New Orleans Holidays 2026 & Mardi Gras 2027
Prices & schedules checked October 18, 2026
November through February is one long season in New Orleans: lights in City Park from Thanksgiving weekend, Réveillon dinners through December, bonfires on the Mississippi levee upriver, then Carnival from January 6 to Mardi Gras Day. Here’s what’s confirmed for 2026–27, with official links.
Celebration in the Oaks (City Park)
- Dates: November 27, 2026 – January 1, 2027. Tickets go on sale November 1.
- Two ways to see it: a Walking Tour (about 90 minutes, including all-access to the Carousel Gardens Amusement Park and the Botanical Garden) or a Driving Tour in your own car. Children 2 and under are admitted free on the Walking Tour.
- Closed: December 7, 14, 24 and 31. On Bike Nights (November 30 and December 1–3) the Driving and Walking Tours are closed.
- Hours: evening hours vary by night (the ticket page lists 5–9 p.m., 5–10 p.m. and 6–10 p.m. sessions), so check your date on the ticket page.
Réveillon dinners
Réveillon is a multi-course holiday dinner rooted in Creole tradition. New Orleans & Company lists participating restaurants for November 27, 2026 – January 1, 2027; menus and prices are set by each restaurant, so check the list and book the restaurant directly.
Bonfires on the levee
Upriver from New Orleans, communities build towering bonfires on the Mississippi levee and light them on Christmas Eve to light the way for “Papa Noël”. Two ways to see them:
- Festival of the Bonfires, December 11–13, 2026, at Lutcher Recreational Park, 2545 Louisiana Avenue, Lutcher. The organizer lists food, live entertainment, crafts and carnival rides, with a bonfire lit on the levee at 7 p.m. and one on the festival grounds at 8 p.m. with fireworks (check the official schedule for which nights). From New Orleans it’s I-10 West to exit 194 (Lutcher–Gramercy).
- Christmas Eve by tour bus (Gray Line, from 400 Toulouse St):
| Gray Line trip (official, October 18, 2026) | Price | Departs / returns | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christmas Eve Bonfire Express | $90 ages 6+; ages 2–5 free | Buses leave as they fill, last one 4:30 p.m.; back 9:15 p.m. | Guided ride to the levee bonfires in Gramercy, cookies and eggnog; about ¼-mile walk to the fires |
| Christmas Eve Bonfire Adventure | $189 ages 6+; ages 2–5 free | 2:00 p.m.; back 9:15 p.m. | Creole Christmas tour at Destrehan Plantation, Christmas Eve dinner, then the Gramercy bonfires |
| Cajun Holiday Bonfire Celebration with Dinner | From $150 (adults) | 4:00 p.m.; back about 9:00 p.m. | Candlelit tour of Felicity Plantation, Cajun dinner and a private bonfire on the grounds (check the page for dates) |
Gray Line says these bookings are non-refundable. Book direct; we don’t earn anything from these links.
Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve on the river
The company behind the Steamboat Natchez lists a Christmas Eve Jazz Cruise (boarding at 6 p.m. on December 24) and a New Year’s Eve Gala (boarding at 10 p.m. on December 31), both aboard its riverboat City of New Orleans rather than the Natchez. Prices and packages are on the operator’s site.
We may earn a commission when you book through our links, at no extra cost to you. Details
Mardi Gras 2027
- Mardi Gras Day (Fat Tuesday) is February 9, 2027. Carnival season starts on January 6 (Twelfth Night).
- Mardi Gras is always 47 days before Easter, so the date moves every year.
- Parade schedules are published by the krewes closer to the season; we’ll add them once they’re official.
- Closures to plan around: the National WWII Museum and Mardi Gras World are both closed on Mardi Gras Day.
Can’t come for Carnival? Mardi Gras World shows floats being built year-round.
Holiday closures worth knowing
- The National WWII Museum is closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Mardi Gras Day, and says the week between Christmas and New Year’s is very busy.
- Mardi Gras World is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter and Mardi Gras Day.
Sources
- New Orleans City Park — Celebration in the Oaks (dates, ticket on-sale date)
- Celebration in the Oaks — Tickets (tours, hours, closed dates, Bike Nights)
- New Orleans & Company — Réveillon dinners (Nov 27, 2026 – Jan 1, 2027)
- Festival of the Bonfires — dates, location, schedule
- Festival of the Bonfires — Christmas Eve bonfires and directions
- Gray Line New Orleans — Christmas Eve Bonfire Express (price, times, non-refundable)
- Gray Line New Orleans — Christmas Eve Bonfire Adventure (price, times, inclusions)
- Gray Line New Orleans — Cajun Holiday Bonfire Celebration with Dinner
- New Orleans Steamboat Company — Christmas Eve Jazz Cruise and New Year’s Eve Gala (riverboat City of New Orleans)
- Mardi Gras New Orleans — When is Mardi Gras 2027?
- New Orleans & Company — Future Mardi Gras dates (47 days before Easter)
- The National WWII Museum — Plan your visit (hours, closures)
- Mardi Gras World — Tours (hours, closures)