Hotels near Desfile de Alebrijes Monumentales

The first major event of the season, and the one most visitors miss because it happens a fortnight before anyone expects Day of the Dead to begin. On Saturday 17 October 2026 at 12:00, the Museo de Arte Popular sends its 17th Desfile de Alebrijes Monumentales through the Centro Historico: dozens of papier-mache creatures the size of small buses, built by artisan workshops competing for a 70,000 peso first prize. Alebrijes are a 20th-century Mexican invention rather than an ancient rite, and the monumental versions exist only for this parade.

The route covers roughly 4 km from the Zocalo along 5 de Mayo, Avenida Juarez and Paseo de la Reforma, finishing at the Angel de la Independencia. Watching costs nothing and needs no ticket. Winners are announced on 24 October, and the alebrijes then stand along Reforma for public viewing, which is arguably the better experience: nobody pressing in behind you, and time to walk the whole set. The Museo de Arte Popular itself, at Revillagigedo 11 in the Centro, is a five minute walk from Metro Juarez on Line 3 and worth an hour on any other day of the trip.

Pro Tip: Skip the Zocalo start, where the crush is worst, and stand on Avenida Juarez near the Palacio de Bellas Artes instead. Metro Bellas Artes puts you 200 m away, the alebrijes have room to turn there, and the Torre Latinoamericana gives every photograph a backdrop people recognise.