Hollywood Forever Cemetery hosts its 27th annual Día de los Muertos celebration on Saturday, October 24, from noon to midnight. Community-built ofrendas, an artist exhibition and performances by DannyLux, Trish Toledo and Tropa Magica anchor this year’s theme, “All Under One Sky / Bajo un Mismo Cielo.”
Key Takeaways
- The celebration takes place at Hollywood Forever, 6000 Santa Monica Blvd., as a single-day event held rain or shine.
- Admission runs in three windows (noon to 4 p.m., 4 to 7 p.m. and 7 to 11 p.m.), and guests may stay past their window.
- The lineup includes DannyLux, Trish Toledo, Tropa Magica and Los Shadows, plus Banda Oaxaqueña Amapoleros and La Banda Sin Nombre.
- Organizers say the theme centers on shared experiences of love, loss, memory, compassion and hope across cultures and borders.
- The Cathedral Mausoleum hosts an exhibition of works by invited artists, and a Children’s Plaza offers hands-on art activities.
Hollywood Forever Day of the Dead 2026 Centers on “All Under One Sky”
Each year, the Hollywood Forever celebration organizes its altars, art and performances around a theme. For 2026, organizers chose “All Under One Sky / Bajo un Mismo Cielo,” built on the idea that remembrance connects people regardless of where they come from.
The theme fits a city where Día de los Muertos is observed by families with roots across Mexico and Latin America, alongside many Angelenos who join the tradition each fall. By framing the day around love, loss and memory rather than a single place of origin, the 2026 celebration invites that whole audience into the same ritual of remembering.
Community Ofrendas Anchor the Celebration
The heart of the day is the ofrenda. Ofrenda means “offering” in Spanish, and in Día de los Muertos tradition it refers to an altar built to honor deceased family members and loved ones. At Hollywood Forever, community-created ofrendas will feature photographs, mementos and traditional offerings honoring ancestors.
Día de los Muertos has roots in Indigenous traditions in Mexico and other parts of Mesoamerica. Families honor those who have died through altars, food, music and other customs. The tone is one of remembrance and celebration rather than mourning, which is why music and art share the grounds with the altars.
What Makes a Day of the Dead Altar Personal
A Day of the Dead altar is built around the specific person being remembered. Photographs identify who is honored, and mementos and offerings reflect what that person loved. Community ofrendas carry that same personal approach at a larger scale, with many families’ remembrances displayed together.
DannyLux, Trish Toledo and Two Bandas Lead the 2026 Lineup
The music program mixes contemporary artists with regional Mexican traditions. DannyLux, Trish Toledo, Tropa Magica and Los Shadows lead the performers, with DJ sets from Que Madre, Joaqu.n and Dro Barlo.
Two banda ensembles bring traditional sound and movement to the grounds. Banda Oaxaqueña Amapoleros will present Diablos y Otras Danzas, and La Banda Sin Nombre brings the Sinaloan banda style. Together, the lineup reflects how the celebration bridges generations, from regional folk traditions to artists popular with younger audiences.
Art Exhibition and Children’s Plaza Extend the Day Beyond Music
The celebration also works as an arts event. Inside the Cathedral Mausoleum, an exhibition will feature original works by invited artists. For families, a Children’s Plaza will offer hands-on art activities inspired by Día de los Muertos traditions, giving younger visitors a way to take part in the customs.
The 27th edition arrives as part of a full season of Latino cultural programming in California, following Hispanic Heritage Month festivals and museum programming across California earlier this fall.
Three Admission Windows Shape How Visitors Plan Saturday
Admission to the Hollywood Forever celebration is divided into three windows: noon to 4 p.m., 4 to 7 p.m. and 7 to 11 p.m. Guests may stay past the end of their window, so an afternoon arrival can stretch into the evening program. Parking is available in structures on North Van Ness Avenue near the cemetery. The event runs as planned regardless of weather.
Día de los Muertos Endures as a Los Angeles Tradition
Twenty-seven consecutive editions at one site make the Hollywood Forever celebration a fixed point on the Los Angeles cultural calendar. It falls on the Saturday before Día de los Muertos itself, giving families a shared public gathering ahead of the more private observances many hold at home on November 1 and 2.
FAQs
What is an ofrenda?
An ofrenda is an altar created for Día de los Muertos to honor deceased family members and loved ones. The word means “offering” in Spanish, and ofrendas typically include photographs, mementos and traditional offerings.
When is Day of the Dead 2026?
Día de los Muertos is traditionally observed on November 1 and 2, which fall on a Sunday and Monday in 2026. Hollywood Forever’s celebration takes place earlier, on Saturday, October 24.
What is the origin of Día de los Muertos?
Día de los Muertos has roots in Indigenous traditions in Mexico and other parts of Mesoamerica. It honors those who have died through altars, food, music and other traditions.
What is the theme of Hollywood Forever’s 2026 Día de los Muertos?
The 2026 theme is “All Under One Sky / Bajo un Mismo Cielo.” Organizers say it focuses on shared experiences of love, loss, memory, compassion and hope across cultures and borders.
Can you stay past your admission window at Hollywood Forever’s Día de los Muertos?
Yes. The event has three admission windows, noon to 4 p.m., 4 to 7 p.m. and 7 to 11 p.m., and organizers say guests may stay past their window.
