The Museum of the Americas in Old San Juan will hold a new edition of its traditional Noche de Catrinas on Thursday, October 29, 2026, dedicated this year to the centennial of the birth of Puerto Rican composer Catalino “Tite” Curet Alonso, a foundational figure of Caribbean popular song. Inspired by Mexico’s Día de los Muertos, the event bridges Mexican and Puerto Rican cultural expressions.
The Altar de Muertos will also honor artists and cultural figures who died in the past year, including Betsy Padín, Doribela Barbosa, Rafael Ferrer, Nilsevady Fussá Ayuso, William Anthony “Willy” Colón, Mario Cepeda Brenes, Jorge Rodríguez, María Clemencia López Ramírez, José Ignacio Jiménez, Federico Farrington, Robinson Rosado, Toni Hambleton and José Orta Rivera. The program begins at 6:00 PM with an Invocación Teotihuacana by Enrique Cárdenas; at 6:30 PM writer Mayra Leticia Ortiz Padua will read the story “El rostro de las flores,” followed by a creative activity.
The group Mi Plena will perform through the museum, then Valeria Gallart and the Grupo de Baile Citlali perform at 7:30 PM, followed by Avance on Stage 2.0, with singer-songwriter Andrea Cruz closing at 9:00 PM. LifeLink de Puerto Rico will host an organ-donation registry table, with donor photographs on the altar. Free transportation courtesy of Codevisa runs from the Salvation Army building to the Cuartel de Ballajá. Suggested donation: $8.00.