Cinco de Mayo is every year on May 5.

Quick Scoop

So, when is Cinco de Mayo?

  • Cinco de Mayo literally means “Fifth of May” in Spanish, and that’s exactly when it’s celebrated each year.
  • It’s an annual date, not a floating holiday, so you can always mark your calendar for May 5.

What does Cinco de Mayo celebrate?

  • The day marks Mexico’s victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862, during the French intervention in Mexico.
  • It is not Mexican Independence Day (that’s September 16), a mix-up that’s very common in casual conversations and online.

How is it celebrated today?

  • In the United States, it has become a broader celebration of Mexican and Mexican American culture, with festivals, music, and food-focused events.
  • In Mexico, the largest official observances are in Puebla and nearby regions, often featuring parades, reenactments, and civic ceremonies.

TL;DR: Cinco de Mayo falls on May 5 every year and commemorates the 1862 Battle of Puebla, not Mexican Independence Day.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.