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The 18th Monumental Alebrijes Parade commenced precisely at noon on October 17, 2026, with the final chime of the Metropolitan Cathedral, embarking on its journey towards the Diana Glorieta on Paseo de la Reforma. Thousands of eager spectators had gathered early despite the chilly weather to witness the spectacle.
Hundreds of Alebrijes Enliven Mexico City Streets
Walther Boelsterly Urrutia, director of the Museum of Popular Art (MAP), announced just before the parade that 168 alebrijes had been counted out of the 205 registered, with some cancellations and others still en route. The vibrant procession was led by Miriel Medina, adorned as a living alebrije with wings and body paint, followed by two polychrome pyrotechnic ‘toritos’ and the first monumental figure. This initial alebrije, crafted by employees of a puppet-making company, celebrated 20 years of the Marvel universe, with the Secretariat of the Navy Music Band providing a lively soundtrack.
Families Gather to Witness the Spectacle
Adriana Orozco, who traveled from Ecatepec, State of Mexico, with her husband, 6-year-old daughter Daniela Nicol, mother, and two siblings, secured a front-row spot on 5 de Mayo street. Daniela, a first-grader, shared that she had already created a turtle alebrije, her favorite animal, but also expressed fondness for axolotls, proudly displaying one on her cheek that her grandmother had purchased for her.
A Legacy of Fantastical Art
Carlos Álvarez, a second-generation cartonero from Chimalhuacán, State of Mexico, reminisced about the inaugural Alebrijes Contest and Parade 18 years prior. He recalled a modest beginning with only a dozen figures and a route confined to streets behind the National Palace. In that first competition, his family’s alebrije, named “El aguas vivas,” secured a win.
This year, Álvarez’s family contributed a calavera-themed alebrije titled “El no se,” dedicated to Pablo Gómez, a MAP worker who had recently passed away. The name, he explained, originated from his uncertainty about the design closer to the deadline. “I had no idea what we were going to do, when the museum asked me, I said, ‘I don’t know, dude,'” he recounted, learning of Pablo’s passing shortly thereafter. The alebrije features Pablo’s face as a mask held by the calavera, flanked by two winged skull figures.
Art from Behind Bars: ‘Noctámbulo’
Among the diverse collectives participating, inmates from the Santa Martha Acatitla Social Reintegration Center’s cardboard workshop created a deer alebrije named “Noctámbulo.” This piece symbolized that “even at night, in confinement, there is color and hope.” The alebrije was a collaborative effort involving 10 inmates, born from a “brainstorming session,” as explained by workshop teacher Carlos García. García proudly wore the official parade shirt, emblazoned with “Libertad” on the front and the names and signatures of the women who crafted the piece on the back.
Parade Route and Public Reaction
The parade proceeded along 5 de Mayo and Avenida Juárez before joining Paseo de la Reforma. Thousands of onlookers applauded and cheered the elaborate creations, as well as the folk dance groups and marching bands, including the Leones de Icatec, a school group from Córdova, Veracruz. Approximately 200 young musicians and flag bearers from this school had departed at 5:00 AM in four buses rented by their families to participate.
In certain sections, the crowd enthusiastically judged the creations. At the Glorieta de la Independencia, the most visually striking and well-crafted alebrijes were met with chants of “¡Vuelta! ¡Vuelta!” (Turn around! Turn around!). The parade concluded after 3:00 PM with the arrival of the final alebrije at the Diana Glorieta.
Source: https://www.jornada.com.mx/noticia/2026/10/17/capital/desfile-de-alebrijes-monumentales-recorre-la-cdmx-en-el-inicio-de-la-temporada-de-dia-de-muertos
