Open Call: Join the Day of the Dead tomb contest at the Horniman Museum 2025
Hola querida comunidad,
As part of this year’s Día de Muertos Festival at Horniman Museum on 1st November 2025, we are curating a very special installation: a Mexican Cemetery Garden, filled with beautifully decorated gravestones honouring cultural icons, traditions, and messages from our community.
We invite 10 Mexican businesses, organisations, artists, brands, families, and creatives based in the UK to join our Concurso de Tumbas—a celebration of Mexican tradition in the heart of London. This is a unique chance to showcase your creativity and honor Día de Muertos with your own altar (tumba).
✨ Theme
Free & open. From traditional altars to contemporary or conceptual versions, the only requirement is to respect the spirit of Día de Muertos and tell a story through your creation.
📏 Rules & Guidelines
- Size limit: Each tumba must not exceed 1.5m (height and width).
- Outdoor setup: Installations will be placed in the Horniman Gardens. Materials must withstand exposure to the outdoors for the day.
- Setup/Removal: Participants are responsible for setting up their tumba on Nov 1st (morning) and removing it by the end of the festival the same day.
- Safety: No open flames. Use LED candles or safe alternatives.
- Responsibility: All elements must be self-produced or sourced by participants. Mexibrit and Horniman are not responsible for lost/damaged items.
🏆 Competition Categories
- 🌺 Most Traditional Tumba
- 🎨 Most Creative Tumba
- 🌍 People’s Choice Award (voted by visitors)
🏆 The winner will receive a bottle of Cazcabel Tequila as a prize, celebrating both tradition and creativity. The jury will be composed of a representative from the Mexican Embassy and a representative from the Horniman Museum, ensuring a thoughtful selection that honors both cultural authenticity and artistic expression.
Judging criteria: Creativity, symbolism, cultural authenticity, storytelling, and visual impact.
📩 How to Apply
- Deadline: Applications are now open and will close on October 10, 2025.
- Submit:
- Name / Group / Brand
- Short description of your concept (max 150 words)
- Contact details
- (Optional) Reference photo/sketch
- Name / Group / Brand
- Send to: mexibritweb@gmail.com
Don’t miss the chance to be part of the Concurso de Tumbas at the Horniman Museum Gardens, organized together with the Mexican community in London. It’s a special opportunity to celebrate Día de Muertos, showcase your creativity, and honor this colorful tradition.
Follow us on our social media to discover more events that bring Mexican culture to life in the UK.