Mexican Independence Day falls on September 16, but the moment everyone waits for comes the night before. At 11 p.m. on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, President Claudia Sheinbaum will step onto the central balcony of the National Palace in Mexico City, ring a bell and lead the Grito de Independencia, marking 216 years since the uprising that began Mexico’s fight for independence.
This weekend, as cities across the United States held their own celebrations, searches for “when is Mexican Independence Day” climbed sharply. This guide covers the dates, what the Grito actually is, how to experience it in the Zócalo, and where else to join in.
When is Mexican Independence Day?
The holiday is September 16. It commemorates the Cry of Dolores: at around 2:30 a.m. on September 16, 1810, the priest Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla rang the church bell in the town of Dolores, in present-day Guanajuato, and called his congregation to rise up against Spanish rule. Independence took more than a decade of war. The declaration was signed on September 28, 1821.
It is not Cinco de Mayo. May 5 marks the Battle of Puebla in 1862, a victory over the French army, and it is celebrated far more widely in the United States than in most of Mexico.
The celebrations run over two days:
- Night of September 15: the Grito. The president rings the historic bell, calls out the names of the heroes of independence and shouts “¡Viva México!” three times, followed by the national anthem and fireworks. Local officials hold their own versions in town squares across the country.
- September 16: the national holiday, with a military parade through the center of Mexico City.
El Grito in Mexico City’s Zócalo
The biggest Grito takes place in the Plaza de la Constitución, better known as the Zócalo, facing the National Palace. Entry is free. The published program for 2026:
- 7 p.m.: the verbena, a street-party atmosphere with cultural performances on the main stage.
- 9 p.m.: a free concert, with the Texas-Mexican band Intocable headlining and mariachi groups from the Navy and the National Guard on the bill.
- 11 p.m.: the Grito ceremony, with the bell, the patriotic speech, the national anthem and fireworks.
Here is the part that catches visitors out. Authorities recommend arriving before 4 p.m., because pedestrian access closes once the square reaches capacity. If you turn up at 10 p.m. hoping to squeeze in for the ceremony, you will probably be watching from a screen in a side street, or not at all.
Getting there by Metro
Don’t plan on getting off at Zócalo/Tenochtitlan. The Line 2 station under the square is normally closed for the celebrations and the next morning’s parade. Use a station a few blocks away and walk in:
- Allende (Line 2)
- Bellas Artes (Lines 2 and 8)
- San Juan de Letrán (Line 8)
- Pino Suárez (Lines 1 and 2)
Closures and extended hours are announced in the days before, so check Metro CDMX’s official channels on the day rather than relying on last year’s arrangements.
In the crowd
- Travel light. You will be standing for hours in a packed square. Keep your phone and cash in a front pocket.
- Pick a meeting point outside the Zócalo. If your group gets separated, phones are little help in a crowd that size.
- Pack a rain jacket. September is still rainy season in Mexico City, and evening showers are common.
- Eat before you go in. Once you have a spot, you won’t want to give it up.
September 16: the military parade
The morning after the Grito, the military parade sets off from the Zócalo at around 10 a.m. and lasts three to four hours. The route runs along 5 de Mayo, Eje Central and Avenida Juárez, then onto Paseo de la Reforma, ending at Campo Marte. More than 15,000 members of the armed forces and the National Guard are expected to take part.
Those streets are closed to traffic, so walk or take the Metro. The long, tree-lined sidewalks of Reforma have far more room than the historic center. September 16 is also a public holiday in Mexico, so expect banks and government offices to be closed.
Where it began: Dolores Hidalgo
For a more historic Grito, head to Dolores Hidalgo in Guanajuato, the town that took Hidalgo’s name, where the original cry rang out from the parish church. It is a short drive from San Miguel de Allende, so the two make an easy pairing for travelers based in the Bajío region. Expect a smaller, more local celebration than in the capital, and book rooms early.
Celebrating in the United States
North of the border, the biggest celebrations usually take place on the weekend before September 16. In 2026 that was September 12 and 13, which is why this weekend’s searches spiked. Three of the largest to put in your calendar for next year:
- Chicago: the El Grito Chicago festival fills Butler Field in Grant Park, and the 26th Street Mexican Independence Day Parade sets off from the Little Village Arch at 26th Street and Albany Avenue, drawing hundreds of thousands of people. A second parade runs along Commercial Avenue in South Chicago. This year the city warned of possible traffic restrictions in the Loop as car caravans headed downtown after the neighborhood events, and urged people to use public transit. Our guide to getting around Chicago by train and bus covers the basics.
- Los Angeles: the East LA Mexican Independence Day Parade, which reached its 80th edition in 2026, runs along East César E. Chávez Avenue between Mednik and Gage Avenues. Olvera Street downtown also hosts celebrations.
- San Antonio: Historic Market Square hosts El Grito y Fiestas Patrias, with live music, folkloric dance and the city’s civic Grito ceremony, hosted by the Consulate General of Mexico.
If you missed the weekend events, look for a Grito on the night of the 15th itself: consulates and community groups in several cities hold their own. September 15 is also the start of Hispanic Heritage Month in the United States, which runs until October 15.
Before you travel to Mexico
The U.S. State Department rates Mexico state by state, so the advice for Mexico City can differ from the advice for the region next door. Check the level for every state on your route. Our explainer on how travel advisory levels work walks through what each level means for your plans and your insurance.
