New Orleans Celebrates Mardi Gras, Carnival Season's Indulgent Finale

The annual revelry marks the end of the pre-Lenten period of feasting and fun before the Christian season of sacrifice.

Published on Feb. 19, 2026

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Mardi Gras, also known as Fat Tuesday, marks the climax and conclusion of the weekslong Carnival season in New Orleans, offering a final chance for indulgence, feasting and revelry before the Christian Lent period of sacrifice and reflection. Parade-goers donned colorful costumes, danced to marching bands, and caught trinkets thrown from elaborate floats as the city celebrated the joyous goodbye to Carnival.

Why it matters

Mardi Gras is a centuries-old tradition that holds deep cultural significance in Louisiana, with the New Orleans celebration being one of the most famous and extravagant in the world. The annual event showcases the city's vibrant spirit, rich history, and unique customs, drawing millions of visitors each year and serving as an economic boon for the region.

The details

Crowds lined the streets of New Orleans on Tuesday morning, setting up chairs, coolers, grills, and ladders to catch a better view of the parade floats and marchers. Revelers donned elaborate costumes in the traditional Mardi Gras colors of green, gold, and purple, with some opting for sequined outfits or homemade creations. Marching bands filled the air with music as people danced and cheered, sipping adult beverages rather than their usual morning coffee. The parades featured the signature 'throws' - trinkets like beads, candy, and coconuts - that parade-goers eagerly tried to catch.

  • Mardi Gras, also known as Fat Tuesday, marks the climax and end of the weekslong Carnival season.
  • Mardi Gras always falls on the day before Ash Wednesday, the start of the Christian Lenten period.

The players

Sue Mennino

A reveler who has celebrated Carnival season for decades as a resident of New Orleans. She was dressed in a white Egyptian-inspired costume with a gold headpiece and translucent cape, her face embellished with glitter and electric blue eyeshadow.

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What they’re saying

“The world will be here tomorrow, but today is a day off and a time to party.”

— Sue Mennino

The takeaway

Mardi Gras in New Orleans is a centuries-old tradition that showcases the city's vibrant spirit, rich history, and unique customs, drawing millions of visitors each year and serving as an economic boon for the region. The annual celebration offers a final chance for indulgence, feasting, and revelry before the Christian Lenten period of sacrifice and reflection.