Is it happening in 2026?

Yes, on Sunday, November 1, 2026, at Port Vell instead of La Rambla, because of the roadworks there. It is the fifth edition, organized by MEXCAT and Amics de La Rambla.

Is it scary for little kids?

No. The costumes are elegant skeletons with flowers and bright colors, not horror, and it is a late-afternoon walk along the port.

How does my child enter the costume contest?

Registration is free and done on the spot at the Portal de la Pau from 5:30pm. Judges look at makeup, costume and accessories (traditional flowers and hats), attitude and respect for the Mexican tradition, with prizes in several categories. Anyone can walk along without entering.

Where is the best place to watch?

Along the quays from the Moll de Barcelona past the Moll de Drassanes to the Portal de la Pau, by the Columbus monument. There is no set parade this year, so the catrinas spread out.

Do we need Spanish to enjoy it?

No. It is a costume walk to watch from the quayside, so there is nothing to follow in any language. MEXCAT, the Mexican cultural association behind it, publishes its announcements and contest rules in Spanish.

Day of the Dead Catrinas Walk at Port Vell

Name: Day of the Dead Catrinas Walk at Port Vell
Start: 2026-11-01
End: 2026-11-01
Location: Portal de la Pau

Featured inCastanyada and Halloween with Kids in Barcelona 2026

Day of the Dead Catrinas Walk at Port Vell photo 2

Day of the Dead Catrinas Walk at Port Vell photo 3

Day of the Dead Catrinas Walk at Port Vell photo 4

Day of the Dead Catrinas Walk at Port Vell photo 5

FestivalCiutat Vella287 families interested

Where

Ciutat Vella, Portal de la Pau

Ages

All ages

Duration

1 hour

Setting

Outdoors

Plan for

1 to 2 hours

2026 route

Moll de Barcelona to Portal de la Pau via Moll de Drassanes

Contest sign-up

Free, on site at the Portal de la Pau from 5:30pm

What you need to know

Free to watch anywhere along the quays between the Moll de Barcelona and the Portal de la Pau; the stroll runs 6:30pm to 7:45pm
Kids can join in costume: sign up free at the Portal de la Pau from 5:30pm, and the contest is judged 5:30pm to 6:30pm
Catrinas, not Halloween: entries with horror or Halloween elements are left out, so think flowers, hats and painted faces

About

Day of the Dead (Día de Muertos) is the Mexican holiday for remembering relatives who have died, with flower-covered altars, candles and sugar skulls. It is about memory, not a scary night. MEXCAT, the Mexican cultural association, marks it here with catrinas, elegant skeleton ladies in flowered hats. In 2026 roadworks on La Rambla move it to Port Vell, with no parade: the catrinas stroll the quays at their own pace.

Free; contest sign-up is free too

Sun, Nov 1

5:30 PM

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Where it is

Portal de la Pau

Plaça del Portal de la Pau, 08001 Barcelona

Getting there

Metro: Drassanes L3 (3 min walk), Liceu L3 (9 min walk), Paral·lel L2/L3 (12 min walk)
Funicular: Paral·lel FM (11 min walk)
Ferry: Muelle De Drassanes (5 min walk)
Bus: Colom - La Rambla 100 (2 min walk), Av Drassanes - Pl Portal de la Pau 21/88/89/120/D20 (2 min walk), Les Drassanes 21/88/89/120/D20/H14/N0/N6 (3 min walk)
Notes: Drassanes (L3) is the closest metro to the Portal de la Pau and the Moll de Barcelona end of the walk.