Día de los Muertos

Día de los Muertos

Saturday, November 7 | Davies Symphony Hall

Join us for a celebration of Latin American music and culture including lobby installations by local artists. The dynamic concert program, conducted by José Luis Gómez, features traditional music with contemporary works honoring the rich heritage of this ancient holiday. The event is curated by longtime collaborator Martha Rodríguez-Salazar, and features longtime artistic partner Casa Círculo Cultural.

Lights Along the Path: Day of the Dead in Tlaxcala

The San Francisco Symphony, in collaboration with curator Martha Rodríguez-Salazar and artistic partner Casa Círculo Cultural, is proud to present the 2026 Día de los Muertos exhibit, Luces en el Camino: Día de los Muertos en Tlaxcala, at Davies Symphony Hall on Saturday, November 7, 2026.

Inspired by the cultural traditions of Tlaxcala and the symbolism of the firefly, this year’s exhibition explores themes of remembrance, resilience, renewal, and hope, and will feature altar installations and visual artworks that honor loved ones, celebrate ancestral connections, and illuminate the paths that guide us through times of uncertainty.

This celebration goes far beyond one day: Each year, we invite local artists to craft installations and altars honoring both the living and the deceased. Curated by Martha Rodríguez-Salazar, these installations aim to commemorate the Day of the Dead by connecting us across centuries and continents and exploring what Mexican and Latino communities believe is a malleable barrier between life and the afterlife.

Beginning in mid-October, their work appears in and around Davies Symphony Hall, available to peruse before or after any Symphony concert.

We look forward to presenting our 19th annual Día de los Muertos celebration!

Artists

• José Luis Gómez, Conductor
• Casa Círculo Cultural
• San Francisco Symphony

Program

To Be Announced

Martha Rodríguez-Salazar, Curator

Born in Mexico City and trained classically as a flutist and opera singer, Martha Rodríguez-Salazar is a curator, teacher, choir director, producer, and director of musical and theater productions that celebrate Latin American culture. She promotes Mexican and Latino culture in the Bay Area through her curatorial work and extensive performing and teaching activities through the Community Music Center. She has curated the San Francisco Symphony’s Día de los Muertos Community Concert festivities since their inception in 2008.

Casa Círculo Cultural, Artistic Partner

Casa Círculo Cultural is a grassroots, community-based multidisciplinary arts nonprofit, dedicated to creating cultural programming reflective of the experiences of the Latino communities in the San Francisco Bay Area, while promoting leadership development for the whole family. Casa Círculo Cultural has collaborated with the San Francisco Symphony on the Día de los Muertos celebration since 2010.

The Día de los Muertos concert is presented in partnership with SF Arts Commission.