Translated from the original Spanish article. Read in Spanish
News published on October 30, 2026. The situation may have changed since then.
Mexico City has a new Guinness record: the world's tallest catrina. It measures 33.411 meters, according to the official measurement.
Where it is
The catrina is the centerpiece of the Monumental Offering for the Day of the Dead, set up in the Plaza de la Constitución, the Zócalo, in the Historic Center.
The recognition was presented on Thursday, October 29, at the opening. Alfredo Arista, an official Guinness adjudicator, handed it to the head of government, Clara Brugada.
What it is like
The figure is surrounded by 70,000 marigold flowers. They were grown by farmers in the conservation area in the south of the capital.
Around it there are 66 axolotl sculptures, painted by local artists and collectives.
According to the outlet Chilango, the catrina is made of papier-mâché, with help from artists from the east of the city. The Culture Ministry had announced a height of 32 meters, but the final measurement exceeded it.
The Catrina was born as a skeleton drawn by engraver José Guadalupe Posada to mock people who showed off being rich.
Whose record it took
The title was held by Puerto Vallarta, in Jalisco, which had built its own giant catrina for the Day of the Dead.
The offering pays tribute to José Guadalupe Posada, the creator of the Catrina.
When to see it
It can be visited from October 29 to November 2, 2026 in the Zócalo, right in the middle of the Day of the Dead long weekend.
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Sources (in Spanish)
- Récord, medida, flores, ajolotes y fechas: Uno TV (29 de octubre de 2026).
- Altura prevista, cartonería y récord de Puerto Vallarta: Chilango (20 de octubre de 2026).
Photos are from Wikimedia Commons under free licenses; the author and license are shown under each image.
