Mardi Gras 2026 dates + parade schedule
Mardi Gras Day (Fat Tuesday): Tuesday February 17, 2026. Carnival season starts Tuesday January 6 (Kings Day). Major parade days: Saturday Feb 14 + Sunday Feb 15 (Endymion + Bacchus) + Monday Feb 16 (Lundi Gras) + Tuesday Feb 17 (Rex + Zulu, Mardi Gras Day).
Lent begins Ash Wednesday February 18 — parades cease by midnight Tuesday February 17.
RV camping inventory + lead times
Downtown New Orleans RV: French Quarter RV Resort (downtown adjacent, $90-150/night, books 12+ months out for Mardi Gras), New Orleans KOA West (Westwego, 8 mi from FQ, $70-110/night, books 6-9 months out).
Suburban New Orleans: Bayou Segnette State Park (Westwego, $26-30/night, books 11 months out via Louisiana State Parks system).
Further options: Pontchartrain Landing RV Resort (East Bank, $70-110/night), River View RV Park (Donaldsonville, 60 mi NW, $40-60/night).
- French Quarter RV Resort: $90-150/night, 12+ months ahead
- New Orleans KOA West: $70-110/night, 6-9 months ahead
- Bayou Segnette SP: $26-30/night, 11 months ahead
- Pontchartrain Landing: $70-110/night, 6+ months ahead
Parade route logistics
Main parade route: St. Charles Avenue (Uptown) → Canal Street (Downtown). Parking along route impossible; use park-and-ride from RV park.
Parade-watching strategy: arrive 2-3 hours before parade start time, claim spot on sidewalk or rented bleacher seat. Bring chairs, blankets, refreshments (no glass on parade route).
Krewe schedule + signature parades
Major krewe parades: Endymion (Saturday before MG, Mid-City), Bacchus (Sunday before MG, Uptown), Lundi Gras Rex truck (Monday), Zulu (Tuesday morning, oldest African-American krewe), Rex (Tuesday midday, oldest continuous krewe since 1872).
Smaller krewes throughout Carnival season; verify current 2026 schedule on Mardi Gras Guide.
Food + bead etiquette
Iconic foods: King Cake (purple/green/gold icing), gumbo, jambalaya, po-boys, beignets (Cafe du Monde), muffuletta sandwiches, crawfish étouffée.
Bead etiquette: throw is the krewe-to-crowd direction (one-way). DO NOT throw beads back at floats. Children + first-time attendees get priority; experienced attendees pass beads to families.
Louisiana extension — bayou + plantation country
Within 1-2 hours of New Orleans: Oak Alley Plantation (Vacherie, 50 mi west), Laura Plantation (Vacherie), Avery Island (Tabasco factory tour, 130 mi west), Atchafalaya Basin swamp tours, Lake Pontchartrain Causeway (24 mi bridge, world's longest continuous over-water).
Recommended: 3-day extension post-Mardi-Gras. Camp at Bayou Segnette SP or move to Houma KOA for swamp-tour proximity.
What NOLA tourism marketing doesn't tell you
Under-shared truth: family-friendly Mardi Gras experience exists. Uptown St. Charles parades (Endymion, Bacchus, Rex) are family-friendly with children-receive-priority beads. French Quarter (Bourbon Street) is adult-only experience.
Second under-shared truth: King Cake season runs Jan 6 - Feb 17 with multiple bakeries producing only during this window. Order ahead from Manny Randazzo King Cakes, Haydel's Bakery, or Joe's Cafe before sold out.