Mexico City’s Open House festival returns in March with free public access to more than 50 buildings, plus a week of talks, workshops, and guided visits. One of the most discussed stops is CASO in San Rafael, identified in festival coverage as a former home of Leonora Carrington. For residents and newcomers, the program offers a practical way to understand the city through architecture, neighborhood history, and current debates on climate, housing, and public space.
A citywide program with free access
Open House CDMX 2026 is returning as a public architecture program with free access and organized visits across the city. Current coverage points to a week of activities in March. The main open-building days are March 21 and 22. Reports published this week say more than 50 sites will participate. The announced theme is “Adaptaciones para el Futuro.” It places attention on housing, climate pressure, mobility, and public space. That makes this more than a weekend for photos. It is also a city-living story tied to daily life in Mexico City. The official festival site describes Open House CDMX as a recurring architecture and city festival. It also highlights free organized tours. The same site directs visitors to reserve visits and download the Bloomberg guide. For residents, and for newer arrivals, that planning step matters. The program is spread across several neighborhoods and different building types, so route planning will determine what people can actually see. Open House CDMX is also part of the broader Open House Worldwide network.
The Carrington connection and the wider program
One of the most highlighted stops is CASO in San Rafael. Festival coverage identifies it as a former home of Leonora Carrington. That detail gives the event a cultural angle, not only an architectural angle. Coverage also describes CASO as a 1906 mansion. It has served as an embassy, a school, a vecindad, and an artists’ refuge over time. That sequence helps explain why the site fits this year’s theme of adaptation. The previews also show a broad mix of places. Published lists mention the Estadio Alfredo Harp Helú, the CIREC recycling plant, and Anfibium in Chapultepec. They also mention Torre BBVA, the Museo Anahuacalli, and Casa Ortega. For international readers, that range matters. It shows the program is not limited to historic mansions. It also includes infrastructure, sports venues, and cultural institutions that shape daily urban life. It also sits within a larger week of talks, workshops, and guided visits.
Why this matters for residents and newcomers
For expats and other international residents, Open House CDMX can be a practical way to read the city. Many guides focus on food, nightlife, or short visits. This festival makes the built environment the entry point instead. That is useful in a city where architecture often reveals larger debates. Housing pressure, mobility gaps, and public space are visible in the places people use every day. The planning advice is straightforward. Build a route before the weekend starts. Watch for schedule updates and access details. Recent coverage points visitors to a Bloomberg Connects guide, and the festival site emphasizes reservations. That suggests demand will be concentrated at some stops. The event is free, but time is limited. Choosing a few nearby areas will usually work better than trying to cross the city all day. It also leaves more time to actually look, ask questions, and understand what each site adds to the neighborhood.
