Last checked: 30 October 2026
Mexican Independence Day marks the Cry of Dolores of 16 September 1810, which began the war for independence; the main celebration, the Grito, is on the evening of 15 September, above all in Mexico City's Zócalo. The next one falls on Thursday 16 September 2027. Visitors and Mexicans abroad who need data for maps, calls over the internet and top ups can use a Slashtel eSIM for Mexico and keep their home SIM for calls and bank codes.
Mexican Independence Day: date and what it marks
Mexican Independence Day is 16 September, and it recalls the Cry of Dolores of 16 September 1810, when the priest Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla rang his church bell in Dolores and gave the call to arms that began the Mexican War of Independence. The main celebrations, including the Grito, take place on the evening of 15 September.
The war that followed ended on 27 September 1821, when the Army of the Three Guarantees led by Agustín de Iturbide entered Mexico City. The next Mexican Independence Day falls on Thursday 16 September 2027, with the Grito on the evening of 15 September. Note that this is not the same as Cinco de Mayo, which marks a different event; the national day is in September.
How the day is celebrated
Each year on the eve of Independence Day the President re-enacts the Grito from the balcony of the National Palace in Mexico City, ringing the bell Hidalgo used in 1810 and shouting "¡Viva México!" three times. Crowds gather in the Zócalo in front of the National Palace, and the ceremony ends with fireworks over the square.
On 16 September, after honours to the flag, the armed forces hold a military parade around the Plaza de la Constitución. On 15 September 2025 Claudia Sheinbaum became the first woman to lead the Grito ceremony.
If you plan to be in the square, expect large crowds, music, tricolour flags and faces painted in the national colours. Practical arrangements such as road closures, entry points and timings change from year to year, so the official site will confirm them. Guadalajara and other cities hold their own ceremonies and gatherings; check local information for details.
Food for the fiestas patrias
On the night of 15 September families eat national dishes such as pozole, pambazos, buñuelos and chiles en nogada. Chiles en nogada are poblano chillies stuffed with ground meat, nuts and dried fruit, covered in walnut sauce and topped with pomegranate, and mid September falls near the end of their season.
By tradition, Augustinian nuns of the Santa Mónica convent in Puebla created chiles en nogada in the colours of the Trigarante army to honour Agustín de Iturbide and celebrate independence. Street food on Grito night in Mexico City includes pambazos, tamales, tostadas, sopes, flautas and quesadillas.
If you are cooking abroad, look for poblano chillies and fresh walnuts where you can; the dish is built on the green, white and red of the chilli, the walnut sauce and the pomegranate.
Celebrating from abroad
Mexican communities abroad mark the date with their own Grito ceremonies. In Los Angeles, city leaders join the Consul General of Mexico each year to re-enact the Grito and ring the bell; the 81st annual El Grito at City Hall in 2023 drew more than 10,000 people.
Consulates and community groups in the USA and Canada often organise evening events on 15 September, with food, music and the shout of "¡Viva México!". Details vary by city and year, so the official site of the consulate or organiser will confirm what is planned.
If you are watching a ceremony abroad and want to share it with family in Mexico, a data connection is enough for video calls over WhatsApp and other internet apps.
Calling and topping up family at home
If your family is in Mexico, you can send a mobile top up to their number from abroad, delivered in minutes, and the same top ups can keep a home line active while you are away. Slashtel sells top ups to more than 100 countries, including Mexico.
Use the Mexico top up page to send credit to a family number, or read the Spanish page on recargas a Mexico desde Estados Unidos if that suits the person receiving it. This is useful on Grito night, when relatives may be out in the square and relying on their phone.
Remember that a Slashtel eSIM is data only: no local phone number and no calls or SMS. WhatsApp and other internet calls work over the data. Keep your home SIM in the phone for calls and bank codes, and turn off data roaming on it to avoid roaming charges.
Visiting Mexico for the day: staying connected
A Slashtel eSIM for Mexico gives you data for maps, messages and internet calls during the celebrations, without touching your home SIM. Plans come with 1, 2, 3, 5, 10 or 20 GB and are valid for 7, 15 or 30 days, with the 1 GB plan from $4.09.
How it works:
- Buy online with an email address and a card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. The QR code arrives by email within minutes.
- Install it before you travel; validity starts when the eSIM first connects at the destination. See the install guide for iPhone and Android.
- The phone must be unlocked and eSIM compatible. The network is chosen automatically for the best signal and cannot be picked by hand.
- Hotspot and tethering are allowed, and more data can be added to the same eSIM later with no new QR code.
For a longer stay, compare the Mexico destination page and the data calculator. If you also need calls and bank codes, read calls, texts, OTPs and data on an eSIM.
Where to stay: in Mexico City, areas around the Centro Histórico and the Zócalo put you close to the Grito, while Roma and Condesa are quieter bases; in Guadalajara, the Centro and Chapultepec areas are central choices. Book early, as the night of 15 September is busy.
Entry rules depend on your nationality and route; describe your situation to the official Mexican authorities and check their site before booking. Support is on WhatsApp and email if you need help with a plan.
See live Mexico eSIM plans before you travel.
Sources
Event details come from the organisers and official sites below. Dates, venues and entry rules can change, so check them before you travel.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independence_Day_(Mexico) (checked 30 Oct 2026)
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cry_of_Dolores (checked 30 Oct 2026)
- https://www.gob.mx/bancodelbienestar/articulos/nuestras-fiestas-patrias?idiom=es (checked 30 Oct 2026)
- https://mexicocity.cdmx.gob.mx/7-ways-to-celebrate-el-grito-in-the-mexican-capital/?lang=en (checked 30 Oct 2026)
- https://www.gob.mx/agricultura/articulos/chile-en-nogada-un-festin-de-historia-tradicion-y-sabor (checked 30 Oct 2026)
- https://cd7.lacity.gov/news/yesterday-councilwoman-monica-rodriguez-and-the-city-of-los-angeles-welcomed-over-10000-to-city-hall-in-celebration-of-mexican-independence (checked 30 Oct 2026)
- https://www.officeholidays.com/holidays/mexico/mexico-independence-day (checked 30 Oct 2026)
Questions, answered
When is Mexican Independence Day?
It is 16 September. The main celebrations, including the Grito, take place on the evening of 15 September. The next one falls on Thursday 16 September 2027.
What does the day mark?
It recalls the Cry of Dolores of 16 September 1810, when the priest Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla rang his church bell in Dolores and gave the call to arms that began the Mexican War of Independence.
Where is the Grito held?
The President re-enacts it from the balcony of the National Palace in Mexico City, and crowds gather in the Zócalo in front of the palace. The ceremony ends with fireworks over the square.
What happens on 16 September?
After honours to the flag, the armed forces hold a military parade around the Plaza de la Constitución in Mexico City.
What food is eaten on Grito night?
Families eat national dishes such as pozole, pambazos, buñuelos and chiles en nogada. Street food in Mexico City includes pambazos, tamales, tostadas, sopes, flautas and quesadillas.
Can I celebrate abroad?
Yes. In Los Angeles, city leaders join the Consul General of Mexico each year to re-enact the Grito and ring the bell. Consulates and community groups in other cities often hold their own events; check with the organiser.
How do I send a top up to family in Mexico?
Use the Mexico top up page to send credit to their number; it is delivered in minutes. Slashtel sells top ups to more than 100 countries, including Mexico.
Can I call family in Mexico with a Slashtel eSIM?
The eSIM is data only: no local phone number and no calls or SMS. WhatsApp and other internet calls work over the data. Keep your home SIM in the phone for calls and bank codes, with data roaming turned off.
When should I install the eSIM before travelling?
You can buy and install it at home before the trip. Validity starts when the eSIM first connects at the destination, so installing early does not use up the plan.
Do I need a visa to visit Mexico?
Entry rules depend on your nationality and route. Check the official Mexican authorities' site before booking; this guide does not decide eligibility.