The 27th annual Día de los Muertos at Hollywood Forever runs October 24 into the early hours of October 25, 2026 — from noon to midnight at the historic Hollywood Forever Cemetery on Santa Monica Boulevard. It's one of Los Angeles' largest and longest-running Day of the Dead celebrations, and it turns the grounds into a living tribute of color, ritual, and remembrance.
Expect Aztec dance and ceremony, dozens of hand-built altars (ofrendas) on exhibition across the grounds, and rows of culinary, arts, and crafts vendors. The 2026 program pairs tradition with spectacle: an evening screening of Disney Pixar's Coco and a drone show lighting up the sky over the cemetery. Face-painting, live performance, and the annual procession round out a day that's equal parts festival and cultural observance.
This is a distinctly LA experience — the kind of event that draws multi-generational families, artists, and first-timers into the same space to honor those who've passed. Altars range from personal family tributes to large-scale artistic installations, and the craftsmanship is the whole point: this is a celebration of life and memory, not a costume party.
A few things to know before you go. Tickets are required for anyone age five and up, and the event runs rain or shine with a no-refund, no-exchange policy. No pets, outside food, or alcohol are allowed on the grounds. Hollywood Forever sits at 6000 Santa Monica Blvd in the heart of Hollywood, walkable from Metro and surrounded by some of the city's best food — plan your evening around it.
Sessions and timed entries tend to sell out, so grab tickets early through the official site. Come for the altars, stay for the drone show, and give yourself time to walk the grounds slowly — it's an event that rewards paying attention.