individuals being remembered.
Monday’s parade has two published departure times
The next major event is Monday, November 2, when the traditional Día de Muertos parade is scheduled to travel from the Panteón Municipal 5 de Diciembre to the Los Muertos Pier in the Romantic Zone.
However, the published schedules contain an important discrepancy.
The Government of Jalisco’s official festival program lists the parade’s departure at 5:30 p.m. Meanwhile, the official Puerto Vallarta tourism program lists the departure at 6 p.m., with an anticipated arrival at the pier at 8 p.m.
The procession is expected to include Catrinas, costumed participants, musical groups, and other cultural presentations. Organizers have described a parade incorporating traditional characters and clothing inspired by historic Puerto Vallarta.
Large crowds are a reasonable expectation. According to the Puerto Vallarta Tourism Trust’s published festival information, organizers estimated attendance at more than 35,000 people for the November 2 parade in 2025. That figure provides context for planning, although it does not establish how many will attend this year.
The increased activity also coincides with a municipal security operation. As Vallarta Daily reported on October 30, more than 200 police and traffic personnel have been assigned to holiday operations involving the Malecón and local cemeteries.
Residents planning to drive through Centro or the Romantic Zone on Monday should allow extra travel time, especially around the parade’s departure and arrival. The published festival schedules have not confirmed specific street closures and reopening times.
The event is part of Jalisco’s wider Festival de las Almas, organized through the state’s Tourism Secretariat and State Entertainment Agency. The statewide program includes more than 350 free cultural activities across 11 municipalities, with Puerto Vallarta serving as its Pacific coastal location.
The local program continues Tuesday, November 3, with a community walk and memorial altar honoring deceased pets.
For Monday evening, the official schedule places the parade’s destination at Los Muertos Pier, where mariachi performances and singer Lucio Silva are scheduled between 8 and 10 p.m. The pier will serve as the final gathering point for a procession that begins at the 5 de Diciembre cemetery and crosses downtown to the waterfront.
