32nd Annual Día de los Muertos Community Celebration at OMCA
A Vibrant Celebration of Día de los Muertos Featuring Music, Dance,
Art, Food, and Community
Press Kit with Images
Oakland, CA, September 17, 2026 — The Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) is proud to present the 32nd Annual Día de los Muertos Community Celebration on Sunday, October 25, from 11 am to 4 pm throughout its campus. The popular, long-standing annual event will feature an opening procession, traditional and contemporary ofrendas (offering altars) created by the community, and participatory activities including handcrafts, dance, music, an artisanal mercado (market), along with a wide variety of performances and demonstrations, food and beverages, and more.
Celebration tickets are $10—free for OMCA Members— and include the full Community Celebration as well as OMCA Gallery access. Attendees are encouraged to secure tickets in advance as only a limited number of tickets will be available at the door on the day of the celebration.
Celebration details and tickets are linked here. OMCA Members get first access to tickets beginning September 23, and General Admission tickets go on sale September 25.
Contact:
Azayza Jimenez ajimenez@museumca.org, 510-318-8467
Scott Horton, shorton@museumca.org
Day of the Dead Special Ofrenda
Sanando Corazones, Healing Hearts | On view October 7–November 29, 2026
To mark the Día de los Muertos Community Celebration and carry its traditions, remembrance, and ideals throughout the fall, a special ofrenda—Sanando Corazones, Healing Hearts—will be on view in the Museum’s Lower Level, near the entrance to the Gallery of California Natural Sciences, from October 7 through November 29. Created in conjunction with OMCA’’s annual commemoration of the Day of the Dead celebration, the installation has been created by members of the Museum’s volunteer Día de los Muertos Committee.
“We, the creators of this ofrenda, or offering altar, are in wholehearted agreement that this year’s ofrenda is best rooted in the symbolism of the heart. Though our beating hearts are our literal life force, the early cultures of our world also considered the human heart the residence of the soul, as well as the source of human spirituality and the passions we adopt in life. Even today, our use of terms such as “soft-hearted” and “broken-hearted” reflects our association of the heart with deep human emotions.
“Though our ofrendas to our dead traditionally contain items that represent spirituality, love, and life experiences, we chose to add the image of a heart as a symbol to express our heartfelt sadness and support to all East Bay families who have experienced the loss of a loved one. We also dedicate this ofrenda to all who died this year due to the disasters created by nature and warfare.”
— Bea Carrillo-Hocker, Alicia Díaz, Micaela Mariscal, Juliane Monroe, and Annette Oropeza
OMCA Día de los Muertos Ofrenda Installation Subcommittee
Key Details
DATE: Sunday, October 25, 2026
TIME: 11am-4 pm; Festival access starts at 11 am, with a formal welcome beginning at noon.
ADDRESS: 1000 Oak St, Oakland, CA 94607
TICKETS: Tickets are $10 for the general public and free for children 12 and under, with advanced registration.
PARKING: Event parking is available at Alco Park (165 13th Street) for the day rate of $7.
TRANSIT: Located just one block from the Lake Merritt Station, OMCA is BARTable. As parking is expected to fill quickly, taking public transit or ride share is strongly encouraged.
DO BRING: Picnic blankets, low-back lawn chairs, sun protection, and layers or a light jacket are encouraged to help stay comfortable throughout the celebration. Guests are also welcome to bring their own food and non-alcoholic beverages to enjoy during the day.
DON’T BRING: Alcoholic beverages, large stake-in-ground umbrellas/shade structures, or pets (only service animals allowed).
Sponsorship/Collaborators
Día de los Muertos Committee members include Luz Alvarez Martinez, Chrissy Cano, Bea Carrillo-Hocker, Juanita Chavez-Gordon, Carlos Cil, Alicia Díaz, Sheyla Duarte, Isaac Emrick, Angelita M. Finlayson, Arnoldo García, Judi García, Maricela Gutiérrez, Carolina Juárez, Lisa Lemus, Micaela Mariscal, Juliane Monroe, Isabela Pérez and Rebecca Recco.
The 32nd Día de los Muertos Community Celebration is made possible in part by generous support from the Oakland Museum Women’s Board.
ABOUT THE OAKLAND MUSEUM OF CALIFORNIA
Founded in 1969 as a “museum of the people,” Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) tells the diverse stories of California’s art, history, and natural environment. Through inclusive exhibitions, public programs, and educational initiatives, OMCA creates space for meaningful dialogue and strives to build more equitable, empathetic, and connected communities. With more than 2 million objects, OMCA’s collection of art, history, and natural science is a resource for understanding California’s dynamic heritage—all within its 110,000 square feet of gallery space and seven-acre campus. A leading Bay Area cultural institution rooted in Oakland, OMCA is dedicated to fostering an environment where visitors from the region, state, and beyond feel valued and empowered to shape the future of California’s cultural landscape.
VISITOR INFORMATION
The Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) is at 1000 Oak Street, at 10th Street, in Oakland. All-inclusive Museum admission is $25 general admission; $22 for seniors; and $18 for youth ages 12 to 17, as well as for students and educators with valid ID; and free for Members and children 12 and under. OMCA offers onsite underground parking and is conveniently located one block from the Lake Merritt BART station, on the corner of 10th Street and Oak Street. An accessibility ramp is located at the 1000 Oak Street main entrance to the Museum.