Xcaret hosts Festival of Life and Death from 30 October

Xcaret and the Festival of Life and Death bring a four-day cultural programme to Playa del Carmen from 30 October to 2 November 2026. The event marks the festival's twentieth edition and places Guanajuato at the centre of the programme as guest state.

The park will host theatre, music, dance, exhibitions, workshops, altars, crafts and culinary activities during the festival. The dates fall within the current travel window for visitors planning an autumn stay in Mexico.

Festival of Life and Death brings four days to Xcaret

The operator lists Xcaret as the main venue from 30 October to 2 November. Its programme describes performances and activities across the park's plazas, paths and named venues, rather than a single stage or one-night event. The organiser also lists related programming at Xcaret Hotels from 29 October to 2 November.

The opening ceremony is scheduled for 30 October at the Xcaret Park Esplanade. The programme includes regional theatre, guided walks, dance, music, workshops and exhibitions, while the park's official event page confirms the four-day period and the presence of Day of the Dead traditions. The official festival listing identifies Xcaret as the location.

One separately listed programme item is the Festival of Life and Death Gala Concert with Pandora and Flans at Gran Tlachco on 31 October. The concert is part of the wider festival programme but has its own access conditions, so visitors should distinguish the main cultural programme from this evening performance.

Guanajuato programme connects with Xcaret's history

Guanajuato is the guest state for the 2026 edition. The programme brings its gastronomy, craftsmanship, music and cultural traditions together with expressions from Quintana Roo and other parts of Mexico. Listed activities include the Folkloric Ballet of the University of Guanajuato, regional theatre, mariachi, sones, workshops and a handcraft and agro-industrial showcase.

This structure links the festival's central themes to the park's established combination of Mexican culture and natural settings. A programme spread across the Esplanade, Gran Tlachco, the Ball Game Court, the Open-Air Forum and other named areas gives the event a direct connection with the site's visitor spaces. The 2026 programme details name the venues and participating artists.

Grupo Xcaret says the park first welcomed visitors in December 1990, after architect Miguel Quintana Pali and the Constandse brothers developed the site around cenotes and underground rivers. That history helps explain why the festival uses plazas, paths, performance spaces and natural areas as parts of one programme. The group’s company history records the 1990 opening.

Visiting Xcaret: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• The Festival of Life and Death takes place from 30 October to 2 November 2026, with Xcaret as its main venue.
• The programme includes theatre, music, dance, exhibitions, workshops, altars and crafts across named spaces in the park; the gala concert at Gran Tlachco is listed for 31 October.
• Xcaret is in Playa del Carmen on the Caribbean coast of Mexico. The operator gives its address as Carretera Chetumal - Puerto Juarez km 282, Rancho Xcaret, Playa del Carmen.
• The site combines natural areas with visitor spaces, including underground rivers, cenotes and performance venues, so the programme involves moving between different parts of the park.
• The official language is Spanish and the national currency is the Mexican peso.
• 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.

Searching for Xcaret on social platforms

These links open searches for Xcaret on each platform.

Frequently asked questions about Xcaret

When does the Festival of Life and Death take place at Xcaret?

The festival runs from 30 October to 2 November 2026 at Xcaret in Playa del Carmen. Guanajuato is the guest state for the twentieth edition.

What is included in the Festival of Life and Death programme?

The 2026 programme includes theatre, music, dance, workshops, exhibitions, altars, crafts and culinary activities. A gala concert with Pandora and Flans is listed for 31 October at Gran Tlachco.

Where is Xcaret and how do you get there?

Xcaret is in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, at Carretera Chetumal - Puerto Juarez km 282 in Rancho Xcaret. The operator identifies the site as the main venue for the Festival of Life and Death.