Day of the Dead returns to Union with two nights of cumbia

When death becomes a celebration of life

Colourful flowers, candles, decorated skulls, food and music. In Mexico, Day of the Dead, or Día de los Muertos, is a holiday when families remember their loved ones who have passed away and celebrate the bonds between generations. The tradition has roots in Indigenous rituals and Catholic observances and is celebrated around 1 and 2 November.

Rather than focusing solely on death as a time of grief and farewell, the holiday is also about keeping memories alive. Flowers, altars and the favourite dishes of those who have passed away are used to symbolically welcome them back among the living. It is a tradition in which grief and joy coexist, with community playing a central role.

Ten years of Day of the Dead at Union

The Mexican holiday has also found a home at Union in Nørrebro, Copenhagen. Over the past ten years, we have celebrated Day of the Dead in different ways, using the occasion to highlight Latin American culture, music and community.

In recent years, the celebrations have evolved into full-scale concert parties under the name Cumbión de Muertos. Here, the Mexican holiday meets the danceable rhythms of cumbia, offering a festive take on a subject that is often associated with solemnity and reflection.

Cumbia originated in Colombia and has evolved into many different styles across Latin America. The music ranges from traditional rhythms to modern blends incorporating Afro-Latin American genres, reggae and funk. What many of these styles have in common is an irresistible urge to dance.

This year, the celebrations double in size

In 2026, Union is expanding Cumbión de Muertos into a full weekend with two nights of live cumbia. On Friday, 30 October, Swedish band Cumbiasound takes the stage, blending cumbia with influences including Peruvian chicha, reggae, funk and Afrobeat. On Saturday, 31 October, Trypical Cumbia takes over, exploring musical influences from across Latin America’s cumbia traditions.

Both nights promise live music and dancing, bringing tradition together with fresh interpretations and turning death into an opportunity to celebrate life.

Because Day of the Dead is not only about remembering those who are no longer with us. It is also about the people we share our lives with today. At Union, we mark the occasion with music, movement and a sense of community that reaches across cultures.