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Mardi Gras 2026 Celebrations Kick Off Across the World
From New Orleans to Brazil, communities prepare for the annual pre-Lenten festivities.
Published on Feb. 18, 2026
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Mardi Gras, the raucous pre-Lenten celebration, is taking place today, February 17, 2026. Across the globe, communities are donning costumes, hosting parades, and indulging in traditional foods like King Cake and beignets to mark the occasion before the start of the 40-day Lenten season.
Why it matters
Mardi Gras is a centuries-old tradition that brings communities together through shared cultural experiences and celebrations. The festivities not only provide an opportunity for revelry, but also serve as an important transition into the more somber Lenten period for many Christian faiths.
The details
Mardi Gras, French for "Fat Tuesday," is the final day of the Carnival season and the last day before Ash Wednesday. While Louisiana is the only U.S. state that recognizes Mardi Gras as a legal holiday, similar pre-Lenten festivals take place around the world, including Carnival in Brazil, the Quebec Winter Carnival in Canada, and Fasching in Germany. Celebrations are marked by elaborate costumes, street processions, music, and the consumption of indulgent foods like King Cake, pączki, and beignets.
- Mardi Gras is celebrated on Tuesday, February 17, 2026.
- Ash Wednesday, which marks the start of the 40-day Lenten season, falls on February 18, 2026.
The players
Mardi Gras
An annual pre-Lenten celebration marked by parades, costumes, and indulgent foods.
Lent
The 40-day period of fasting, prayer, and repentance leading up to Easter Sunday for many Christian faiths.
What’s next
After the Mardi Gras celebrations conclude, Christians will begin the 40-day period of Lent, marked by fasting, prayer, and repentance, leading up to Easter Sunday.
The takeaway
Mardi Gras serves as a vibrant cultural celebration that brings communities together before the more somber Lenten season, showcasing the diversity of pre-Lenten traditions observed around the world.
