2026 Key Dates
- Jan 6 (Tue): Twelfth Night / King's Day — season officially begins, first king cakes
- Feb 6 (Fri): First major parades (Krewe du Vieux, smaller Uptown krewes)
- Feb 13 (Fri): Krewe of Hermes, Krewe d'Etat, Krewe of Morpheus
- Feb 14 (Sat): Iris, Tucks, Endymion (Mid-City) — peak night
- Feb 15 (Sun): Thoth, Okeanos, Mid-City, Bacchus
- Feb 16 (Mon) Lundi Gras: Proteus, Orpheus
- Feb 17 (Tue) Fat Tuesday: Zulu (8am), Rex (10am), truck parades after
- Feb 18 (Wed) Ash Wednesday: Mardi Gras officially over, all bars close 6am
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USA Trip Cost Calculator
Planning your Mardi Gras trip? Get a personalised budget with our calculator — expect hotels at 3-5x normal rates.
How Mardi Gras Works
Mardi Gras is organized by "krewes" — private social clubs that throw parades and host balls. Around 70 krewes parade each year. Each krewe has a theme, colors, signature throws and a rolling order. Parades roll on announced routes, at announced times, though delays of 30-90 minutes are normal.
The season compresses into the final 12 days. Weekdays see 1-2 parades; weekends see 4-6 per day. On Lundi Gras and Fat Tuesday itself, parades roll from 8am to late evening.
The Best Krewes
| Krewe | When | Route | Why it's great |
|---|---|---|---|
| Endymion | Sat night | Mid-City → Superdome | Largest, biggest floats (~38 units) |
| Bacchus | Sun night | Uptown | Celebrity monarchs, massive crowds |
| Zulu | Fat Tue 8am | Uptown → CBD | Coconuts (most prized throw), historic African-American krewe |
| Rex | Fat Tue 10am | Uptown → CBD | The classic parade, King of Carnival |
| Muses | Thu night | Uptown | All-female, glitter-decorated shoes |
| Krewe du Vieux | Early Feb | French Quarter | Adults-only, satirical, walks through the Quarter |
| Thoth | Sun afternoon | Uptown | Only parade that passes hospitals and nursing homes |
| Orpheus | Lundi Gras night | Uptown | Harry Connick Jr's krewe, magnificent floats |
Parade Schedule Highlights
The can't-miss lineup for a 4-night trip:
- Thursday night: Muses (7pm, Uptown) — shoes, shoes, shoes
- Friday night: Hermes + Krewe d'Etat (6pm+, Uptown) — back-to-back
- Saturday night: Endymion (4:15pm roll, Mid-City) — biggest spectacle of the year
- Sunday evening: Bacchus (5:15pm, Uptown) — celebrity monarch, massive floats
- Lundi Gras evening: Proteus + Orpheus back-to-back (5pm + 6pm, Uptown)
- Fat Tuesday: Zulu (8am) then Rex (10am) — classic double feature
Where to Stand on St Charles
The main Uptown parade route runs from Napoleon Avenue down St Charles to Canal Street — about 5 miles. Not all spots are equal.
| Stretch | Vibe | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Napoleon to Jefferson | Family, ladders, coolers | Daytime parades, kids |
| Jefferson to Louisiana | Mixed families + college | Afternoon parades |
| Louisiana to Jackson | College and young adults | Evening parades |
| Jackson to Lee Circle | Packed, young crowd | Peak energy |
| Lee Circle to Canal | CBD, business district | Finale, easy exit |
| Canal Street (CBD) | Tourist-heavy, TV cameras | Rex Sunday morning |
Best free family-friendly spot: St Charles between Napoleon and Louisiana, 2-3 hours before parade time. Bring chairs, a cooler, and optionally a ladder (rental $15-30). Public grill use discouraged.
Where to Stay
Hotel strategy matters more at Mardi Gras than any other event in the US calendar.
- French Quarter: $450-900/night, 4-5 night minimums, walking distance to Canal Street parades
- CBD/Warehouse District: $350-700/night, quieter, walking to parades
- Garden District/Uptown B&Bs: $300-600/night, ON the parade route, park the car and don't move for 4 days
- Mid-City (Canal Street area): $250-450/night, streetcar to Quarter, near Endymion route
- Metairie / Kenner suburbs: $180-300/night, 20-30 min Uber to Quarter
- Airbnb: many homes rent at 5-8x normal rates, 4-night minimums standard
Hotels within 2 blocks of St Charles sell out by summer 2025 for February 2026. If you have not booked by October, expect to stay in Metairie, Kenner, or across the river in Algiers.
Beads, Throws & Etiquette
- Beads: millions thrown per parade, catch what you can, do not pick up from street (considered bad luck, definitely unhygienic)
- Signature throws: Zulu coconuts (decorated), Muses shoes (glitter high heels), Nyx purses, Tucks toilet-paper rolls
- How to get thrown to: yell "Throw me something!", wave arms, make eye contact, bring kids on shoulders
- Ladders: legal on St Charles, must be 6 ft back from curb, kids' seat bolted on top
- Never pick up throws from the street — let kids have them, or wait until the parade has passed
- Never throw anything onto a float — dangerous and banned, you will be removed
- Flashing for beads: Bourbon Street only, illegal on St Charles, heavily policed with kids around
Safety & Practical Tips
- Wear warm layers — February in NOLA can be 40-70°F, rain possible
- Comfortable closed-toe shoes — streets are wet, beads underfoot, glass
- Small crossbody bag zipped, not a backpack
- Cash + card — many pop-up vendors cash only
- Phone battery pack essential
- Bathrooms: buy a drink at a bar, or use portable toilets ($1-2 tip suggested)
- Uber surge is 3-5x on Friday + Saturday nights — walk or take streetcar if possible
- Streetcar runs limited routes during parades — check new orleans rta
- Police presence heavy and visible — they will help if needed
- Do not leave valuables in parked cars — break-ins spike
If you arrive early Tuesday morning to claim a spot on St Charles near Canal, you will see Zulu (8am) and Rex (10am) back-to-back, the two most historic parades, from the same curb. Best morning in American festival culture.