Planet K Cancels San Antonio Día de los Muertos Fest

Organizers cited immigration enforcement concerns for the cancellation of the event scheduled for November 2.

Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Cultural

Planet K Cancels San Antonio Día de los Muertos Fest

Live Poll

Should community festivals be canceled if attendees fear the presence of federal immigration enforcement?

Planet K Texas has canceled its long-running Día de los Muertos festival at Woodlawn Lake Park. Organizers pointed to economic and political challenges, specifically citing concerns over U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity.

Why it matters

The decision reflects local tensions regarding immigration enforcement in San Antonio. Organizers stated they would not hold the event while the city remains in conflict over federal detention centers.

This is only the second time in 20 years that the festival has been canceled. The only previous cancellation occurred during the coronavirus pandemic.

The players

Planet K Texas

This organization is the primary organizer responsible for the Día de los Muertos festival at Woodlawn Lake Park.

Marina Alderete Gavito

She serves as the District 7 Councilmember for the City of San Antonio.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement

This federal agency is the subject of local controversy regarding detention center operations in San Antonio.

The details

Planet K Texas confirmed the cancellation last week, signaling they do not intend to return the festival until 2027. Meanwhile, the city continues to navigate legal disputes with ICE and DHS concerning local detention centers.

October 8, 2026: Councilmember Marina Alderete Gavito addressed the cancellation during a City Council session.
October 14, 2026: Councilmember Gavito provided an additional statement to MySA.
October 23-25, 2026: Muertos Fest at Hemisfair is scheduled to occur as planned.
November 2, 2026: The original date the festival was set to take place at Woodlawn Lake Park.
November 3, 2026: The upcoming election date referenced during city deliberations.

Industry Dynamics

The cancellation highlights how local cultural events can become points of tension within broader political environments. It marks a departure from traditional holiday celebrations as organizers align festival operations with their stance on federal immigration enforcement.

Attendees who planned to visit Woodlawn Lake Park for the November 2 festivities will need to adjust their holiday plans. However, the public can still attend the three-day Muertos Fest at Hemisfair scheduled from October 23-25.

The takeaway

Cultural organizers are increasingly factoring regional political climates into their long-term programming decisions. Residents should monitor local event pages to confirm schedules for other upcoming holiday commemorations.