What to Do in Playa del Carmen in November 2026
PLAYA DEL CARMEN · Culture
Día de Muertos ends on Monday 2 November at Xcaret, the Xel-Há Triathlon runs on 14 and 15 November, and Jazz Fest starts on 25 November. The month, day by day.
PLAYA DEL CARMEN — This is your guide to things to do in Playa del Carmen in November 2026, from the last day of Día de Muertos to a triathlon, a beach-resort music festival and a jazz series. Prices are in Mexican pesos (MXN); at about 18.80 to the dollar (RT, 1 November), MXN 1,000 is roughly US$53.
Día de Muertos, the Day of the Dead, falls on 1 and 2 November, so only the final day of the big Xcaret festival is left. The rest of the month is quieter, with a public holiday on Monday 16 November and the two big weekends at Xel-Há (a nature park) and Xpu-Há (a beach area south of town).
Listings come from organiser and resort pages and from the city’s published festival calendar. Times and prices can change, so check the seller’s page before you travel.
Monday 2 November: The Last Day of Día de Muertos
Until Monday 2 November
Xcaret Festival of Life and Death
Xcaret Park, Riviera Maya, south of Playa del Carmen · Tickets via Grupo Xcaret (price not confirmed)
Xcaret, a Riviera Maya theme park run by Grupo Xcaret, stages the 20th edition of its Día de Muertos festival from 30 October to 2 November. Guanajuato is the guest state, and the last day is Monday 2 November.
Mid November: Holiday, Maya Crafts and the Xel-Há Triathlon
Wednesday 11 to Sunday 15 November
Peninsular Forum of Maya Handicrafts and Culture
Playa del Carmen · Venue to be announced · Price not published
The city’s autumn festival calendar lists a five-day forum with artisans from across the Yucatán Peninsula. We found no venue or opening hours yet, and the listing comes from a press report of the municipal calendar rather than an organiser page.
Saturday 14 November, from 06:30
Xel-Há Triathlon: Olympic distance and elite race
Xel-Há, Riviera Maya, between Playa del Carmen and Tulum · Entry MXN 3,360 (about US$179) · triatlonxelha.com and asdeporte.com
The 16th edition opens with the Olympic course of a 1.5 km swim, 40 km bike ride and 10 km run. Organisers list MXN 100,000 (about US$5,320) for the elite category, and registration was due to close on 31 October or when places sold out, so this is now a day for spectators.
Sunday 15 November, from 06:30
Xel-Há Triathlon: Sprint, relay, youth and first-timer races
Xel-Há, Riviera Maya · Sprint entry MXN 3,250 (about US$173) · triatlonxelha.com
Sunday brings the shorter Sprint race plus the relay, children’s and first-time women’s categories. Race organisers say all entry fees go to a conservation charity and the Mexican Red Cross.
Saturday 14 to Monday 30 November
Mercadito Navideño (Christmas market)
Esplanade of the Municipal Palace, Playa del Carmen centre · Admission not published
The city calendar lists a market of locally made gifts, food, crafts and seasonal products. Opening hours are not yet published, so check before you go.
Monday 16 November
Revolution Day holiday
Nationwide · Article 74 of Mexico’s Federal Labour Law
Mexico marks the anniversary of the 1910 Revolution on the third Monday of November rather than on 20 November. Banks and public offices close, and many shops and restaurants stay open.
Late November: Festival Weekend, Jazz and Thanksgiving
Friday 20 to Sunday 22 November
Ember Shores
Barceló Riviera Maya Resort, Xpu-Há, on the coast south of Playa del Carmen · Sold only as resort packages (price on the festival site)
US electronic artist ILLENIUM hosts the fifth Ember Shores, a three-day festival held inside the resort. Packages cover the room, food, drinks and transfers from Cancún airport, and there are no stand-alone day passes.
Wednesday 25 November to Saturday 12 December
Jazz Fest Playa del Carmen
Quinta Avenida (Fifth Avenue) and other city venues · Free or ticket status not announced
The city calendar lists performances and street activations along Quinta Avenida, with an emphasis on local musicians. Artists, stages and times had not been announced when we checked.
Thursday 26 November, 18:30
Thanksgiving dinner at La Marea
Viceroy Riviera Maya, Xcalacoco, a coastal village north of Playa del Carmen · Price not published · Reservation required
Chef Alejandro Salgado leads a four-course menu with roast turkey and live acoustic music by the sea. Reserve through the resort by phone or email, as the page lists no online booking price.
Planning Your Playa del Carmen November
The Xel-Há race weekend (14 and 15 November) and Ember Shores (20 to 22 November) fall close together. Book hotels early for both, as resort rooms near Xel-Há and Xpu-Há fill up.
Xcaret, Xel-Há, Xpu-Há and Xcalacoco all lie outside the city centre, between about 10 and 40 minutes by road. Plan a taxi or private driver for late returns.
Several city events (the craft forum, the Christmas market and Jazz Fest) are listed by the city without hours or prices. Check the municipal calendar for updates in the week before each one.
Not confirmed: we could not verify Día de Muertos events after 2 November beyond Xcaret, nor the Mukbil Pollo food festival or the Jazz on Fifth line-up. We also found no ticket price for Xcaret’s festival day, the Viceroy dinner or the Ember Shores packages.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is on in Playa del Carmen in November 2026?
The Xcaret Festival of Life and Death ends on 2 November. The Xel-Há Triathlon runs on 14 and 15 November, Ember Shores on 20 to 22 November, and Jazz Fest from 25 November to 12 December.
Is there a public holiday in Playa del Carmen in November 2026?
Yes. Revolution Day is observed on Monday 16 November, the third Monday of the month, under Article 74 of the Federal Labour Law. Banks and public offices close.
Can I still enter the Xel-Há Triathlon?
Registration was due to close on 31 October or when places sold out. Check triatlonxelha.com for any remaining spots; otherwise the races are open to watch.
Can I buy a single day pass for Ember Shores?
No. Tickets are sold only as resort packages at the Barceló Riviera Maya, which include the room, food, drinks and airport transfers from Cancún.
Is there a Thanksgiving dinner in Playa del Carmen?
Yes. The Viceroy Riviera Maya serves a four-course Thanksgiving dinner at La Marea on Thursday 26 November from 18:30. Reservations are required.
Sources: Grupo Xcaret, Festival of Life and Death; Fox Sports Mexico, Xel-Há Triathlon; Riviera Maya Events Calendar, Xel-Há Triathlon; Haid, Xel-Há entry fees; Riviera Maya News, city festival calendar; Pollstar, Ember Shores; Viceroy Riviera Maya, Thanksgiving dinner; Fox Sports Mexico, holidays under the Federal Labour Law; RT exchange rates. Retrieved 1 November 2026.
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief
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