Mexico City Day of the Dead celebrations and Formula 1 economic impact, Digi Mart USA News (Mexico City): Mexico City Head of Government Clara Brugada Molina reported that the city received nearly 8 million people over ten days of cultural, sports and tourism activities, including Day of the Dead celebrations and events tied to the Formula 1 Grand Prix. The agenda generated an economic impact of 36 billion pesos, and officials reported that the events concluded without incidents.
Brugada described the celebrations as a weekend the city would remember, calling Mexico City the capital of a loving rebellion against forgetting. Streets, squares and public spaces were filled with marigolds, music, lights, parades, international sporting events, monumental offerings and a giant Catrina.
The Monumental Catrina, a tribute to José Guadalupe Posada, was installed in the Zocalo and set a new Guinness World Record with a height of more than 33 meters. It drew 1.6 million visitors in four days and will remain on display until November 11 due to public response.
Of the total economic impact, Brugada said 21 billion pesos came from the Formula 1 Grand Prix, while more than 15 billion pesos came from tourist lodging, cultural activities, offerings and gastronomy. She said the results reflect the city’s ability to link its tourism and sporting activity with its cultural heritage.
Hotel occupancy averaged 92 percent in Mexico City between October 30 and November 1, and reached 100 percent in areas including the Roma and Condesa neighborhoods and the area around Mexico City International Airport. More than half a million tourists arrived during that weekend, a 22 percent increase over the same period in 2025.
The Formula 1 Grand Prix recorded a record attendance of 405,000 people, making Mexico City the fourth-largest host venue worldwide by attendance. The event was accredited to 400 international media outlets and broadcast in 200 countries.
A free public exhibition of driver Sergio “Checo” Pérez on Paseo de la Reforma drew more than 100,000 people.
The Day of the Dead programming included a Mega Procession of Catrinas, nighttime bike rides, illuminated sculptures, the Grand Day of the Dead Parade with 47 floats, bands and comparsas, the Marigold Path, the 18th Monumental Alebrije Competition with more than 300 pieces, and community offerings across the city. Eighty community offerings were installed in the Utopías, and more than 80,000 people visited the offerings in Tlatelolco.
Brugada credited coordination among city agencies and the deployment of 11,000 members of the Citizen Security Secretariat for providing security and support to millions of attendees. She thanked residents for their participation and behavior, which she said allowed the celebrations to conclude with no major incidents.
