Did Mardi Gras 2026 Have More Visitors than 2025?

Plus, New Orleans & Co. Shares How Mardi Gras Impacts the City

3 hours ago

Alyssa Schiaffino,

New Orleans By Night French Quarter — Bourbon Street Mardi Gras crowd. New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

NEW ORLEANS – “Mardi Gras 2026 was a resounding success, marked by huge joyful crowds, beautiful weather and strong regional visitation, as well as guests from around the nation and the world,” said New Orleans & Company CEO and President Walt Leger III. “We delivered a safe and secure environment thanks to the great work of our sanitation workers, local law enforcement and seamless collaboration among city, state and federal law enforcement agencies.”

New Orleans & Company data reveals more than 2.2. million visits over Mardi Gras. Of those,1.2 million out-of-town guests visited New Orleans Feb. 12 – 17, a 20% increase over the same time period for Mardi Gras 2025.

“We were pleased to see that 40 percent of those visitors came from more than 250 miles away,” said New Orleans & Co. Senior VP of Communications and PR Kelly Schulz. “Regional travelers are a critical audience for us. While we are awaiting final occupancy data, we anticipate hotel occupancy will be in the mid-to-high 90 percent range. Local restaurants, attractions and bars reported strong activity.”

More Mardi Gras 2026 Recap Stats

On Mardi Gras Day, New Orleans & Company conducted a high-impact satellite media tour from its headquarters on St. Charles Avenue, reaching millions of viewers live on morning television in 30 U.S. markets.
Local media outlets also broadcast live from our balcony on Fat Tuesday, amplifying the city’s visibility during one of the most-watched moments of the Carnival season.
New Orleans & Company welcomed journalists from across the country and around the world to experience Mardi Gras up close, so they could share the excitement, traditions and energy of the city with their audiences.
More than 70 parades roll through New Orleans each Carnival season, with millions of beads, trinkets and throws filling the air and delighting attendees of all ages.
Mardi Gras is a billion-dollar cultural and economic powerhouse.
Independent research from Tulane University shows Mardi Gras generates nearly $900 million in total economic impact for the New Orleans economy, representing more than 3% of the city’s total GDP.
For every $1 the City of New Orleans invests in Mardi Gras, the return is $2.64, demonstrating a strong return on investment for residents and taxpayers.
After expenses, Mardi Gras delivers more than $28 million in net revenue to the city and generates over $14 million in state tax revenue within New Orleans.
RecycleDAT! returned for its fourth year and continued to grow, expanding recycling efforts along parade routes and into new areas of the city, reflecting a broader commitment to protecting New Orleans’ culture, environment and quality of life, while helping residents and visitors celebrate Mardi Gras more responsibly.