Mardi Gras in February
Great time to visit
This is it - the main event that puts New Orleans on the map. Hotels gouge, crowds crush, and the city transforms into one massive street party. Come prepared to spend and surrender to the chaos.
Weather
February is Mardi Gras season and the weather gods usually cooperate. Mild temperatures hover in the 60s with cool mornings that warm to comfortable parade-watching weather. Rain can crash the party, but most days stay dry enough for outdoor revelry.
19°C high9°C low8 rain days
Crowds & Cost
peak crowds
~$350/day average
Events & Festivals
- •Mardi Gras parades and celebrations
- •Krewe of Bacchus
- •Krewe of Endymion
- •Fat Tuesday
February Tips
- •Book accommodation 6+ months ahead or expect to pay triple
- •Bring comfortable shoes that you don't mind getting dirty
- •Download parade schedules and stake out spots on St. Charles Avenue early
All Months
Mardi Gras 2026 falls on March 4th, with the season officially starting January 6th. The final two weeks pack the biggest parades and highest prices—hotel rates triple and restaurants require reservations weeks out. Arrive the weekend before Fat Tuesday for maximum chaos, or come mid-January for smaller parades and better deals. Weather in February and March swings wildly—pack layers for 40-degree mornings and 75-degree afternoons. Rain happens, and it turns parade routes into mud pits. Thursday through Tuesday of Mardi Gras week offers the premium experience: Endymion on Saturday, Bacchus on Sunday, then Proteus, Orpheus, and Zulu leading up to Fat Tuesday. But if crowds stress you out, visit the first weekend of February when families dominate and the vibe stays mellow.
Mardi Gras Scores
Solo
8/10
Couples
6/10
Families
6/10
Adventure
4/10
Budget
5/10
Luxury
6/10
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