Mardi Gras for the year 2026 is celebrated/ observed on Tuesday, February 17th. Mardi Gras known as Shrove Tuesday or Fat Tuesday falls annually on the day before Ash Wednesday (start of Lent ). The word "Mardi Gras" means "Fat Tuesday" in the French language. Because Easter can fall on any Sunday between March 23 and April 25, and Mardi Gras is always 47 days before Easter, Zulu and Rex can roll on any Tuesday between Feb. 3 through March 9. New Orleans weather on Mardi Gras Day can be unpredictable as well. It can be shorts weather in early February and you might very well need a coat in March. Mardi Gras, like Christmas, is a whole season - not just one day. That being said, Fat Tuesday is the biggest day of celebration, and the date it falls on moves around. You'll find that Fat Tuesday can be any Tuesday between Feb. 3 and March 9. The Mardi Gras Carnival 2025 traditionally features large festivals and celebrations across the United States. The highlight being the Mardi Gras 2025 parade in New Orleans, in Louisiana, which typical consists of people wearing masquerades and dancing in the streets. Crowds walk down Bourbon street on Mardi Gras Day in New Orleans, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023. With 12th Night on Jan. 6 marking the start of Carnival, that means the 2025 season will last 58 days Mardi Gras is coming early next year. This year’s Carnival season lasts 58 days, from 12th Night on Jan. 6 to Mardi Gras on March 4. But next year, Mardi Gras falls on Feb. 17. That means Mardi Gras Dates Until 2030. March 4, 2025; February 17, 2026; February 9, 2027; February 29, 2028; February 13, 2029; March 5, 2030; Why Does Mardi Gras Date Move Each Year? The reason why the Mardi Gras date switches up like a jazz tune every year is all about the lunar cycle and this thing called Easter! Mardi Gras in 2026 is on Tuesday, the 17th of February (17/2/2026). How are Mardi Gras dates determined? Mardi Gras is celebrated on the day before Ash Wednesday. This year Mardi Gras celebrations in New Orleans began on 6 January, the Epiphany, with a series of parades. 2026: 17 February: 2027: 9 Febraury: Tagged in:Carnival; Nueva Orleans; Luisiana; When is Mardi Gras in 2026? If you’re planning even further ahead, Mardi Gras Day in 2026 falls on the 17th of February 2026. If you’re looking to plan ahead our 2026 All-Inclusive Cruise and Mardi Gras in New Orleans package is now on sale. Click here to find out more. The official start of Carnival Season is Twelfth Night, January 6. Book your hotel room now and Reserve your Mardi Gras package. Want to know more about Mardi Gras in New Orleans? Mardi Gras Tips Mardi Gras Krewes Mardi Gras Balls Mardi Gras Parade Throws Mardi Gras Colors Mardi Gras Dates Frequently Asked Questions about Mardi Gras When is Mardi Gras 2025? This year, Mardi Gras, which translates from French to "Fat Tuesday," is on March 4. Ash Wednesday is on March 5, the day marking the start of the 40-day Lenten season Click on the Mardi Gras krewes below for further information about the krewe and to see their usual route for each parade. Please note: Events and activities are subject to change without notice. Stay tuned to the site for further info. Mardi Gras is more than an event—it’s an experience. Whether you’re tasting your first King Cake, dancing to a brass band on Frenchmen Street, collecting a bag full of signature throws, or marveling at the creativity of a parade float, every moment immerses you in the spirit of New Orleans. Ready to start planning your 2025 Mardi Gras trip? The official start of Carnival Want to know more about Mardi Gras in New Orleans? Mardi Gras Tips Mardi Gras Krewes Mardi Gras Balls Mardi 2026 . Feb. 17 New Orleans Mardi Gras: On March 2, 1699, French-Canadian explorer Jean Baptiste Le Moyne Sieur de Bienville arrived at a plot of ground 60 miles directly south of New Orleans and named it "Pointe du Mardi Gras" when his men realized it was the eve of the festive holiday. By the 1730s, Mardi Gras was celebrated openly in New Orleans, but not Click on the Mardi Gras krewes below for further information about the krewe and to see their usual route for each parade. Please note: Events and activities are subject to change without notice. Stay tuned to the site for further info. Mardi Gras Parade Schedule. Mardi Gras is more than just a day, or one week, or even a weekend. Starting January 6 (Twelfth Night), New Orleans has parades in the weeks leading up to Mardi Gras Day, which falls on March 4, 2025. Take a look at the parades below and click on each to learn more. The Mardi Gras in New Orleans is on our bucket list! I’m starting to plan now. Mardi Gras is Feb. 17 next year. Ideally we will book an AirBNB on a streetcar line and use a JazzyPass to get around. We are planning to arrive about a week beforehand and return on Feb. 18th. See the Mardi Gras event calendar. Mardi Gras is a fun and exciting time in New Orleans. With so many parades, it’s also busy!
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