2026 Oakland Dia de los Muertos Theme: La Lucha Continua: Aqui Estamos y No Nos Vamos
We’re proud to celebrate 31 years of honoring life, memory, and community at the Fruitvale Día de los Muertos Festival, taking place on Sunday, November 1, 2026, from 10 AM to 5 PM in Fruitvale Village. This year’s theme, “La Lucha Continúa: Aquí estamos y no nos vamos“ (The Struggle Continues: We are here and we’re not leaving), builds upon the affirmation we made to our community last year. Rooted in the histories of civil rights, immigrant justice, and community organizing movements, it reflects the ongoing struggle for dignity, belonging, and the right to remain rooted in the places we call home.
At a time when many of our communities continue to face displacement, injustice, and efforts to silence or divide us, we draw strength from the generations who came before us. This year, that spirit will be embodied in a monumental 34-foot La Catrina, handcrafted by master artisans in Mexico City. With her outstretched arms offering welcome and embrace, the Catrina honors both the journeys many families have taken to El Norte and the sacred return of our ancestors during Día de los Muertos. As we gather to build altars, share stories, and walk in remembrance, we reaffirm our collective resilience and the enduring truth that our histories, our cultures, and our communities will continue to endure. La lucha continua!
Table of Contents
The Oakland Día de los Muertos Festival began in 1996 on International Blvd. The original goals of the Festival continue to this day: to document, celebrate, and preserve the traditional celebration of the holiday, and draw new visitors to Fruitvale and support small businesses in the area. This event has taken place rain or shine every year since, and has always been completely free, open to the public, and family-friendly.
It is believed that on this day, the Day of the Dead, the deceased are given divine consent to visit with their relatives and friends on earth. The annual reunion takes place on November 1st and 2nd, merging the Catholic holy days of All Saints’ and All Souls’ Day with the Aztec Quecholli, the fourteenth month of the Aztec solar calendar that honored warriors.
Throughout its history, the Festival has used its platform to raise awareness of social justice issues and current events impacting Latinx, indigenous, and Oakland residents. Throughout the years dozens of altars created by local groups and artists have commemorated Oakland victims of gun violence, victims of the September 11th terrorist attack, memorialized the Ghostship fire, and drawn attention to inhumane detention centers for immigrants at the U.S.-Mexico border. Taking place just before the general elections, the Festival has also been a significant opportunity to get out the vote.
Every year community members submit their design for the official Festival poster. You can view them all here, and purchase a 25th Anniversary commemorative poster from our booth in the Muertos Mercadito!
