What to Do in Puerto Vallarta in November 2026: Catrinas, Gourmet Chefs and a Half Marathon
PUERTO VALLARTA · Culture
November in Puerto Vallarta opens with the Catrina exhibition of the Festival de las Almas, a Jalisco state Day of the Dead programme, then moves into the Gourmet International food festival from 12 to 22 November and the half marathon on 15 November. Here is the month, event by event.
PUERTO VALLARTA — This guide is for people who live here or are staying for weeks, not for a one-weekend tourist. It lists the things to do in puerto vallarta november 2026 that are worth crossing the city for, with dates, venues and practical notes.
The first week centres on Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) and the monumental Catrinas on the Malecón, the seafront promenade. The busiest stretch is 11 to 15 November, when concerts, Gourmet International and the half marathon overlap.
Every date, venue and price below comes from the organiser, the venue or the Puerto Vallarta tourism board. Prices converted at about MXN 18.65 per US$.
31 October to 8 November: Day of the Dead and HEAT Week
Now, through the Festival de las Almas
Monumental Catrina exhibition
Malecón seafront promenade, Centro · Price not published
Monumental Catrinas, the skeletal figures of Día de Muertos, line the seafront for the Festival de las Almas, the Jalisco Day of the Dead programme. Walk it more than once.
Saturday 31 October to Thursday 5 November
HEAT Latin Music Awards 2026 and HEAT Week
Puerto Vallarta International Convention Center, Marina Vallarta · Price not published
HEAT is a Latin music awards show, and its gala is on Thursday 5 November. The tourism board lists no ticket prices, so check the awards’ own channels before planning.
Friday 6 to Saturday 7 November
Torneo de Pesca Playa Los Muertos 2026
Los Muertos Beach Pier, Zona Romántica · Registration fee not published
The 19th annual sport-fishing contest uses the pier as the starting point for the boats. Registration opens the day before at the Deportes Gutiérrez Rizo store, so ask there if you want to enter.
Saturday 7 to Sunday 8 November
The Grill Festival 2026
Puerto Vallarta International Convention Center, Marina Vallarta · Tickets MX$300 to MX$400 (about US$16 to US$21), sold on thegrillfestival.com
A barbecue and fire-cooking festival with cooking competitions, live demonstrations, workshops and a kids’ zone. Saturday features the Mixólogo de Fuego contest and Sunday the Maestro del Asador contest.
11 to 15 November: Gourmet International, Concerts and the Half Marathon
Thursday 12 to Sunday 22 November
31º Festival Gourmet International
30 participating restaurants, Puerto Vallarta area · Menu prices not published
The festival brings more than 60 guest chefs and over 15 special dining events, with more than 20 wineries taking part. Book directly with the restaurant you choose, because the tourism board lists no central ticket platform.
Thursday 12 November, 8:00 p.m.
Maroon 5, VidantaWorld Concert Series
VidantaWorld Esplanade, Vallarta-Nuevo Nayarit · Price not published
Maroon 5 play the VidantaWorld Concert Series at the Vidanta World Esplanade in Nuevo Nayarit, the resort district just north of the city. Check the resort’s official site for ticket details.
Thursday 12 November
Michael is Back: The Michael Jackson Experience
Teatro Vallarta · Price not published
A Michael Jackson tribute show at Teatro Vallarta, the city’s theatre and cultural centre. Tickets are sold through the theatre’s website, which links to Red Access, a Mexican online ticket seller.
Saturday 14 to Sunday 15 November
PVR Asian Festival 2026
ASIPONA Pier 2 (the port authority’s dock) · Tickets from MXN 120 (about US$6.43)
The festival offers Asian food, K-pop, anime, cosplay, gaming and cultural activities. Buy tickets on festivalespvr.com, where service fees are added to the base price.
Saturday 14 November, 7:00 p.m.
Edna Rendón: Voz sin límites
Teatro Vallarta · Price not published
Mexican soprano Edna Rendón sings opera, bolero and international repertoire. Tickets are sold at the Teatro Vallarta box office and on its website.
Saturday 14 November, from 7:30 a.m.
Cruce Vallarta 2026 open-water swim
Holi Beach, Hotel Zone, and Hotel Rosita Beach, start of the Malecón · Registration fee not published
The 4.5K and 3.1K routes start at 7:30 a.m. from Holi Beach, the 1.5K route at 9:30 a.m. from Hotel Rosita Beach, and the youth 1K at noon. Registration is through the organisers’ Facebook page, Cruce Vallarta.
Sunday 15 November
XXII Medio Maratón Puerto Vallarta 2026
Start and finish at the Agustín Flores Contreras sports complex (El Estadio) · MX$450 (about US$24) and up
The 21K starts at 6:30 a.m. and the 5K at 6:40 a.m. at the Agustín Flores Contreras sports complex. Registration starts at MX$450 (about US$24) and rises later, through Trotime, a Mexican race-registration platform.
Weekly and Seasonal Events
Saturdays 7, 14, 21 and 28 November
Olas Altas Farmers Market
Lázaro Cárdenas Park, Zona Romántica · Price not published
The market opens its 2026-27 season on 7 November and runs every Saturday, with produce, prepared food, jewellery, textiles and art. Zona Romántica is the old-town beachfront district.
Thursdays from 12 November
Movie Picnic 2026-27 season
Jardín de Luna garden, Puerto de Luna Hotel, North Hotel Zone · MXN 50 (about US$2.68)
This is the 12th season of a “petate cinema”, where you watch films on a mat on the grass. Screenings run on Thursday evenings, and details are on the Movie Picnic Facebook page.
Planning Your Puerto Vallarta in November
Revolution Day, which marks the 20 November anniversary, is observed on Monday 16 November 2026 under Mexico’s Federal Labour Law. That is a statutory day of rest for workers, so 14 to 16 November is a long weekend.
Work out your journey home before evening shows at the Convention Center or VidantaWorld.The official Puerto Vallarta tourism calendar at visitpuertovallarta.com lists most dates but often publishes venues and prices late.
For tickets, follow the links on each organiser’s own page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the biggest events in Puerto Vallarta in November 2026?
The Festival de las Almas brings monumental Catrinas to the seafront, the Gourmet International festival runs from 12 to 22 November, and the city half marathon is on Sunday 15 November.
When is the Maroon 5 concert in Puerto Vallarta?
Maroon 5 play the VidantaWorld Esplanade on Thursday 12 November 2026. The concert starts at 8:00 p.m.
When is the Olas Altas Farmers Market open in November 2026?
The market runs every Saturday morning from 7 November, at Lázaro Cárdenas Park in Zona Romántica.
Is Revolution Day a public holiday in Puerto Vallarta?
Yes. Mexico observes the 20 November anniversary as a statutory day of rest on the third Monday of November, which is Monday 16 November 2026.
Where does the Puerto Vallarta half marathon start?
The XXII Medio Maratón starts and finishes at the Agustín Flores Contreras sports complex, known as El Estadio, on Sunday 15 November. Registration is on maratonvallarta.com.
Sources: visitpuertovallarta.com, visitpuertovallarta.com, visitpuertovallarta.com, prnewswire.com, concertseries.vidantaworld.com, festivalespvr.com, maratonvallarta.com, thegrillfestival.com. Retrieved 25 October 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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