Day of the Dead Altar at Instituto Cultural Oaxaca

2026 Day of the Dead Spanish program

Looking for a unique cultural experience?

Immerse yourself in Oaxaca's vibrant cultural traditions on Day of the Dead.

Day of the Dead Learn Spanish while discovering Oaxaca only at Instituto Cultural Oaxaca

Day of the Dead Spanish Program Highlighs

Our 2026 Day of the Dead program offers an immersive experience of Oaxaca’s most iconic festival.

Join us for an immersive two-week Spanish-language program from October 19 to November 1, 2026, centered on one of Mexico's most iconic traditions: Day of the Dead. Our program offers a unique experience that combines language learning with cultural exploration, giving you a deep dive into Oaxaca's rich heritage during this vibrant celebration.

Program highlights

Spanish classes: Daily classes from Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 1 PM, tailored to all proficiency levels, focusing on conversational skills and cultural context.

Cultural Workshops in Spanish:
- Day of the Dead cooking workshop: Learn to prepare traditional recipes related to the "Día de Muertos," such as Mole negro, and other foods exclusive to the festivities, and put your Spanish into practice.
- Mask-making workshop: Create your own Day of the Dead mask and put your creativity into practice, a significant element of the celebration's visual culture.
- La Muerte de Fiesta workshop: This new addition explores the elements of the Day of the Dead, covering the significance of the ofrenda, traditional altars, symbolic food, music, and overall festivities.
Special activities
- Lecture by an Oaxacan Anthropologist: This engaging talk will give you deeper insight into the cultural and historical aspects of the Day of the Dead.
Day of the Dead tours:
- Cemetery Visit: Experience the poignant beauty of Oaxacan cemeteries, where families gather to honor their deceased loved ones.
- Comparsas Tour: Witness the lively street parades known as comparsas, featuring music, dancing, and colorful costumes.
Unique Experience: All students will participate in ICO's own comparsa, a joyful parade around the school's vicinity, celebrating this culturally rich festival together.

Key Program Facts

Spanish Language Classes

20 hours of Spanish Language classes per week, from Monday to Friday, from 9 AM to 1 PM.

Cultural Workshops

During these two weeks, workshops are special. They center on Día de los Muertos: mask-making, cooking mole negro and food for the ofrenda, La Muerte de Fiesta, music and conversation, and the Barrios de Oaxaca. One workshop per week, Monday to Thursday afternoons, all in Spanish.

Lecture about the Día de los muertos

A Lecture by an Oaxacan Anthropologist about the history and significance of the Day of the Dead, on Thursday, October 29 at 5:30 PM,

Tours to the cemeteries

We will visit with students and staff two of the most iconic cemeteries near the city of Oaxaca, Xoxocotlán and Atzompa.

Tous to the comparsas

A field trip out of Oaxaca city to the Valley of Etla, where neighborhoods and towns compete for the best costume, a place where creativity explodes through the rhythm of banda

Ofrenda set up and our Comparsa

This is our favorite, where we, as a community, share this magical moment: students set up their own ofrenda, and we partake in comparsa, a parade around the streets near the Institute, through Av. Juárez, Jacobo Dalevuelta, all the way to the Jardín Conzatti and back, and hour of joy to celebrate the Dead in a very lively way

Day of the Dead Packages

Our Day of the Dead packages are the perfect way to experience this cultural celebration while immersing yourself in Spanish. Choose from one of our options, which includes Spanish classes, tours, workshops, and more. All of our packages are designed to give you an authentic and unforgettable experience of the most time-honored holiday of Oaxaca. *Prices are in USD

Booking both weeks together saves USD $81 compared with reserving each week separately — and it's the only option that includes both the cemetery night and the comparsas.

Day of The Dead Program

$799

799

October 19 to November 1, 2026

Valid for 2 weeks

40 hours of Spanish language classes (Monday to Friday)

Mask Making & a second cultural workshop (16 hours)

Lecture about Day of the Dead in Oaxaca

1 Tour to the cemeteries (night of October 31)

1 Tour to the comparsas (Sunday, November 1)

First Week Day of the Dead Program

$385

385

October 19 to 23

Valid for one week

20 hours of Spanish language classes

Mask Making cultural workshop (8 hours, Monday to Thursday)

Lecture about Day of the Dead

Second Week Day of the Dead Program

$495

495

October 26 to November 1, 2026

Valid for one week

20 hours of Spanish language classes (Monday to Friday)

8 hours of a cultural workshop (Monday to Thursday)

1 Tour to the cemeteries (night of October 31)

1 Tour to the comparsas (Sunday, November 1)

All materials are included.

Space in ICO's 2026 Day of the Dead Program is limited, so if Day of the Dead is the reason you're timing your trip to Oaxaca, we'd recommend registering early. Fill out the form below, and our team will confirm availability, help you decide between the one-week and two-week formats or more weeks and walk you through homestay options during this high-demand season — rooms near Centro fill up fast in the weeks around November 1st.

Or if you are ready, you can register now

Day of the Dead FAQ's

When is Day of the Dead in Oaxaca in 2026?

The main days are November 1 and 2, 2026. In Oaxaca the celebration begins the night of Saturday, October 31, when families gather in the cemeteries — that's the night our program visits Xoxocotlán and Atzompa.

Do I need to speak Spanish already to join?

No. Classes are tailored to all proficiency levels, from complete beginners to advanced, and you're placed after a short assessment on your first morning. The tours and workshops are run in Spanish but designed so beginners can follow.

Can I come for just one week instead of two?

Yes. The first week (October 19–23) centers on classes, mask-making, and the lecture; the second week (October 26–November 1) includes both the cemetery night and the comparsas tour. If you can only do one week and the celebration itself is why you're coming, choose the second.

Where do students stay during the program?

Most students stay with an Oaxacan host family walking distance from the school in Centro. Accommodation is arranged separately from the program fee, please let us know your dates on the form below and we'll walk you through the options.

How far in advance should I book?

As early as you can. Day of the Dead is Oaxaca's busiest week of the year, and homestay rooms near Centro are typically committed weeks out.

Which cemeteries does the program visit?

Santa Cruz Xoxocotlán and Santa María Atzompa, two of the most significant Day of the Dead sites in the Valley of Oaxaca. The tour runs four to five hours on the night of October 31.

it respectful for visitors to attend Day of the Dead in Oaxaca?

Yes, when you go with people who know the customs. This is a welcoming celebration, not a private ceremony, but there's a real difference between joining and gawking, and your teachers will tell you plainly where photographs are fine and where they aren't.

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Past Programs

2023 Day of the Dead Program (Archived)

2024 Day of the Dead Program (Archived)

Last Updated: September 2026