London Boroughs Day of the Dead at the Horniman 2026
Horniman Museum and Gardens, London · Organized by Horniman Museum and Gardens
- Dates
- Oct 31, 2026
- Time
- 11:00 – 16:00
- Duration
- 5 hours
- Format
- In person
- Where
- Horniman Museum and Gardens, London
- Tickets
- £6 – £8
- Organizer
- Horniman Museum and Gardens
It opens with a ceremonial procession led by Aztec dancers and musicians, in a garden in Forest Hill, on Halloween.
Day of the Dead at the Horniman: date and times
Saturday 31 October 2026, 11am to 4pm, in the Conservatory and gardens of the Horniman Museum, Forest Hill, in the London Borough of Lewisham. £8 adults, £6 children under 16, free for under-2s and access companions.
What is on at the Horniman
Live mariachi, folkloric and contemporary dance in the Sunken Gardens, stilt performers, mask-making, face painting, children's performances and games. There is a community ofrenda where visitors can honour their own dead, and the MexiBrit marketplace of Mexican and Latin American crafts, goods and food.
The evening
A separate Day of the Dead Evening Fiesta runs the same night, 7pm to 10.30pm, for adults — welcome cocktail included.
One thing to know
It goes ahead whatever the weather, and the museum says refunds are not offered if the weather turns.
The opening ceremony is the thing to be on time for — it is at the start of the day and it is the part that is genuinely unlike anything else on offer in south London that weekend. The gardens are on a hill with one of the better views in the city, which is worth knowing when the Conservatory is full. And if you are bringing an ofrenda photograph, bring a copy rather than the original: the community altar stays up for the day and is handled by everyone.
Day of the Dead at the Horniman 2026: questions
When is the Horniman's Day of the Dead festival in 2026?
Saturday 31 October 2026, 11am to 4pm for the family festival, and 7pm to 10.30pm for the adults' evening fiesta.
How much are tickets?
£8 for adults and £6 for children under 16 for the family festival. Under-2s and access companions go free.
Is Day of the Dead the same as Halloween?
No. Día de Muertos is the Mexican observance of 1 and 2 November, when families welcome their dead back; the Horniman holds its festival on 31 October because that is the Saturday, not because it is Halloween.
Source: Horniman Museum and Gardens checked against the source
