The 10 Best Songs to Celebrate Día de Muertos 2026: Chavela Vargas, Carlos Rivera & More
The article selects ten songs for Día de Muertos, a Mexican celebration that honours departed loved ones and welcomes them back, according to tradition, on 1 and 2 November. It presents music as a way to explore the festival’s themes of memory, absence, love and hope across styles including cumbia, rock, ranchera, huapango and pop.
The selection includes well-known and newer recordings by artists such as Chavela Vargas, Carlos Rivera, Natalia Lafourcade and Silvana Estrada. It notes that “Remember Me”, recorded by Rivera for the Spanish-language version of *Coco*, won the Oscar for best original song in 2018; another track pays tribute to the Xoloitzcuintli, a dog associated in pre-Hispanic mythology with guiding souls to Mictlán. Estrada’s song was written in memory of two friends who were killed in Mexico City.
In short
- Ten songs reflect Día de Muertos themes and traditions.
- The selection ranges from classic Mexican repertoire to recent releases.
- “Remember Me” won the 2018 Oscar for best original song.
Explained simply
Día de Muertos is a Mexican celebration held on 1 and 2 November to remember people who have died. In the tradition, families welcome their loved ones’ spirits back; music, food and other offerings can help honour their memory.
The songs associated with the celebration come from different styles and generations, including ranchera, cumbia, rock and pop. Their themes include love, loss and hope, and some draw on beliefs such as the Xoloitzcuintli’s role as a guide for souls travelling to Mictlán.
Artists in the selection include Chavela Vargas, Carlos Rivera, Natalia Lafourcade and Silvana Estrada. Their songs connect the festival’s traditions with personal memories, film and contemporary Mexican music.