Til6
MenuClose
← The Culture Edit
Carnival · North America

New Orleans Mardi Gras

America's most storied carnival; a blend of Catholic and Creole culture.

New Orleans, Louisiana, United States · Fat Tuesday Feb 17 2026 (season from Jan 6)

WHY IT MATTERS

America's most storied carnival; a blend of Catholic and Creole culture.

THE NIGHT

What you’re here for

  • Bourbon St
  • Frenchmen St jazz
  • krewe balls
BASE CAMP

Where to stay

  • French Quarter
  • Garden District
  • Uptown
BETWEEN IT ALL

What to eat

  • Commander's Palace
  • Cochon
  • beignets at Cafe du Monde
BEFORE YOU BOOK

Know before you go

  • Book lodging 6+ months ahead; Uptown parades are the classics
QUICK ANSWERS

The practical bits

when is mardi gras 2027

Typically Fat Tuesday Feb 17 2026 (season from Jan 6). Next edition: 6 January 2027. Dates are set.

where to stay for mardi gras

New Orleans, Louisiana, United States.

KEEP GOING

More worth the flight

CarnivalNorth America Caribana - Toronto Caribbean CarnivalToronto, Canada

Toronto’s Caribbean Carnival is an Emancipation-rooted culture season whose mas bands, King and Queen show, steelpan and fete network extend far beyond the Lakeshore photograph.

July 2027 CarnivalLatin America Carnaval de BarranquillaBarranquilla, Colombia

Barranquilla is a living Caribbean carnival of cumbia, comparsas, comedy and neighbourhood participation - not a smaller Rio waiting to be upgraded.

6 February 2027 CarnivalLatin America Carnaval de Rua São PauloSão Paulo, Brazil

São Paulo’s street Carnaval is an enormous resident-built network of blocos whose neighbourhood identities matter more than any single postcard route.

30 January 2027