By Lucía Mendoza | Events & What’s On
Updated September 20, 2026
Fall is one of the best times to be in Mexico City because the calendar gets very busy, very quickly.
From Formula 1 and Día de Muertos season to the NBA, Corona Capital and the NFL’s return to Mexico City, the next two months are packed with events worth planning a trip around.
Mexico City Fall 2026: Key Dates
| Date | Event | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Sept. 18–Oct. 3 | Festival Internacional de Cabaret | Venues across CDMX |
| Oct. 2–4 | Monster Jam | Palacio de los Deportes |
| Oct. 30–Nov. 1 | Mexico City Grand Prix | Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez |
| Late Oct.–Early Nov. | Día de Muertos season | Across Mexico City |
| Nov. 7 | NBA Mexico City Game | Arena CDMX |
| Nov. 20–22 | Corona Capital | Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez |
| Nov. 22 | NFL Mexico City Game | Estadio Banorte |
Happening Now: Festival Internacional de Cabaret
The Festival Internacional de Cabaret runs from September 18 through October 3 with more than 60 performances, interventions, workshops and conversations taking place around the city.
This year’s edition brings together artists and companies from Mexico, Spain, Argentina and Brazil, with a program focused on contemporary cabaret, satire and social commentary.
Why go: this is one of the more local, cultural ways to experience the city right now if you want something beyond the major tourist calendar.
See the official 2026 festival announcement.
October 2–4: Monster Jam
Monster Jam comes to Palacio de los Deportes October 2, 3 and 4.
This one is straightforward: giant trucks, huge crowds and a family-friendly arena event that is especially worth knowing about if you are traveling with kids.
Venue: Palacio de los Deportes, Iztacalco.
Mexico City’s official sports calendar also lists the Harlem Globetrotters at Arena CDMX on October 4, so that first weekend of October is unusually strong for family entertainment.
See Mexico City’s official sports calendar.
October 30–November 1: Formula 1 Mexico City Grand Prix
This is one of the biggest weekends of the year in Mexico City.
The Formula 1 Gran Premio de la Ciudad de México 2026 runs Friday, October 30 through Sunday, November 1 at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.
Friday is practice, Saturday includes qualifying and Sunday is race day. The circuit is 4.304 kilometers long, and the race covers 71 laps.
Why it matters even if you are not attending: hotels fill, restaurants get busier, nightlife ramps up and traffic around the Autódromo and nearby neighborhoods changes significantly.
If you are visiting that weekend, book your hotel and major dinner reservations early.
See the official F1 Mexico City schedule.
Late October to Early November: Día de Muertos Season
Día de Muertos is not one event on one afternoon. It is a season of ofrendas, public art, neighborhood traditions, museum programs and major city celebrations centered around the days leading into November 1 and 2.
Mexico City’s larger annual celebrations typically include major public installations and processions, but the complete 2026 citywide schedule has not yet been published as of September 20.
That means we would not recommend booking a flight around an unconfirmed parade date just yet.
What you can do now: plan to be in the city from roughly the final weekend of October through November 2 if Día de Muertos is one of the main reasons for your trip, then check the city’s official cultural calendar as the program is released.
Check Mexico City’s official cultural calendar.
We’ll also publish a dedicated Día de Muertos in Mexico City 2026 guide once the final city program is confirmed.
November 7: NBA Mexico City Game
The Denver Nuggets and Indiana Pacers will play a regular-season game at Arena CDMX on Saturday, November 7.
This will be the NBA’s 35th game in Mexico since 1992, more than in any country outside the United States and Canada.
The league has also confirmed Día de Muertos-themed in-arena elements, including a specially themed court and fan activations.
Venue: Arena CDMX.
See the NBA’s official Mexico City Game announcement.
November 20–22: Corona Capital
Corona Capital 2026 takes over the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez from Friday, November 20 through Sunday, November 22.
The festival has become one of Mexico City’s major annual music weekends, and this year’s event again runs across three days.
Venue: Curva 4, Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.
Public transportation is one of the easiest ways to reach the area. The festival lists Metro Line 9 stations Velódromo, Ciudad Deportiva and Puebla as useful options.
Corona Capital also sells its own Ticket2Ride transportation service from areas including Condesa, Santa Fe, Perisur and Lindavista.
See Corona Capital 2026 information and tickets.
November 22: NFL Returns to Mexico City
The NFL returns to Mexico City for the first time since 2022 with the San Francisco 49ers vs. Minnesota Vikings at Estadio Banorte on Sunday, November 22.
The league has announced this as the start of a multiyear return to Mexico City, with regular-season games planned for the next three years.
The November 22 game is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. local time.
Ticket note: general ticket sales are scheduled to open September 22 through Ticketmaster Mexico.
See official NFL ticket-sale information.
One Very Busy Weekend: November 20–22
If you are visiting Mexico City on the weekend of November 20–22, plan ahead.
Corona Capital is happening all three days at the Autódromo, while the NFL Mexico City Game takes place Sunday at Estadio Banorte.
That means:
- Hotels may be more expensive or fill earlier.
- Traffic around major venues will be heavier.
- Popular restaurants may book faster.
- Ride-app wait times can increase after large events.
If you are staying in Roma, Condesa, Polanco or Reforma, reserve the hotel first and build everything else around it.
Use our Where to Stay in Mexico City guide and Best Restaurants in Mexico City guide before locking in the weekend.
Fall 2026 Event FAQ
What is the biggest event in Mexico City this fall?
Formula 1 is one of the city’s biggest tourism weekends of the season, while Día de Muertos, Corona Capital and the NFL game also draw major crowds.
When is the Formula 1 Mexico City Grand Prix?
October 30 through November 1, 2026, at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.
When is the NBA Mexico City Game?
November 7, 2026, at Arena CDMX, with the Denver Nuggets playing the Indiana Pacers.
When is the NFL Mexico City Game?
November 22, 2026, at Estadio Banorte, with the San Francisco 49ers playing the Minnesota Vikings.
When is Corona Capital 2026?
November 20, 21 and 22 at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.
Has the full Día de Muertos 2026 schedule been announced?
Not yet as of September 20. The city will continue adding cultural programming as the dates get closer, so use the official CDMX cultural calendar for the final schedule.
CDMX Magazine Take
If you are coming to Mexico City this fall, check the calendar before you book the hotel.
Formula 1, Día de Muertos season, the NBA, Corona Capital and the NFL can completely change the feel of a weekend—from hotel rates to traffic to restaurant availability.
And if you are already here? There is very little excuse to stay home.
