Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Mardi Gras in New Orleans (2026 Dates & Tips)

Last updated January 25, 2026

Heading to Mardi Gras in New Orleans for the first time, but you’re in way over your head? You’re not alone. This beginner’s guide to Mardi Gras breaks down everything you need to know, from 2026 dates and parade tips to what to wear, where to stay, and how to survive the chaos without losing your mind (or your phone).

I put together this guide to Mardi Gras after attending my first celebration solo, and yes, I was very much accident-prone and directionally challenged. I’ve since been to three (this will be my fourth) Mardi Gras, and if I can do it, you can too. NOTE: Mardi Gras dates change every year. This guide is updated annually to reflect the latest parade schedules and tips.

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When Is Mardi Gras 2026?

Mardi Gras Day is February 17th. However, Carnival Season starts on January 6th, with most of the big parades starting in the 2 weeks leading up to Mardi Gras Day. The weekend before Mardi Gras Day is the most popular for visitors.

Is Mardi Gras worth it for first-timers?

I get asked this question a lot. And the answer is YES! It’s absolutely worth it for the fun, parades, jovial mood, and let’s not forget the FOOD. We’ll get to that later.

What Happens During Mardi Gras?

Pretty much anything and everything happens during Mardi Gras, but your experience will be what you choose to make it! For example, the parades are family-friendly, and riders even hand out stuffed animals for kids (or to be used as dog toys). In the French Quarter, though, especially on Bourbon Street, it’s a different story. It will be filled with dancing, drinking, and yes–flashing (though you don’t have to flash anyone to get beads, just wanted to clear up that misconception).

How to Plan Your First Mardi Gras Trip

The key is to start planning early. Here are some things to think about:

Where to Stay for Mardi Gras

The first thing you’ll want to do is find your hotel. You can’t go wrong with a hotel in the French Quarter. This is going to be in the middle of all the parties and action. When out-of-towners think about going to New Orleans for Mardi Gras, this is what they envision. Also, close-by neighborhoods such as Marigny, CBD, and Uptown are safe bets.
Best budget option: HI Hostel.

Get the Parade Tracker App

Download the Parade Tracker app and plan your daily schedule accordingly. It’s an absolute must for Mardi Gras, and any time you’re in New Orleans!

What’s the Weather Like for Mardi Gras?

Fair question. Answer: I don’t know, and neither does anyone else. It can vary wildly. Your best bet is to bring a mix of clothes for different weather. You’ll be standing around outside in February-March, depending on when Mardi Gras falls and when you visit. Bring pants, shorts, a jacket, and some layers. Bring an umbrella (or buy a poncho from a vendor). Bring comfortable shoes you can walk in that you don’t mind getting dirty (or even tossing after your trip, depending on how dirty they get!). If you have a costume, great. If not, just bring comfortable clothes. You can buy Mardi Gras accessories when you get there! Think boas, jackets, and masks.

Somebody forgot to take the cap off her jello shot

New Orleans Mardi Gras Tips

Mardi Gras Safety Tips for Beginners

1. Keep your valuables locked down. I mean really locked down. Leave what you don’t absolutely need in your room. Don’t carry a big purse. A fanny pack is the best bet, especially with a jacket covering the waistband. You can look for a bra band or runner’s belt to stuff cards and cash into.
2. Don’t carry your phone in your back pocket. It’s easy for thieves to steal. At my first Mardi Gras, my friend in a group of 4, somehow had his phone stolen. With all of us. He took it out for a picture and then poof.
3. Stay where it’s well-lit. Don’t go down any dark side streets.

You’ll have more fun if you’re in the spirit!

General Mardi Gras Tips for Beginners

1. Don’t stress about what to wear. But know that if you’re at least a little festive, it will be more fun! Don’t have anything in Mardi Gras colors? Don’t worry–there will be numerous shops with plenty to choose from. Of course, if you want to go all out in a costume, even better!
2. Watch out for flying beads! They hurt when they hit you in the face…
3. Don’t overplan. This is my philosophy for travel in general. While it’s a good idea to look up the parade schedule and plan your day around it, be open to switching it up! That’s the beauty of Mardi Gras–there’s no right or wrong way to do it.
4. Remember–Mardi Gras is a marathon, not a sprint. Again, don’t try to cram too much into your itinerary. You simply can’t do it all, and if you try, you’ll feel stressed and you might burn yourself out. Slow down. This is The Big Easy, after all.

A Mardi Gras bead injury…

Key Comfort Tips for Mardi Gras

1. If you’re not going the balcony or grandstand route, pay a church for a bathroom pass. Watching the parade far from your hotel? Don’t worry–many churches sell bathroom passes where you can use their facilities as much as you need.
2. Buy a balcony pass. If you prefer to watch all the action from above the action, this will be your go-to. Many places have package deals, like dinner that comes with balcony access.
3. Wear comfy shoes. And know that if you’re walking on Bourbon Street, your shoes will get dirty, so plan accordingly. And it should go without saying, but I’ll say it anyway–no open-toed shoes on Bourbon Street.

Best Mardi Gras Parades

There are so many great parades, especially if you’re here for the whole season (and if you’re a digital nomad, maybe you are!) Here are some favorites:

Joan of Arc: The first Mardi Gras parade of the season! It’s much more low-key than your typical Mardi Gras parade, but super unique. If you’re in town, it’s worth catching.

Muses: This all-female krewe is known for handing out glittery shoes as throws (don’t worry–they don’t throw them, they hand them out)

Zulu. One of the best Mardi Gras parades and one of the most historically significant. Their signature throw is one of the most prized in all of Mardi Gras, the Zulu Coconut.

Bacchus. Great throws and gorgeous floats!

Tucks. This parade is known for its irreverent, raunchy humor and political satire.

Where to Watch Parades

You have 3 options for watching parades:

On a balcony. Watch all the action from above the insanity of the streets. Oftentimes, bars and restaurants will sell tickets to their balcony that may come with food or drinks and, of course, access to a bathroom. Try Superior Seafood on St. Charles Avenue (and get a frozen French 75!)

In a grand stand. You have to pay admission, but it can be worth it if you need a seat and want access to a bathroom.

In the streets! The most fun place, and the spot where you’re more likely to catch throws. If you’re staying in the French Quarter, I’d recommend heading a little further up the parade route where the crowds aren’t quite as thick.

My loot!

Best Mardi Gras Throws

If you think the only thing that gets thrown at Mardi Gras parades are beads, you would be wrong. Let’s start with some of the most prized throws and then move our way down to the most practical ones. Here we go!

A Zulu coconut. These are thrown (handed, rather) by the Krewe of Zulu. This parade takes place on Mardi Gras Day. Oftentimes, riders will exchange coconuts for beer, wine, and other offerings (maybe hold up a good sign?). The coconuts are made of plastic and decorated with glitter and paint. Sometimes they have a fleur-de-lis, other times characters like Flintstones. It could be anything.

Store display with Muses shoes

A Muses Shoe. This is a beautifully decorated shoe that’s handed out by the all-female Krewe of Muses. The Muses parade takes place on the Thursday evening before Mardi Gras day. I’ve heard it’s gotten nasty over the past few years—people fighting each other for shoes (which, let’s be honest, are little more than thrift store high heels with glitter plastered all over them). Muses Shoes are even known to be resold on eBay (don’t. Just don’t.)

A Cleopatra Cup. A gorgeous glittery cup!

Doubloons: Signature plastic coins from each Krewe. Some folks are really into these.

Big Mardi Gras beads. If you get lucky, you’ll catch these at a parade! Or if you’re uh…not so lucky, there’s always Bourbon Street, where you’ll be asked to bare.… Hey, no judgments here.

Plastic cups. Sometimes called “Louisiana Tupperware,” just about every Krewe throws plastic cups. You’ll see that some parade-goers are super enthusiastic about catching all the cups they can. They’re also known as “go cups” because you can drink on the streets in Louisiana.

Socks. I love to catch socks! The Bacchus parade is known for their socks.

Other random things. I’ve gotten Spock ears, boas, a flamingo hat, safety glasses, keychains, rings, you name it. All part of the fun!

Key Mardi Gras Terms

Krewes: The krewes (crews) are social clubs that plan and put together all the Mardi Gras parades and balls. Each krewe has its own unique back story, and you usually have to know someone to join one.

Throws: Items thrown or handed to you at a parade.

King cake: A delectable treat that’s only available during the Mardi Gras season–more on that in a minute.

Mardi Gras: French for Fat Tuesday, Mardi Gras day is the final day of festivities for the carnival season.

Lundi Gras: French for Fat Monday. As you can probably guess, it’s the day before Mardi Gras day.

Laissez les bons temps rouler. Cajun-French for “Let the good times roll”–the official saying of Mardi Gras.

Mardi Gras colors: Okay, so this isn’t really a term, but the official colors of Mardi Gras are gold, green, and purple. I’m convinced no one knows what they stand for–maybe victory, something and something? I looked it up years ago. Whatever. It doesn’t matter.

What to Eat at Mardi Gras

King Cake

Here’s a decadent treat that’s only available during the Mardi Gras season—king cake. You’ll see it just about everywhere in town, and you generally can’t go wrong with any king cake. If you see it, eat it is my philosophy. But if you’re a foodie and you want to go off in search of the best king cake, I’ve got your back.

A decadent slice of cinnamon king cake from Dong Phuong

Dong Phuong Bakery. This Vietnamese bakery in New Orleans East is going to be a little out of your way, and you have to get there super early to get your pick. But if you can’t be bothered, several businesses resell them all around town- check their website here. Killer Poboys in the French Quarter has them, and when you’re walking around, you may see other spots. I saw that Zhang Bistro on Decatur has slices. Whatever you do, keep your eyes peeled for signs that say “Dong Phuong King Cake.” You’re in for a treat!

Also, Urban South Brewery does this divine thing called “Flight and Slice” every Saturday where you can get a flight of beers that comes with 4 different flavors of king cake. Omg.

King Cake Hub. This little spot in Mid-City has a variety of cakes from a variety of sellers. You can get a slice or a whole king cake from places like Brennan’s.

Manny Randazzo’s. Another famous king cake bakery! Sometimes people feud (or, ya know, discuss) whose king cake is better–Randazzo’s or Dong Phuong.

Bywater Bakery: If you’re staying in the French Quarter and want to take a little walk, this bakery isn’t too far. They sell whole king cakes and slices. They have a huge variety of flavors, both sweet and savory–boudin king cake, anyone? Also, I hear Taylor Swift gets her birthday cake there, if you care about that sort of thing.

Anywhere, just don’t get it from the grocery store! Really, you can’t go wrong with king cake from any New Orleans bakery. Or sandwich shop. Or bar. Seriously, they sell the stuff everywhere! But there’s one thing I know–you deserve better than a Wal-Mart king cake! Just look around at bakeries, restaurants and bars near you. You’ll find it, I promise.

King cake superstitions: look out for the baby! I almost forgot, there’s a small plastic baby in every king cake! If you get the slice with the baby, it’s good luck. Also, it’s considered bad luck to eat king cake any time of the year except during the Mardi Gras season. But. There are ways around it. For example, Christmas cake is basically king cake but with red and green sprinkles instead of purple, gold, and green sprinkles. Sneaky!

Gumbo

The best gumbo I’ve had in New Orleans was at the iconic Dooky Chase’s. You also can’t go wrong with The Gumbo Shop.

Beignets

Beignets are like little square funnel cakes served with a whole heap of powdered sugar, and if you’ve never had one, you must try them in New Orleans. The 2 main players in town are Cafe du Monde and Cafe Beignet. You’ll see giant lines at Cafe du Monde, but it’s worth it. If you want to go a little off the beaten path, some locals swear Loretta’s has the best beignets. Also, beignets are Kim Kardashian’s favorite dessert (again, if you care…)

Crawfish

These little sea bugs are in their peak season during Mardi Gras! If you can’t find a crawfish boil, Cajun Seafood is a solid bet

Want to save some coin? Check out my Cheap Eats and Drinks guide.

What to Drink During Mardi Gras

You can always BYOB (it’s legal to drink on the streets in New Orleans, as long as it’s not in a glass container.) However, those delicious sugary drinks from bars are good too, and let’s admit it, just plain fun. Here’s a list:

A Hurricane from Pat O’Brien’s.

Lavender lemonade from High Grace.

Frozen Irish Coffee from Erin Rose. And if you get hungry, there’s a delicious Po-boy shop in the back.

A Hand Grenade. You’ll see tourists sipping these everywhere. Not only do they come in a fun, neon yellow cup (that looks like an actual grenade), they pack a punch.

A Daiquiri from The Original Daiquiri Shop. Or really, from anywhere. They’re all over the place.

FAQ: Mardi Gras for First-Timers

And there ya have it–a Beginner’s Guide to Mardi Gras in New Orleans.

I’ve given you the rundown. However, you really have to go to Mardi Gras to wrap your head around it. It’s like nothing else I’ve been to. The celebratory spirit is infectious, and everyone’s in a good mood. And it’s just a great time. Period.

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