Día de los Muertos | College of Integrative Sciences and Arts

Presented by the College of Integrative Sciences and Arts + Latinx Oral History Lab

In its sixth year, this annual community celebration honors those who came before us with family-friendly activities, food, art and performances from local artists. Guests are invited to bring a photo of a late loved one to add to one of the ofrendas, or altars of remembrance.

This event is free to attend and welcomes students, faculty, staff and community members who want to experience this beautiful celebration of life.

About the holiday

Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is an Indigenous tradition from Latin America with complex cultural roots that commemorates the lives of ancestors and the return of their spirits.

Join us!

Date and time:

Thursday, October 29, 2026
4-7 p.m.
Polytechnic campus, Mesa

This family-friendly tradition at the Polytechnic campus continues! RSVP to let us know you're coming and to receive updates on performances and activities.

Submit your RSVP

Attendees at the 2025 Dia de los Muertos event pose for the camera. Three children in the photo have painted faces.

Event program

Enjoy family-friendly crafts and activities, such as skull-painting and creating altar frames, paper flowers and flower crowns. Attendees can immerse themselves in the tradition of the Catrina and have their faces painted. The evening will be emceed by DJ Isley.

Live performances by:

Mariachi Rubor, Arizona’s international all-female Mariachi band
Ballet Folklórico Quetzalli - AZ, East Valley folklórico group led by Maestra Vanessa Ramirez
Grupo Yolloincuauhtil (aka Coatlicue Danza Mexica), danzante troupe recognized by the Aztec Dance federation in Mexico
Giant puppets

Ofrendas (altars)

The community is welcome to bring photos to add to the ofrendas, or altars, honoring loved ones who have passed away. Please bring a photo that can be left behind. Ofrendas will be on display October 13 - 30, 2026.

Guests who would like to honor veterans and military members who have passed can place photos or memorabilia on an ofrenda hosted by ASU’s Office for Veteran and Military Academic Engagement.

If you would like your photo(s) printed, email them to the OVMAE office at [email protected], with the subject line “OVMAE Day of the Dead Altar.”

Thank you to the following collaborators and organizations for hosting ofrendas this year:

ASU's College of Integrative Sciences and Arts
ASU’s Latinx Oral History Lab
ASU’s Office for Veteran and Military Academic Engagement (OVMAE)
ASU's Barrett, The Honors College
ASU's College of Health Solutions
ASU’s Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation
ASU's School of Counseling and Counseling Psychology
ASU's Fulton Schools of Engineering
ASU’s W. P. Carey School of Business
ASU's Chicano/Latino Faculty and Staff Association
ASU's Multicultural Communities of Excellence + Dean of Students
ASU's Hispanic Organization of Latin Awareness (HOLA)
Pre-Vet Club in the College of Integrative Sciences and Arts
CISA's Growing Gardens, Growing Minds Fellows and the Applied Wildlife Lab
ASU Polytechnic Preparatory Academy
Phi Iota Alpha Latino Fraternity

Sponsor this event

Financial support makes it possible for the College of Integrative Sciences and Arts to present this event at no cost to attendees. For information about supporting the Polytechnic campus’s Día de los Muertos celebration, please review our sponsorship opportunities and connect with Assistant Director of Development Sona Patel at [email protected]. Deadline for sponsorships is September 30.

View sponsorship opportunities