The 27th annual Día de los Muertos at Hollywood Forever fills Hollywood Forever Cemetery on Saturday, October 24, 2026, from noon to midnight. This year's theme is "All Under One Sky / Bajo Un Mismo Cielo." The day is equal parts cultural observance and full-scale festival, drawing families, artists, longtime altar builders and first-timers to the same grounds to honor the people they've lost.
Who produces it
Hollywood Forever presents the event. According to the organizer, Tyler Cassity and Daisy Marquez created the celebration to give this tradition an authentic venue where it could be genuinely observed, celebrated and preserved, with Celine Mares helping shape the idea of bringing it into the cemetery.
Hollywood Forever says it's the only cemetery in the country that opens its gates to the surrounding community for Día de los Muertos. The organizer adds that tens of thousands of new and returning visitors have joined the celebration over the years.
The altars
The altar exhibition is the heart of the day. Ofrendas spread across the cemetery grounds, ranging from intimate family tributes to large artistic installations. Take your time walking them, read the names and look at the photos, and treat the space with the respect the tradition calls for.
The competition side is real, too. Altar prizes run $5,000 for first place, $3,500 for second and $2,500 for third. The costume contest pays $1,000 to the winner and $500 to the runner-up.
Program and lineup
Around the altars, the program runs all day: a ceremonial procession, Aztec dancers and folklórico, the Muerte y Tradición stage with musical performances, the Cathedral art exhibition, a children's plaza and rows of vendors.
Live music comes from Dannylux, Trish Toledo, Tropa Magica and Los Shadows, with DJ sets from DJ Que Madre, DJ Dro Barlo and more. The organizer notes that the lineup and schedule can change at any time.
Tickets and entry
Tickets are sold through TicketWeb and are required for everyone age 5 and up. Admission is split into three entry windows: noon–4:00 PM, 4:00–7:00 PM and 7:00–11:00 PM. Once you're inside, you can stay past the end of your window. All sales are final, with no refunds or exchanges, and the event runs rain or shine.
Getting there
Hollywood Forever sits at 6000 Santa Monica Blvd. in Hollywood. The organizer lists four nearby parking structures, with hours falling between 11:00 AM and 2:30 AM. Outside food and drinks aren't allowed, and neither are pets.
Arrive early in your window if you want to see the altars in daylight, then stay into the evening as the stage lineup builds. Comfortable shoes matter; this is a full day on your feet across a large property. Check the official site for last-minute changes.
More in Los Angeles this fall
October stays busy across Southern California. A week earlier, PAWSA at The Tower plays the Historic Sears Building on October 17. The following weekend, Escape Halloween takes over San Bernardino and L.A. Comic Con fills the Los Angeles Convention Center downtown. In November, Camp Flog Gnaw lands at Dodger Stadium.