Mardi Gras 2026 Guide: Everything You Need to Know for New Orleans' Most Iconic Celebration

Mardi Gras 2026 runs from January 6 to February 17, with over 60 free parades, dozens of krewes (the social clubs that organize each procession), and more than a million visitors expected to flood New Orleans for Fat Tuesday. It's the biggest annual party in the United States, and planning ahead is the difference between an unforgettable trip and a stressful one.

This guide covers the full 2026 parade schedule with dates and times, what to wear, the best days to go, where to stay, and the traditions that make Mardi Gras unlike any other cultural celebration. Whether you're a first-timer or a returning carnival veteran, everything you need is right here.

• Mardi Gras 2026 is New Orleans' most iconic annual celebration, and it runs far longer than most people expect. The carnival season begins on Twelfth Night, January 6, 2026, and runs for 43 days, culminating on Fat Tuesday, February 17, 2026.
• Over 60 parades roll through New Orleans during the entire carnival season. Admission to every parade is completely free. The official Mardi Gras colors are purple (justice), green (faith), and gold (power), and you'll see them everywhere, from floats and costumes to the iconic king cake.
• New Orleans weather in February is unpredictable. Expect temperatures between 45°F and 65°F, with a strong chance of rain on any given day. One morning might feel like spring, and by evening you could need a jacket. (Pro Tip: Layers will save you at the carnival. Plan for warm afternoons and cool nights.)
• The city of New Orleans attracts over 1 million visitors during peak Mardi Gras celebrations. Hotels along the parade routes fill up months in advance, so early planning helps you avoid long commutes and sellouts.

The best days to experience Mardi Gras 2026 are February 11-17. That final stretch is when the biggest parades roll, the energy peaks, and the streets fill with carnival celebrations that bring New Orleanians and visitors together.

This year's timing works in your favor. Mardi Gras 2026 coincides with Presidents' Day Weekend, which means a long weekend for many travelers. Valentine's Day also falls on Saturday, February 14, the same day the massive Krewe of Endymion parade rolls through Mid-City. If you're looking for an unforgettable Valentine's date, that's hard to beat.

Here’s how to pick dates based on the kind of festival experience you want:

• January 6 to February 10 (Early Carnival Season): The carnival season kicks off with smaller neighborhood parades, local celebrations, and the first rounds of king cake. This stretch is ideal for families with young kids and anyone who prefers a more relaxed atmosphere. Crowds are manageable, restaurants are easier to get into, and hotel prices haven't spiked yet.
• February 11 to 16 (Peak Week, Days Leading Up to Mardi Gras): This is when the super krewes take over. Parades run every single night, each one bigger than the last. The city buzzes from morning until well past midnight. If you want the full carnival experience, this is your window.
• February 17, Mardi Gras Day (Fat Tuesday): The finale. The Krewe of Zulu rolls at 8:00 AM, followed by the Krewe of Rex. Costumes are everywhere. The energy is unlike anything else. By midnight, the celebration officially ends, and the city marks the start of Lent.

The biggest factor? Book your accommodation at least 3 months before Fat Tuesday (November). Hotels along the Krewe routes sell out by November, and prices climb sharply in the weeks leading up to Mardi Gras.

The procession schedule is the backbone of Fat Tuesday. Mardi Gras parades in New Orleans are organized by krewes, which are social clubs (sometimes called carnival clubs) that fund, design, and ride in the parades. Each krewe has its own traditions, themes, and signature throws, which are the beads, cups, toys, and collectibles tossed from floats into the crowd.

There are over 40 krewes in New Orleans alone. Some have been parading for over a century. Others are brand new. No two Mardi Gras parades look or feel the same, and that variety is a big part of what makes the carnival season so exciting.

Here are the major parades for the final week of Mardi Gras 2026:

Here's what makes each one worth catching:

The Krewe of Muses is the most celebrated all-female krewe in New Orleans. Their signature throw is a hand-glittered shoe, and catching one is considered a real prize. The parade is known for its sharp wit, creative floats, and massive crowd energy. Muse operates on the Uptown route, typically starting around 6:30 PM.

Image Source - Official website of The Krewe of Muses

Endymion is the largest Mardi Gras parade. The floats are enormous, the throws are generous, and the route ends with the Endymion Extravaganza, a massive after-party inside the Caesars Superdome featuring live performances. In 2026, the Extravaganza headliners are Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton. Ticket prices range from $275 to $315.

Bacchus is the parade known for its celebrity monarchs and theatrical floats. Patrick Warburton has been named the 2026 parade king. Bacchus floats are some of the most elaborate you'll see during the entire carnival season, and the procession draws one of the largest crowds on the Sunday before Mardi Gras.

Orpheus was co-founded by Harry Connick Jr. and is known for its fiber-optic lighting, oversized floats, and creative throws. Parade-goers can catch light-up beads, stuffed dragons, and even custom tambourines.

The 2026 monarch is Noah Wyle. The procession rolls on Lundi Gras, the Monday before Krewe season, and sets the tone for the final celebrations. It wraps up with Orpheuscapade, a formal black-tie ball that closes out the night in style.

Krewe of Zulu is one of the oldest predominantly Black krewes in New Orleans and leads off Mardi Gras Day as the first major parade. Their signature throw is the hand-decorated coconut, one of the most sought-after collectibles at carnival events.

For safety, coconuts are handed down from floats rather than thrown (to prevent injuries). If you’re hoping to get one, arrive early and find a good spot along the St. Charles Avenue parade route.

Rex is the King of Carnival. Founded in 1872, the Rex Organization is credited with creating Mardi Gras royalty and establishing the official colors of purple, green, and gold. The Rex parade is deeply rooted in tradition, and the Rex Ball marks the official end of Mardi Gras celebrations each year.

Image Source - Heart of Louisiana website

Not every great parade is a super krewe production. The Intergalactic Krewe of Chewbacchus (January 24) celebrates sci-fi and pop culture fandoms with handmade costumes and walking floats. Krewe du Vieux (January 31) is known for risqué political satire, adult humor, and some of the best brass bands in the city, so it's strictly for grown-ups.

Also, the Mystic Krewe of Barkus (February 8) is a French Quarter dog parade where costumed pups steal the show. And 'tit Rex features tiny shoebox-sized floats pulled through the Marigny neighborhood.

(Pro Tip: Check the official schedule at mardigrasneworleans.com for exact times and route maps. Parades start rolling on time, and the best spots fill up 2 to 3 hours before the first float.)

Now that you know which parades to catch, the next question is what to wear.

Mardi Gras is a celebration of self-expression, and your outfit is part of the experience. Float riders are actually required by law to wear masks during parades, a tradition rooted in blurring social lines and preserving mystery. Spectators aren't required to mask, but costumes are strongly encouraged, especially on Fat Tuesday.

Going bold with sequins and feathers or keeping it simple with the classic purple, green, and gold color palette is up to you. The goal is to dress in a way that matches the energy of the celebration. If you're curious about what each color actually represents and how to style around them, our guide to Mardi Gras colors and their meaning breaks it all down.

Before we get into the fun stuff, a few practical notes. Comfortable, closed-toe shoes are non-negotiable. You'll be walking and standing for 8-12 hours, often on uneven streets. New Orleans weather in February swings between mild and chilly, sometimes within the same day, so dress in layers you can add or remove easily. A lightweight rain jacket is worth packing, because city-wide carnival parades roll rain or shine.

Not all parades are the same, and your outfit shouldn’t be either. Here’s how to dress:

• Daytime Family Parades (Uptown, Earlier in the Season): Keep it comfortable and colorful. A bright top in purple or gold, comfortable bottoms, and a festive accessory like face gems (small adhesive crystals you press onto your skin) or these festival hats go a long way.
• Nighttime Super Krewe Parades (Endymion, Bacchus, Orpheus): This is where you can go bigger. A rhinestone bodysuit (a one-piece fitted top covered in small crystal-like stones that catch and reflect light) paired with a feather skirt creates the kind of look that catches the glow of the flambeaux torches at night. Sequin bodysuits (fitted tops covered in reflective disc-shaped embellishments) also work beautifully under the lights.
• Choosing Your Night Street Show Look for a Super Krewe: To help you decide, our rhinestone vs sequin comparison covers how each material performs under festival lighting. Our bodysuit vs jumpsuit guide, on the other hand, helps you pick the right silhouette for long parade days.
• Mardi Gras Day and Bourbon Street: Go all out. Fat Tuesday is the day when costumes are not just welcome, they're expected. Think rhinestone jumpsuits, sequin dresses, feather accessories, bold colors, and plenty of sparkle. Even gender-crossing outfits are celebrated, because it is a season when "too much" doesn't exist.

Watching the parades is the main attraction, but Mardi Gras is so much more than floats and beads. The entire city transforms during carnival season, and some of the best experiences happen beyond parades. Here are the things you won’t want to miss:

King cake is the official food of Mardi Gras. It's a ring-shaped pastry, somewhere between a cinnamon roll and a coffee cake, decorated with purple, green, and gold sugar or icing. Some are filled with cream cheese, fruit, or praline. Hidden inside every king cake is a tiny plastic baby (symbolizing luck and prosperity). Tradition says whoever finds the baby has to buy the next king cake (or host the next party).

Bakeries across New Orleans sell king cake from Twelfth Night through Fat Tuesday. Ask any local, and they'll have a strong opinion about which bakery makes the best one.

Beyond king cake, New Orleans is one of the best food cities in the country. Jambalaya, shrimp creole, gumbo, po'boys, and beignets are all must-tries, and the restaurant scene during Krewe season is electric. Make dinner reservations early if you're planning to eat at popular spots during peak week.

When the floats aren't rolling, the city still has plenty going on. Bourbon Street is only 13 blocks long, but it packs in more energy per square foot than almost anywhere else, with live music pouring out of every bar and cocktails served to-go (no glass bottles, though). It gets rowdy at night, so it's best suited for adults. For a more local music scene, Frenchmen Street is where New Orleanians actually go for live jazz and brass bands.

If you want to see how the massive floats get built, Mardi Gras World is a working warehouse where artists sculpt and paint parade floats year-round. It closes a few days before Fat Tuesday, so visit early in your trip. The New Orleans Carnival Museum of Costume and Culture in the French Quarter is another great stop, with interactive tours and a collection of elaborate costumes from different eras.

Lundi Gras (Fat Monday) is the day before Mardi Gras Day, and it's a celebration in its own right. The Krewe of Proteus and Krewe of Orpheus roll on Monday night with full-scale parades. During the day, the Red Beans Parade fills the streets with creative walking costumes and a more laid-back, local feel. Meanwhile, Krewe of Zulu and Rex Organization traditionally hold events as they prepare for their major parades the next morning.

Lundi Gras is a hidden gem that first-timers often miss. Catching it lets you experience the festival energy without the peak-day crowds.

Mardi Gras originated in Louisiana in 1699, when French explorer Iberville arrived on the land that would become New Orleans. What you see during carnival season didn't appear overnight. Also, the celebration blends European carnival customs with local culture, creating something entirely unique.

Keep reading to better understand Mardi Gras traditions and make your experience richer.

The first Mardi Gras balls began in the 1700s, with king cake traditions already in place. The first organized parade was held in 1857 by the Mistick Krewe of Comus, and the Krewe of Rex followed in 1872, introducing royalty, the official colors of purple, green, and gold, and the royal anthem "If I Ever Cease to Love." From that point on, krewes multiplied, parades grew larger, and Mardi Gras became the massive citywide celebration it is today.

Mardi Gras krewes are the organizations that make the parades happen. Each krewe is chartered as a non-profit and operates year-round. Membership structures vary: some krewes are all-male, some all-female, and others are open to everyone. Many families have belonged to their krewes for generations.

Every krewe selects a new theme each year. Themes draw from history, mythology, movies, current events, and just about anything else you can imagine. Most krewes keep their themes secret until the parade is actually rolling, which adds to the excitement. The items thrown to the crowd (known as "throws") often reflect the year's theme or the krewe's traditions.

One of the most visually striking traditions of Mardi Gras is the Black Masking Indians, also known as Mardi Gras Indians. This tradition dates back to the 1800s, when Native Americans helped shield runaway enslaved people. In honor of that bond, Black New Orleanians formed "tribes" that create breathtaking, hand-sewn suits covered in beadwork and feathers. Each suit takes an entire year to make.

You can catch the Mardi Gras Indians parading on foot through neighborhoods. They also gather on Super Sunday (the Sunday nearest to St. Joseph's Day in March). Seeing the Mardi Gras Indians in person is one of those once-in-a-lifetime festival experiences that photos simply cannot capture.

Flambeaux are the fire-lit torches carried by walkers during nighttime parades. The tradition dates back to 1857, when torches were used to light parade routes before electric streetlights existed. Today, flambeaux carriers still walk alongside floats during major night parades, and the dancing flames create an atmosphere that feels almost magical. Tipping flambeaux carriers with coins or small bills as they pass is customary and appreciated.

Where you stay shapes your entire Mardi Gras experience. The main parade route runs from Napoleon Avenue along St. Charles Avenue through the Uptown neighborhood, then continues to Canal Street in the Central Business District.

During parades, getting around the city can be challenging due to road closures and crowds. Staying close to the route makes it much easier to catch parades, head back to your hotel between events, and enjoy the festival without spending hours stuck in transit.

Here’s where to stay during the celebration:

Walking is the best way to get around during Mardi Gras. Many streets are closed for parades, making driving nearly impossible. Public transportation runs, but routes change frequently during carnival season, and buses and streetcars get packed. Rideshare services are available, but expect surge pricing during peak parade hours.

We do not recommend renting a car during Mardi Gras. Traffic becomes chaotic, parking is scarce, and many roads remain closed for hours.

Be prepared for unpredictable weather and long days on your feet. Here's what we recommend bringing:

• Comfortable, well-cushioned closed-toe shoes.
• A lightweight rain jacket or poncho (parades roll rain or shine).
• Layers for temperature swings, including a warmer jacket for evenings.
• Sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat for daytime parades.
• A portable phone charger, because your battery will drain fast between maps and photos.
• A crossbody bag or fanny pack to keep your belongings secure in crowds.
• Cash for vendors, street food, and restroom access along the parade route.
• Water, snacks, and hand sanitizer. Your boldest outfit (we covered that part already).

Note: Restrooms are hard to find during parades. Port-a-potties charge a small fee, and churches and schools along the parade routes often open their restrooms for a few dollars. Staying close to the route allows you to walk back to your hotel when needed.

Every Mardi Gras parade is free to watch from the street. You do not need tickets. However, you can purchase grandstand seats along the route for a reserved spot with a chair, which is helpful during the biggest parades when crowds are several rows deep. Some hotels also sell balcony viewing passes.

Mardi Gras balls, like the Endymion Extravaganza ($275 to $315) and the Orpheuscapade, require separate tickets and sell out in advance. Check kreweoforpheus.com and endymion.org for current pricing.

Below are items to bring, tasks to do, and key considerations to ensure you enjoy your Mardi Gras experience.

• Keep your belongings close. Use a crossbody bag or fanny pack, and leave valuables at your hotel. Pickpocketing happens in any crowded event, and Mardi Gras is no exception.
• Set a meeting point for your group. Cell networks can get unreliable when over a million people are in the same area. Pick a landmark or address where everyone can regroup if separated. You can also write your hotel name and address on a card for each person in your group, especially children.
• Arrive at least 2 to 3 hours early for prime parade viewing spots. The streets may look empty at first, but crowds swell quickly. Front-row spots along the parade routes fill up quickly, particularly during the final weekend.
• Stay safe around the floats. Never throw anything at float riders or floats. Avoid reaching for beads or throws on the ground while floats are moving. Tip: Step on the items and pick them up when it's safe.
• Stay hydrated and pace yourself. Long days in the sun, big crowds, and celebration energy can catch up fast. Eat regular meals, drink plenty of water, and know your limits around alcohol, stamina, and sleep.

A little planning goes a long way. Celebrate big, stay smart, and make memories you’ll want to remember at Mardi Gras.

Mardi Gras 2026 promises 43 days of parades, music, food, and traditions that you won't find anywhere else. With the right planning and the right outfit, it's the kind of trip that stays with you. Already thinking about what comes after Fat Tuesday? Check out our roundup of the biggest EDM festivals in the US to keep the festival season going.

Looking for costumes and accessories? Browse our Mardi Gras outfit collection for handcrafted rhinestone jumpsuits, sequin bodysuits, feather sets, and festival accessories designed in Stockholm and made to turn heads.

Laissez les bons temps rouler (let the good times roll).