Day of the Dead Festival Celebrates 10 Years in Ottawa

The Day of the Dead Festival celebrates its 10th anniversary, bringing a decade of Mexican culture, art and traditions to Ottawa.

This is a free, family-friendly event open to everyone. Everyone is invited because we all have someone we love whom we want to honour and remember and Día de los Muertos offers a beautiful Mexican way to do so.

From October 3 to November 3, 2026, visitors can experience special exhibitions at Ottawa's ByWard Market, including:

Indoor Exhibitions at Gallery 55, 55 ByWard Market Square.

• “A Decade Remembering Those We Lost” a 10-year retrospective of visual artist Philippe Vincent, presented by the Day of the Dead Art Department.

• “Lives Interrupted”, Ofrenda Exhibition, honouring women affected by gender-based violence.

Outdoor Exhibition: York Plaza, October 31–November 1, 2026.

“The Way to the Mictlan, Series 2: Tepetl Monamictlan, Where the Mountains Meet”, presented by the Day of the Dead Art Department in collaboration with students from the Fine Arts Program at the Ottawa School of Art.

10th Anniversary Celebration:

The celebration will feature Mexican food tasting, “Delightful Expressions of Mexico,” traditional dishes and salsas, Mariachi, Mexican folkloric dance, a lively procession through the ByWard Market, live Latin bands, a Mexican food and artisanal market, a children's zone with fun activities, and much more.

A special highlight will be a performance by the Mexican Folkloric Ballet of the Institute for the Research and Dissemination of Traditional Dances of the State of Oaxaca.

“Our 10th anniversary is a celebration of memory, culture and community,” says festival organizer Fabiola Yzeta-Vincent. “We invite everyone to join us in celebrating the beauty and traditions of Día de los Muertos and to honour someone they love, the Mexican way.”

The 10th Anniversary of the Day of the Dead Festival is presented with the support of the Government of Canada, ByWard Market District Authority, Ottawa Festivals, La Catrina, Sí Señor and Oaxaca Cultural.

For more information visit: www.dayofthedeadfestival.ca