The Detroit Institute of Arts is presenting our 13th Annual Ofrendas: Celebrating el Día de Muertos in a whole new way! This year, 12 ofrendas, or offerings, in honor of the Mexican holiday Day of the Dead, will be on view in select locations across all three floors of the museum from September 27 through November 2, 2025.

Consider it a new exploration of the galleries, a new museum experience. I have heard that some visitors never make it to the third floor—now’s the perfect opportunity to discover not just the inspiring Ofrendas but also the skillful works of the Dutch and British galleries and more!

To locate the altars, pick up a handout from any of our Admissions and Information Desks or pull it up on your phone using the free Bloomberg Connects app. (Bonus: you’ll also find audio tours of select artworks on the app!)

This year’s artists hail from across Michigan, as well as Los Angeles and Mexico City. I am deeply impressed by the intricate details and diverse creative expressions represented in these altars. The artists’ works reflect themes such as personal loss, cultural identity, and social challenges. If you’ve never been to our Ofrendas exhibition, expect to see vibrant displays with flowers, photos, candles, and symbolic objects that serve as a tribute to departed loved ones.

One thing that hasn’t changed: the DIA always partners with the local community to ensure that our exhibition accurately represents and honors Día de Muertos. The Ofrendas selection committee includes the Mexican Consulate of Detroit, the Southwest Detroit Business Association, the Mexicantown Community Development Corporation, and a DIA curator (Katie Pfohl, Associate Curator, Contemporary Art, assisted this year).

Ofrendas is on display for a limited time—join us now through Sunday, November 2! Along the way, enjoy special programming inspired by the exhibition, from Sugar Skull and Paper Flower workshops in the Artmaking Studio to a lively performance by Ballet Folklorico de Detroit. The season will conclude with a thoughtful talk featuring this year’s artists. Find all the details on our event calendar.

We hope this year’s expanded layout adds a higher sense of inspiration and delight to your visit. At the DIA, our goal is always to help people connect—with art, with culture, and with each other. We believe these ofrendas will spark conversation, preserve heritage, and build bridges of understanding.