Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) Parade & Festival 2026 — Downtown

DÍA DE MUERTOS PARADE & FESTIVAL IS TAKING OVER DOWNTOWN MEMPHIS

Get ready, Memphis! Our annual Día de Muertos celebration is BACK, and we are bringing the colors, music, and tradition straight to the heart of Downtown along Main Street!
Cazateatro Bilingual Theatre Group, in partnership with Memphis Art Museum and the Orpheum Theatre Group, invites you and your family to honor your ancestors, remember loved ones, and celebrate the cycle of life and death.

Parade: 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Festival: 12 p.m. - 3 p.m. 

NEW DOWNTOWN PARADE ROUTE

Start Location: Court Square

Route: Marches straight down Main Street

Finish Location: Halloran Center (Orpheum Theatre Group)

The Día de Muertos Parade and Festival is part of Memphis Art Museum’s annual Community Days series, which brings people together through free arts and cultural experiences. Created with local artists and community partners, these events invite visitors to encounter cultural traditions, explore ideas connected to the museum’s exhibitions and collection, and spend time with their neighbors.

The Día de Muertos Parade and Festival is free and open to the public!

Schedule of events:

11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.: Día de Muertos Parade

The day begins at Court Square Park, where Cazateatro will lead a procession south along the pedestrian-only Main Street Mall to Beale Street. Spectators can watch along the route as marching bands and costumed participants make their way through Downtown. Community-led cheer stations will offer refreshments and gathering spots for neighbors to enjoy the music and applaud the passing parade.

12:00 – 3:00 p.m.: Día de Muertos Festival at Halloran Centre

Following the parade, an afternoon of activities will take place at the Halloran Centre, including crafts, facepainting and live performances in the Theatre. Bilingual DJ and performer Alexis White will keep the energy high with regional Latin hits between performances, while local family band Mariachi Guadalajara performs classic mariachi songs throughout the Halloran Centre. Food vendors will include BBQ X Food Truck, serving barbecue tacos, along with  Dipsticle Artisan Gelato Cafe, Tacotitlan, and Frutimania offering guests a variety of local flavors throughout the day.

Performances in the Halloran Centre Theatre include:

12:00 p.m.: 123 Andres 

GRAMMY-winning duo 123 Andrés brings an energetic bilingual concert to the Halloran Centre stage, inviting children and families to sing, dance, and learn together. Billboard calls Andrés and Christina “rock stars for little language learners.

12:55 p.m.: Danza Azteca Quetzatcoatl 

Danza Azteca brings Aztec heritage to life with vibrant regalia and powerful traditional dances that honor and share this rich cultural legacy.

1:20 p.m.:  Cazateatro Dance Group 

Dancers from the Cazateatro Theatre Group will perform a folkloric dance that honors the traditions of Día de Muertos.

1:35 p.m.:  University of Memphis Marimba Ensemble

University of Memphis Marimba Ensemble will perform a piece showcasing the marimba’s lasting importance in Central American and Mexican traditions.

2:05 p.m.:  Marisol Pierre

Memphis-based singer Marisol Pierre brings the sounds of mariachi to the stage with a lively performance of classics made for singing along.

2:35 p.m.:  Banda Konquistadora 

Banda Konquistadora will close out the day with a performance of traditional norteño music.

The 2026 celebration is presented by Orion Financial. Additional support comes from the Wallace Foundation, the Windgate Foundation, the Tennessee Arts Commission and ARTSMemphis.