Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe opens jubilee on 12 October
Published on 10/04/2026 at 04:27 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
The Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Basílica de Santa María de Guadalupe) in Mexico City will open its Guadalupan Jubilee Year on 12 October 2026. The year-long religious celebration marks the fiftieth anniversary of the new basilica's dedication and the transfer of the sacred image to the sanctuary on 12 October 1976.
The opening links a current programme at the shrine with the building's own modern history. It also falls on the 131st anniversary of the pontifical coronation of the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Guadalupan Jubilee Year opens at the basilica on 12 October
Pope Leo XIV granted the Guadalupan Jubilee Year through the Apostolic Penitentiary, following an announcement by Cardinal Carlos Aguiar Retes, Mexico City's primate archbishop. It runs from 12 October 2026 to 12 October 2027, with the opening centred on a solemn Eucharist at noon.
The programme begins on 11 October with solemn Lauds and a capitular Mass at 8.30am, a Sunday Mass at noon and solemn Vespers at 5pm. On 12 October, Lauds and the capitular Mass are scheduled for 8.30am, followed by a commemorative video at 11am and the Mass of the Roses with the opening of the Holy Door at noon. The afternoon and evening programme includes a gathering in Plaza Mariana, the Archdiocesan Rosary, a concert for the fiftieth anniversary and the Rosary of Guadalupan Love.
The published Jubilee programme names the basilica as the venue for the liturgical and cultural events. The Archdiocese of Mexico says the Jubilee Year continues until 12 October 2027.
The 1976 sanctuary gives the Jubilee its setting
The present basilica was dedicated on 12 October 1976, when the sacred image was transferred to the new sanctuary. That anniversary is the direct reason for the Jubilee Year, so the opening programme is tied to the building rather than being a city-wide celebration.
The shrine stands at the foot of Tepeyac Hill in northern Mexico City. The modern basilica replaced the older structure as the home of the image, while the wider sanctuary complex retains earlier religious buildings. The basilica's circular interior allows the image to be viewed from the building, a design feature that connects the visitor experience with its role as a pilgrimage church.
The basilica's official website identifies the sanctuary in Mexico City and presents the 2026 Jubilee as a fiftieth-anniversary observance. Its published information also names the basilica's rector and regular religious programming.
Visiting Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The Jubilee Year opens at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe on 12 October 2026 and continues until 12 October 2027.
- The main opening day includes the Mass of the Roses and the opening of the Holy Door at noon, followed by prayer and a commemorative concert.
- The sanctuary is in northern Mexico City at the foot of Tepeyac Hill, in the Villa de Guadalupe area. The basilica is part of a larger religious complex with older chapels and the former basilica.
- Visitors seeking the plenary indulgence must visit with devotion and a contrite spirit, take part in a liturgical act or spend time in prayer, and fulfil the stated conditions of confession, Eucharistic Communion, recitation of the Creed and prayer for the intentions of the Pope.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
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Frequently asked questions about Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe
When does the Guadalupan Jubilee Year take place at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe?
It begins on 12 October 2026 and ends on 12 October 2027. The principal opening Mass and the Holy Door ceremony take place on 12 October 2026.
What is the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe?
It is a major Catholic pilgrimage church in Mexico City at the foot of Tepeyac Hill. The present sanctuary was dedicated in 1976 and houses the sacred image of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Where is the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe and how do you get there?
The basilica is in the Villa de Guadalupe area of northern Mexico City, beside Tepeyac Hill. It forms part of the Guadalupe sanctuary complex with older churches and chapels.
