Key Facts
- Pause: President Claudia Sheinbaum cancelled her Monday, November 2 press briefing for Day of the Dead; it returns November 3.
- Today: Mexico City’s Day of the Dead parade starts at 2 p.m. local time: 4 p.m. Eastern, 1 p.m. Pacific.
- Parade: Organisers expect about 4,000 participants, 12 floats and two giant balloons, ending in the Zócalo, the main square.
- Unknown: The government has not announced a start time for the November 3 briefing.
Published Saturday, 5:50 a.m. ET · Source: Mexico’s presidency, Mexico City government
Mexico’s president is taking Day of the Dead off. President Claudia Sheinbaum said her daily morning press conference, La Mañanera del Pueblo (roughly, “the People’s Morning Briefing”), will not be held on Monday, November 2, 2026.
She announced the pause on Friday, October 30, and said the briefing returns on Tuesday, November 3. Our Day of the Dead coverage follows the holiday, a festival in which Mexican families honour their dead with altars, flowers and cemetery visits. The festival itself is marked on November 1 and 2, and many families spend those nights at cemeteries. UNESCO, the United Nations cultural agency, added the tradition to its heritage list in 2008.
Why the Briefing Stops for One Day
The briefing is the president’s daily platform for announcements and questions from reporters. Pausing it for November 2 puts the holiday ahead of the news cycle.
The October 30 session also looked north. It included a video segment with the Mexican community in Fort Worth, Texas, on how families there keep the tradition of ofrendas, the home altars built for the dead.
Today’s Parade Starts at 4 p.m. Eastern
Mexico City’s Day of the Dead parade, the Gran Desfile de Día de Muertos, starts on Saturday, October 31, at 2 p.m. local time. That is 4 p.m. Eastern and 1 p.m. Pacific, because US clocks do not change until Sunday, November 1, while Mexico City has no daylight saving time.
The route runs from the Diana Cazadora roundabout along Paseo de la Reforma, Mexico City’s grand avenue. It then follows Avenida Juárez, Eje Central and Calle 5 de Mayo into the Zócalo, the capital’s main square.
Organisers expect about 4,000 participants, 12 allegorical floats and two giant balloons.
This year’s parade honours four Mexican cultural figures. They are the writers Nellie Campobello and Juan Rulfo, the singer-songwriter Juan Gabriel and the film director Emilio “El Indio” Fernández.
Viewers in the United States can watch live on Mexico’s public channels Canal Once, Capital 21, Canal 14 and Canal 22. Check each channel’s website for its own stream.
What Changes on the Streets
The Metrobús, Mexico City’s bus rapid transit network, changes service on Lines 1, 3 and 4 from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. local time. Line 7 is affected from 4:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Travellers in the capital should expect closures around the route, and plan extra time. Authorities have not said whether weather or crowds could alter the route or schedule.
What It Means for US Readers
Americans with family in Mexico should note that federal announcements will not come from the morning briefing on Monday. Anyone visiting Mexico City this weekend should plan around the parade and the transit changes, and expect crowds near the Zócalo.
The Fort Worth segment also shows how much attention the government pays to Mexicans abroad.
What Is Not Known
The government has not given a start time for the briefing on November 3. No new national visitor count or spending estimate for Day of the Dead was published with the announcement.
Sources
Mexico’s presidency (morning briefing of 30 October 2026) and the Mexico City government (parade and Metrobús announcements). US times converted by The Rio Times; the United States leaves daylight saving time on 1 November 2026.
Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief · Editorial standards · Report an error
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Mexico’s November 2 press briefing cancelled?
President Claudia Sheinbaum said the daily briefing will not be held on Monday, November 2, 2026, because of Day of the Dead. It is due to return on Tuesday, November 3.
What time is Mexico City’s Day of the Dead parade?
The parade starts on Saturday, October 31, at 2 p.m. in Mexico City. That is 4 p.m. Eastern and 1 p.m. Pacific in the United States.