Undas 2026: All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day in the Philippines

When is Undas in 2026?

Day	Date	Observance
Sunday	1 November 2026	All Saints’ Day (Araw ng mga Santo)
Monday	2 November 2026	All Souls’ Day (Araw ng mga Patay)

Both All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day are special non-working days in the Philippines, confirmed in the official 2026 Philippine holiday calendar. Combined with the weekend, the period from Saturday 31 October to Monday 2 November forms a long weekend for most Filipino workers.

What is Undas?

Undas is the Filipino and Tagalog term for the collective observance of All Saints’ Day (1 November) and All Souls’ Day (2 November). It is also commonly called Araw ng mga Patay (Day of the Dead) or Todos los Santos.

Undas is one of the most important and widely observed occasions in the Filipino calendar – a time when families across the Philippines, and Filipino communities worldwide, gather to remember, honour and pray for their loved ones who have passed.

The Philippines is approximately 76% Catholic (Pew Research, 2026), and Undas reflects this deeply Catholic identity – a tradition of prayer, remembrance and family unity centred on visits to cemeteries, the lighting of candles and offering of flowers and food at the tombs of the departed.

Unlike Mexico’s Day of the Dead or Halloween in Western countries, Undas is not a festival of costumes or revelry. It is a solemn and deeply personal family occasion – though in practice, the sheer size of the cemetery gatherings and the presence of food, music and conversation give it a uniquely Filipino character that is as much about the living as the dead.

All Saints’ Day vs All Souls’ Day

All Saints’ Day (1 November) is a Christian solemnity dedicated to all saints, martyrs and holy individuals recognised by the Church – both those formally canonised and those known only to God. In Roman Catholicism, it is a Holy Day of Obligation, requiring attendance at Mass. In the Philippines, All Saints’ Day has become the primary cemetery-visiting day for most families, even though liturgically it is a celebration of the saints rather than a day of mourning.

All Souls’ Day (2 November) is the day properly dedicated to prayer for the souls of all the faithful departed – particularly those believed to be in purgatory. It is a quieter, more reflective day. In 2025, Manila North Cemetery recorded over one million visitors on 1 November and approximately 69,437 on 2 November – illustrating how strongly Filipino custom has shifted the cemetery visits to All Saints’ Day, even as All Souls’ Day retains its liturgical significance.

The distinction between the two days was more keenly observed by earlier generations of Filipinos before World War II. Today, most families visit cemeteries across both days, with 1 November being the peak.

How Undas is observed

Cemetery visits

The defining tradition of Undas is the family visit to the cemetery. Millions of Filipinos travel to their hometowns and provinces in the days before and on 1-2 November to visit the graves of family members. Major cemeteries – Manila North Cemetery, Manila South Cemetery, La Loma Cemetery, Taguig City Cemetery and thousands of provincial cemeteries – see enormous crowds throughout the Undas period.

Families typically:

Clean and repaint the tombs of loved ones in the days before Undas
Place flowers – chrysanthemums and gladioli are traditional Undas flowers – on the grave
Light candles, which are kept burning through the night
Pray together – a decade of the rosary, the eternal rest prayer and personal prayers for the departed
Bring food and share a meal at the graveside – a practice that reflects the Filipino belief in continued connection with those who have passed

Candle lighting

Candles are central to the Undas observance. As darkness falls on the evenings of 1 and 2 November, Philippine cemeteries glow with thousands of candles. The lighting of a candle is an act of prayer – an offering of light for the souls of the departed and a symbol of the continued bond between the living and the dead.

Flowers and offerings

Chrysanthemums, gladioli, white lilies and marigolds are the traditional flowers of Undas. Families place bouquets and wreaths on tombs. Some also leave food – favourite dishes of the departed, or seasonal treats – as an offering and a symbol of sharing.

Prayer and Mass

Catholic churches across the Philippines hold special Masses on both 1 and 2 November. Many families attend Mass before or after the cemetery visit. The recitation of the rosary at the graveside is also common, particularly in rural communities.

Regional variations

Undas traditions vary across the Philippines’ many islands and cultural groups:

Sagada, Mountain Province (Luzon): The Igorot community of Sagada has its own unique tradition called kutlong, which merges indigenous ancestral practices with Catholic observances. Bonfires are lit and songs are sung to honour the dead, creating a distinctly different character from the cemetery vigils of lowland Philippines.

Visayas and Mindanao: In many Visayan provinces, the nights of 31 October and 1 November are marked by pangangaluluwa – groups of singers who go from house to house performing songs, echoing an older tradition of serenading souls believed to be waiting in purgatory.

Chinese Filipino communities: Some Filipino families of Chinese descent observe Qingming tomb-sweeping traditions alongside the Catholic Undas observance, reflecting the multicultural heritage of many Philippine families.

Undas in 2026

Government preparations: Local government units across the Philippines are implementing their “Alerto Undas 2026” operations from 29 October to 3 November, deploying personnel across cemeteries and memorial parks for crowd management, public safety and emergency response. San Fernando, Pampanga alone is deploying over 500 personnel across 12 cemeteries.

Long weekend: The combination of All Saints’ Day (Sunday 1 November) and All Souls’ Day (Monday 2 November) creates a long weekend from Saturday 31 October to Monday 2 November 2026. Many Filipinos use the extended break to travel to their provinces for family reunions centred on the Undas observance.

Peak travel period: Buses, ferries and domestic flights typically see peak demand from 29-31 October (outbound) and 2-3 November (return). Filipino families planning to travel for Undas should book transport well in advance.

Undas for Filipino families in Australia and New Zealand

For the more than 310,000 Filipinos born in the Philippines living in Australia (2021 ABS Census, a figure that has continued to grow) and the significant Filipino community in New Zealand, Undas is often observed from afar – through prayer, Mass attendance at Filipino Catholic communities and, for many, sending money home to help family in the Philippines prepare and observe the occasion properly.

Filipino Catholic communities in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Auckland and Wellington typically hold special Undas Masses and community gatherings in the days around 1-2 November.

Sending money home for Undas: Many Filipino families send money home to cover flowers, candles, food for the cemetery gathering, tomb cleaning and maintenance costs in the lead-up to Undas. Timing your transfer before 30 October ensures family has funds before the peak cemetery visiting days.

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FAQs (frequently asked questions)

What is Undas?

Undas is the Filipino term for the combined observance of All Saints’ Day (1 November) and All Souls’ Day (2 November). It is the most important occasion in the Filipino calendar for honouring and praying for the dead, centred on family visits to cemeteries.

When is Undas in 2026?

All Saints’ Day falls on Sunday 1 November 2026 and All Souls’ Day on Monday 2 November 2026. Both are special non-working days in the Philippines.

Is Undas a public holiday in the Philippines?

Both days are special non-working days in the 2026 official Philippine holiday calendar. Combined with the weekend of 31 October and 1 November, most Filipino workers have a long weekend.

What do Filipinos do during Undas?

Families visit cemeteries to clean and repaint tombs, place flowers and candles, pray together and share a meal at the graveside. Many also attend special Masses. It is a family reunion occasion as much as a religious observance.

Why do most Filipinos visit cemeteries on 1 November rather than 2 November?

Historically, All Souls’ Day (2 November) is the day dedicated to prayer for the departed, while All Saints’ Day (1 November) honours the saints. Over time, Filipino custom has shifted most cemetery visits to 1 November. Both days remain important.

How can I send money to family in the Philippines for Undas?

OrbitRemit transfers AUD to PHP with no flat fee for GCash delivery (AUD $4 for bank deposit). NZD to PHP transfers cost NZD $4 for GCash delivery (NZD $6 for bank deposit). Send before 30 October to ensure funds arrive before the cemetery visits.

Related guides

Undas dates and Philippine holiday status are based on the official 2026 Philippine government holiday calendar. Last updated October 2026.

Sources: gulfnews.com – Philippines holiday calendar 2026: Official list of regular, special non-working days | pixidia.com – Undas 2026: All Saints’ Day in the Philippines | tribune.net.ph – San Fernando deploys 500 personnel for Undas (October 14, 2026) | arabnews.com – Filipinos mark All Saints’ Day with bonfires, songs (November 1, 2025) | pna.gov.ph – Returning to the roots of Filipino Undas | inquirer.net – Keeping Filipinos’ Undas traditions alive | officeholidays.com – All Saints’ Day Philippines 2026