Next: 9 Feb 2027
Mardi Gras in New Orleans
Krewes on floats, beads thrown to the crowd, king cake and Mardi Gras Indians in hand-sewn suits.
When is Mardi Gras in New Orleans in 2027?
Mardi Gras in New Orleans 2027 is on Tuesday, 9 February 2027. Other years: 2026, Tuesday, 17 February 2026; 2028, Tuesday, 29 February 2028.
About Mardi Gras in New Orleans
Mardi Gras in New Orleans is the climax of the Carnival season, which begins on Twelfth Night, 6 January. It was brought by the French colonists and became a distinctive celebration with the organisation of krewes, social clubs which stage parades with elaborate floats and masked riders who throw beads, doubloons and trinkets to the crowd, shouting "Throw me something, mister!". The colours, purple for justice, green for faith and gold for power, were chosen in 1892. Parades include the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club, which has a coconut tradition, and Rex, the King of Carnival. The Mardi Gras Indians, Black neighbourhood groups, parade in suits of feathers and beads made by hand over the previous year. People eat king cake, with the figure of a baby hidden inside.
Mardi Gras in New Orleans dates: 2026, 2027, 2028
| Year | Mardi Gras in New Orleans date |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Tuesday, 17 February 2026 |
| 2027 | Tuesday, 9 February 2027 |
| 2028 | Tuesday, 29 February 2028 |
What is eaten
- king cake
- jambalaya
- gumbo
- beignets
Traditions of Mardi Gras in New Orleans
Also part of it, and being written: King cake (The ring cake with a hidden baby.).
Written by the EveryParampara desk with AI assistance. Background: "Mardi Gras in New Orleans" on Wikipedia. Customs differ from place to place and family to family. If this is your tradition and we have it wrong, tell us.
Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Mardi Gras Indians: Infrogmation of New Orleans, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Krewe: Tim Ross, Public domain, source