Mardi Gras in 2027 falls on Tuesday 9 February. In 2028 it lands on Tuesday 29 February, Leap Day, which extends the Carnival season because Easter is at its latest possible date that year.
If you’re searching the date because you’d like to actually go, our Music City & Mardi Gras cruise packages are the easiest way for UK travellers to experience it as a fully escorted group, combining a Caribbean cruise with stays in New Orleans, Memphis and Nashville. The 2027 sailings on Norwegian Breakaway are on sale and filling fast; 2028 is also bookable.
Call our specialists on 020 7947 0270 to talk through the options.
Future Mardi Gras dates
Mardi Gras Day falls on a different date each year because it’s tied to Easter. Here are the next 13 years:
| Year | Mardi Gras Day |
|---|---|
| 2027 | Tuesday 9 February |
| 2028 | Tuesday 29 February (Leap Day) |
| 2029 | Tuesday 13 February |
| 2030 | Tuesday 5 March |
| 2031 | Tuesday 25 February |
| 2032 | Tuesday 10 February |
| 2033 | Tuesday 1 March |
| 2034 | Tuesday 21 February |
| 2035 | Tuesday 6 February |
| 2036 | Tuesday 26 February |
| 2037 | Tuesday 17 February |
| 2038 | Tuesday 9 March |
Mardi Gras Day itself is always a Tuesday, Shrove Tuesday, the day before Lent begins. But the Carnival season runs much longer: it starts on Twelfth Night (6 January) and builds across weekends with parades by different krewes (social clubs) right up to Mardi Gras Day.
How most UK travellers do Mardi Gras
You can do Mardi Gras independently from the UK, but three things tend to catch people out.
Hotels book up 12 to 18 months ahead at peak. Mardi Gras week is one of the busiest in New Orleans and rates spike sharply. By the time most casual visitors look, well-located French Quarter and Garden District properties are gone.
Parade access matters more than you think. The big parades (Endymion, Bacchus, Rex) draw crowds in the hundreds of thousands. A bad viewing spot at a peak parade is the difference between a memorable festival and a long, frustrating day in the heat.
The flight and tour logistics add up. Direct UK to New Orleans flights are limited. Most independent trips involve a connection plus internal US travel if you want to combine New Orleans with Memphis and Nashville (the natural Deep South trio).
Our Music City & Mardi Gras cruise packages handle all three: pre-booked hotels we have personally vetted, parade viewing on St Charles Avenue in the Lower Garden District (the family-friendly, less-crowded stretch), and a Caribbean cruise that wraps the festival into a proper holiday rather than a flying-visit weekend.
What actually happens at Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras is one of those trips you have to do once in your life. The atmosphere is unlike anywhere else. Every street corner, every balcony on Bourbon Street, everyone is in great spirits. If you can stack it onto our Music City Package, you’ll have Nashville for the country music, Memphis for the blues, and New Orleans for the parades, all on one trip. That’s the way to do it properly.
Leah Whitton, Operations, Paramount Cruises
Krewes and parades. Each krewe is a social club running its own parade with themed floats, marching bands and dance groups. Some parades have over 3,000 participants. Floats throw “throws” (beads, cups, coins, themed trinkets) into the crowd. Catching them is part of the experience.
Day vs night parades. Daytime parades are vibrant and family-friendly. The illuminated night parades (Endymion, Bacchus, Orpheus) are the headline events for atmosphere.
Lundi Gras. The day before Mardi Gras is its own celebration. Daytime exploration of New Orleans, swamp tours or plantation visits, then live music at Woldenberg Park on the Mississippi River, then the arrival of Rex, King of Carnival, with fireworks over the river.
The food. King cake (the Carnival pastry) is everywhere through the season. Gumbo, jambalaya, po’ boys, beignets at Café du Monde, all part of the Mardi Gras experience.
Why Paramount Cruises for Mardi Gras
We have personally escorted thousands of UK guests through Nashville, Memphis and New Orleans over the years. Three things that come up consistently from those trips:
Hotel quality matters more than the brochure suggests. Some agents include the cheapest hotel in each city to keep package prices down. We have stayed in every hotel we feature, and we deliberately avoid the wrong ones (the Millennium Maxwell in Nashville and rooms directly on Bourbon Street in New Orleans being two we will not put guests in).
Local relationships make a difference. We work directly with New Orleans & Company (the city’s tourist board) on parade logistics, viewing arrangements and access. That isn’t something most UK agents can replicate.
ABTA and ATOL protection. Every Paramount package is fully ABTA and ATOL protected, so the financial side is covered regardless.
FAQs
When is Mardi Gras 2027?
Tuesday 9 February 2027. Our 2027 package on Norwegian Breakaway is already on sale and selling fast.
When is Mardi Gras 2028?
Tuesday 29 February 2028, Leap Day. Easter is at its latest possible date that year, which extends the Carnival season and makes 2028 a particularly good year to go.
Is Mardi Gras just one day?
Mardi Gras Day is the peak, but the Carnival season starts on Twelfth Night (6 January) and builds with weekend parades right up to Shrove Tuesday. The festival week before Mardi Gras Day is the most intense.
Where’s the best place to watch the parades?
The Lower Garden District along St Charles Avenue. Spacious, family-friendly, less crowded than the French Quarter and within walking distance of well-placed hotels. Grandstand seating is available for specific parades if you want a guaranteed spot.
Is Mardi Gras family-friendly?
The Uptown and Mid-City parades are, particularly during the day. The Bourbon Street area at night gets rowdy and is not suitable for children. Our packages stay in family-appropriate neighbourhoods deliberately.
What should I wear?
Comfortable shoes (you will walk and stand a lot), and the traditional Mardi Gras colours of purple, green and gold. Costumes are encouraged and you will catch more throws if you look like you are part of the party.
Do I need a visa to visit the US?
British travellers need an ESTA via the US Visa Waiver Program. Apply online; approval is typically within a few days.
Plan your Mardi Gras with Paramount Cruises
Browse our full range of Mardi Gras cruise packages for 2027 and 2028 prices and dates, or call our specialists on 020 7947 0270 to talk through what suits your party best.
Browse Mardi Gras cruise packages · Call our cruise experts on 020 7947 0270
By Josh Harris. Last updated: 19 May 2026.
