Acapulco’s event calendar blends traditional Mexican celebrations with international festivals, reflecting the city’s long history as a global tourist destination. Major events cluster in the dry season from November through May, though there’s something happening year-round. The best time to visit Acapulco guide covers seasonal weather patterns to help you plan around specific events. For an overview of all guides, weather, seasons, and hotels, see our Acapulco travel guide.
Acapulco Events and Festivals: Winter (December to February)
Acapulco Fair (Feria de Acapulco)
Running from the week before Christmas through the first week of January, the Acapulco Fair sets up near the Convention Center in the Diamante Zone. It features carnival rides, game booths, live music stages with Mexican bands, and food stalls selling everything from churros to birria tacos. It’s family-friendly and draws mostly domestic tourists. Entry is free; ride tickets are purchased individually. The fair peaks on New Year’s Eve with a fireworks display over the bay at midnight.
Dia de Reyes (Three Kings Day)
January 6 is celebrated throughout Mexico, and in Acapulco families gather to share the rosca de reyes, a ring-shaped sweet bread with a small plastic baby figurine baked inside. Whoever finds the figurine hosts a tamale party on February 2 (Dia de la Candelaria). Bakeries around the Zocalo sell roscas starting January 1.
Carnival (Carnaval de Acapulco)
Acapulco’s Carnival usually falls in February or early March (the week before Ash Wednesday). The main parade runs along the Costera Miguel Aleman with elaborate floats, costumed dancers, and live samba bands. It’s smaller than Veracruz or Mazatlan’s Carnivals but has a distinctly local feel. The parade typically starts around 5:00pm. Hotels along the Costera fill up, so book ahead if visiting during Carnival week.
Acapulco Events and Festivals: Spring (March to May)
Semana Santa (Holy Week)
Easter week (dates vary, March or April) is Mexico’s biggest domestic holiday period, and Acapulco fills to capacity with Mexican families. Hotels reach near-100% occupancy and beachfront restaurants have long waits. Religious processions take place on Good Friday, with a reenactment of the Stations of the Cross at various churches. Book accommodations 2-3 months ahead for Semana Santa.
Tianguis Turistico
Mexico’s largest tourism trade fair takes place in April (dates vary by year), rotating between different Mexican cities. When it’s held in Acapulco, the Convention Center in the Diamante Zone hosts thousands of travel industry professionals from around the world. It’s not a public event, but it affects hotel availability and prices during the conference dates. The 2025 edition was held in Acapulco; the 2026 edition is scheduled for Baja California.
Festival Frances (French Festival)
Held in May, the Festival Frances celebrates the historical ties between France and Acapulco dating back to the French intervention in Mexico. Events include French film screenings, culinary showcases with French and Mexican chefs, art exhibitions, and classical music performances. Venues include the Sinfonia del Mar amphitheater and the Convention Center. Most events are free.
Acapulco Events and Festivals: Autumn (October to November)
Dia de Muertos (Day of the Dead)
November 1-2 transforms the Zocalo and surrounding streets with marigold-covered altars, sugar skull decorations, and catrina face painting. While Acapulco’s celebrations are less elaborate than those in Mexico City or Oaxaca, the Zocalo hosts a public altar competition and there are evening processions along the Costera. Local cemeteries in the Traditional Zone are open to visitors who want to observe families honoring their dead with candles, food, and music.
Acapulco International Film Festival (FICA)
Usually held in November, FICA showcases Mexican and international independent films with screenings at the Convention Center and various hotels. The festival includes workshops, panel discussions with filmmakers, and a closing awards ceremony. It’s a smaller festival compared to Guadalajara or Morelia, but it attracts notable Mexican film talent. Check the official website for exact dates, they’re announced 2-3 months in advance.
Acapulco Events and Festivals: Religious Celebrations
Fiesta de la Virgen de Guadalupe
December 12 honors Mexico’s patron saint with pilgrimages to the Catedral de Nuestra Senora de la Soledad. The celebrations actually begin on December 11 with evening processions, mariachi bands, and fireworks. The cathedral area fills with street vendors and families throughout the night. It’s a genuinely local religious celebration rather than a tourist event.
Fiesta de San Isidro Labrador
May 15 in the nearby town of San Isidro (about 20 minutes east of Acapulco) celebrates the patron saint of farmers with a street fair, livestock exhibitions, traditional dances, and a morning mass. It’s a slice of rural Guerrero culture within easy reach of the city. A taxi from central Acapulco costs about 200 MXN.
