Tens of thousands of visitors gathered at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery on Saturday for its 27th annual Día de los Muertos celebration, marking the largest observance of the holiday outside of Mexico. The gathering anchors a deep-rooted Los Angeles legacy initiated in 1972 by the Eastside nonprofit Self Help Graphics & Art, which introduced the first public celebrations of the holiday that have since become a cornerstone of the region’s autumn calendar.
While traditional observances in Mexico and Latin America fall on Nov. 1 and Nov. 2, Southern California festivities stretch across October, aligning with the conclusion of Hispanic Heritage Month. Both observances trace their modern prominence to the Chicano movement of the 1960s and 1970s, when U.S. Latinos fought for social justice and cultural visibility.
At the Hollywood Forever landmark, more than 100 families spent the day camping among the graves, erecting altars outfitted with tents, coolers, folding chairs, and generators. Each year organizers provide a guiding motif for the displays; the 2026 theme was “All Under One Sky.” Official event organizers noted in a statement, “Across the world, families have endured separation, communities have mourned, and many have searched for peace, comfort, and healing. In times of sorrow, we are reminded that suffering knows no borders — and neither should compassion.”
For many participants, the altars served as sites of personal and political expression. Diana Suazo, a 36-year-old mental health worker and South Gate resident originally from Honduras, constructed a display centered on the theme of immigrant resilience. Featuring the phrase “land of immigrants” alongside photographs of the deceased, Suazo said her participation was initially in question due to anxiety among her immigrant support network regarding immigration enforcement.
“Another way of resistance is celebrating those that have passed away, whether naturally, or under the threat of ICE and all the chaos caused by that administration,” Suazo said, adding that she wanted to emphasize that departed loved ones “are just now a piece of sky and we’ll always remember them and carry their legacy.”
Nearby, tattoo artist Victoria Jean Cruz Jimenez honored her family’s artistic roots with an altar framed by guitars and paper banners. Cruz Jimenez, 35, has built altars at the cemetery annually since 2015—the year her oldest sister died. Over subsequent years, she has experienced the bittersweet addition of her father, a nephew, and other extended relatives to the ofrenda. Planning for the structure takes a full month following six months of conceptual design. “The more I remember and get to talk about them, that’s when I feel them,” Cruz Jimenez said. “They’re present because they’re present in my thoughts and in my heart.”
First-time altar builders Lorena Silva and her sisters constructed a memorial dedicated to siblings and family members lost to cancer and mental health struggles. Surrounded by snacks reflecting her family’s favorites—including Maria cookies, Maruchan ramen, and Hot Cheetos—Silva described the community grief present at the cemetery as a vital source of comfort. “It’s knowing that I’m not alone in grieving my family,” Silva said. “It’s seeing everyone else and seeing how they’re OK and knowing we’re gonna be OK.”
