Set up a pet ofrenda
A small altar with their photo, water, a treat, their collar and marigolds. A shelf or windowsill is enough.
How to make an ofrenda for pets →Día de los Muertos for pets · October 27
Day of the Dead for Pets: the night our pets come home
Day of the Dead for pets — also called Día de los Muertos for pets — is on October 27. In a much-loved Mexican custom, it is the day the spirits of dogs, cats and other pets who have died return home, following a path of marigold petals, a few days before the Day of the Dead for people on November 1–2.
The next Day of the Dead for pets is Tuesday, October 27, 2026.
Updated
What is Day of the Dead for pets?
Día de los Muertos is the Mexican celebration in which families welcome back the souls of loved ones with an ofrenda — an altar with photos, food, candles and bright orange marigolds. Over the past decades many families, in Mexico and far beyond, have made room for the animals they loved too. In the popular calendar that has grown around the holiday, October 27 is the day pets arrive.
On that day people set out a photo of their dog or cat, a bowl of fresh water, a favorite treat or toy, and a few marigolds. The idea is simple and comforting: after a long journey, your pet finds the way home, smells something familiar, and knows they are still remembered.
It is a living folk custom rather than an official holiday, so practices differ from town to town and family to family. There is no single “correct” way to observe it — only the intention to remember.
What is it called?
There is no single official name. In English you will see Day of the Dead for pets, Day of the Dead pets or pet Day of the Dead. In Spanish people say Día de Muertos de las mascotas, Día de los Muertos para mascotas, or simply “el 27 de octubre llegan las mascotas” — “on October 27 the pets arrive.” Leer en español.
When is it? October 27, then November 1–2
Pets come first. In the widely shared calendar, each day leading up to the main celebration welcomes a different group of souls. Days vary by region, but the version most people know looks like this:
| Date (2026) | Who is welcomed |
|---|---|
| Oct 27 · Tuesday | Pets and animals |
| Oct 28 · Wednesday | People who died suddenly or in accidents |
| Oct 29–30 | In some regions: those who drowned, and the forgotten souls with no one to remember them |
| Oct 31 · Saturday | In some regions: babies who died before baptism |
| Nov 1 · Sunday | Children (Día de los Angelitos / Todos Santos) |
| Nov 2 · Monday | Adults (Día de los Fieles Difuntos) |
For the exact date, what time pets are said to arrive and a live countdown, see our guide to October 27, the Day of the Dead for pets.
How to honor your pet on October 27
Lay a marigold path
Scatter cempasúchil petals from your door to the altar. Their color and scent are said to guide souls home.
Make a petal path →Light a candle, say their name
Many families light one candle on the evening of October 26 or 27 and tell a favorite story about their pet.
When to light it →Make a memorial video
Turn one photo into a 10-second Día de Muertos tribute to keep or share with people who loved them too.
Make a Day of the Dead pet video →The Xoloitzcuintli: the dog who guides souls
Dogs have a special place in the Day of the Dead. In Aztec belief, the souls of the dead had to cross a wide river on their way to Mictlán, the land of the dead, and a dog helped them across. That dog is linked to the Xoloitzcuintli (“show-low-eets-QUEENT-lee”), the hairless Mexican breed named after the god Xólotl. If you have seen Pixar’s Coco, Dante is a Xolo.
That is part of why so many people feel pets belong on the ofrenda: they were guides and companions in life, and in the old stories they still are.
Will my pet come back to visit?
Many people searching for Day of the Dead for pets have recently lost a companion. The tradition’s answer is a gentle yes: on October 27 your pet is remembered, invited, and welcomed. Whether you take that literally or as a beautiful way to grieve, setting out their bowl one more time can help. Take whatever feels right to you, and leave the rest.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a Day of the Dead for pets?
Yes. In the popular Día de los Muertos calendar, October 27 is set aside for pets and other animals who have died. It is a folk custom, not an official public holiday, and it is observed in many Mexican homes and by pet lovers around the world.
Is today Day of the Dead for pets?
Only if today is October 27. In 2026 that is a Tuesday; in 2027 it falls on a Wednesday. Many families keep their pet’s ofrenda up from October 27 through November 2.
What is Day of the Dead for pets called in Spanish?
Most commonly Día de Muertos de las mascotas or Día de los Muertos para mascotas. You will also hear “el día de las mascotas” and “el 27 de octubre llegan las mascotas.”
Can I celebrate if I am not Mexican?
Many people do, and most Mexican families welcome it when it is done with respect. Learn what the elements mean, keep it about remembrance rather than costume, and avoid treating it as “Mexican Halloween” — the two are different holidays.
Do I need an altar?
No. A photo, a glass of water and a single candle is a complete ofrenda. If you cannot have flowers or flames at home, a printed photo and LED candle, or a digital pet memorial video, works too.
Is Day of the Dead the same as Halloween?
No. Halloween (October 31) comes from Celtic and Christian traditions and is about fright and costume. Día de los Muertos (November 1–2, with pets on October 27) is a family celebration of remembrance and joy.
Guides
When is Day of the Dead for pets?
October 27, the full calendar, countdown and what time pets arrive.
Pet ofrenda guide
What to put on a pet altar, step by step, plus safety tips for living pets.
Dog ofrenda
What to put on a Day of the Dead altar for your dog.
Cat ofrenda
A cat-safe altar: no lilies, no open flames.
Pet memorial video
One photo becomes a 10-second Día de Muertos AI video. Free preview.
Marigold Bridge scene
Your pet walking home on a road of marigold petals.
Pet memorial ideas
20 ways to remember a dog or cat, at home, outdoors and online.
Rainbow Bridge poem
What it says, who wrote it, and a Day of the Dead version.
Pet loss quotes
Words for a card, a caption or their ofrenda.
En español
Día de Muertos para mascotas: el 27 de octubre y el altar.