Mardi Gras 2025 at Universal Orlando - complete insider's guide

Welcome, party people, to the biggest bash on this side of the bayou! You’ve just found the world’s most popular insider’s guide to the biggest Mardi Gras celebration in Orlando.

Every spring, the fun and excitement of the Big Easy makes its way to Universal Orlando Resort for an authentic celebration that completely transforms Universal Studios Florida into a family-friendly version of the famed New Orleans street party.

To learn everything there is to know about Mardi Gras 2026, we strongly recommend that you read this guide from top to bottom.

Mardi Gras at Universal Studios Florida will be held on select nights starting February 7, with festivities running through April 4, 2026. The event is included with your theme park ticket or annual pass (though passholder blockout dates apply).

Mardi Gras 2026

Mardi Gras 2026 Overview and Explanation

Mardi Gras 2021 performer at Universal Studios Florida — A performer at Mardi Gras 2021

The annual event runs daily from Saturday, February 7, through Saturday, April 4. All of the crowd-favorite components of Mardi Gras will return: the colorfully costumed performers and authentic New Orleans bands, the Mardi Gras parade, and even the weekly headliner concerts.

To double down on an element that has, in recent years, clearly come to be one of the most beloved at Universal’s festivities – the company has greatly expanded its lineup of delicious Cajun cuisine, broadening it to include carnavals from all over the world and locations all over Universal Studios Florida (instead of having it be mostly confined to the French Quarter Courtyard in the New York backlot).

What about admission?

Here’s the best part about the Big Easy party – it’s completely free! As long as you have a ticket to get through the theme-park turnstiles on a Mardi Gras event date, you have access to everything, from the music to the food.

What about the weather?

Concerned about the weather the night you plan on getting some beads? Check out our Orlando weather page to learn more and be fully prepared for your visit.

Mardi Gras 2026 Concerts

Music constitutes such a big part of New Orleans’s Mardi Gras traditions, and it’s no different at Universal Orlando. At Music Plaza Stage in Universal Studios Florida, guests can attend concerts on select nights during the Mardi Gras season. These concerts are included with park admission and generally begin at 8:30 PM.

Here are the headliners for Mardi Gras 2026:

February
7 – Kaskade
14 – Portugal. The Man
15 – Ivy Queen
21 – Joey Fatone & AJ McLean
28 – Rupaul (DJ Set)

March
7 – Shaggy
13 – Tyler Hubbard
14 – Bebe Rexha
15 – Zedd
21 – Barenaked Ladies
28 – The All-American Rejects

Mardi Gras 2026 Parade

Parade float at Mardi Gras 2021 — Parade float stationed in the park at Mardi Gras 2021

The parade will feature music, lights, and – of course – beads being thrown from authentic floats drafted and created in New Orleans, the heart of Mardi Gras. Entertainers, performers, and music make this a spectacle that can’t be missed. The parade will take place on select dates throughout the Mardi Gras season.

Parade starts at 5:00 PM on the following dates:

February 11
March 3

Parade starts at 6:00 PM on the following dates:

February 27
March 6
March 10
March 20

Parade starts at 7:00 PM on the following dates:

February 7 – 10
February 12 – 26
February 28
March 1 – 2
March 4 – 5
March 7 – 9
March 11 – 19
March 21 – 31
April 1 – 4

Registration to be a float rider in the parades:

A special perk for annual passholders is the option to be a float rider. This exclusive experience is between 2-3 hours in duration, and annual passholders get to throw beads and goad parade spectators from the best seats in the house. Online reservations open January 15, 2026, at 12 pm ET through Universal Orlando and are first-come, first-served.

Another way to join in the festivities is through the Mardi Gras Float Ride and Dine Experience. Enjoy a three-course meal at one of eight participating restaurants in Universal Studios Florida, Universal Islands of Adventure, or Universal CityWalk while also having a reserved spot on board a parade float! This offering begins at $94.99.

Mardi Gras 2026 Food and Drinks

It wouldn’t be Mardi Gras if you couldn’t eat, drink, and be merry.

The food lineup may be greatly expanded, but beignets are still at the heart of the experience

Universal’s annual event features an array of delicious “N’awlins-style food and spirits,” usually including over 50 dishes and drinks inspired by a variety of different carnaval countries or cities.

The good times don’t stop rolling at Universal Studios Florida when it comes to cajun cuisine. Select dishes will also be available throughout Universal CityWalk and Universal Orlando Resort Hotels.

Pick up a Universal Orlando Resort Food & Beverage Card to aid you in the journey through the tastes of the world’s carnival celebrations.

Here’s the pricing for the Food & Beverage Card:

Pay $65 for a $75 Universal Orlando Resort Food & Beverage Card

Mardi Gras 2026 Food Booths

The Mardi Gras food scene has expanded so much in recent years, we’ve dedicated a whole page to the tasty endeavor! Check out that guide here for the delicious details. From savory plates like Vienna-Style Pork Schnitzel and Baked Cajun Mac & Cheese to sweet treats such as Beignets and King Cake, Mardi Gras has you covered.

Mardi Gras 2026 Tribute Store

For those unfamiliar, the Tribute Store started off life as a part of Halloween Horror Nights 2015, instantly becoming a fan-favorite – and, therefore, perennial – part of the event (which is Universal’s biggest and the one that Mardi Gras seems to inch more closely towards with every passing year). This shop has grown in size and sophistication over the years and has also become something of a themed attraction unto itself. This emporium has even expanded to cover other celebrations, like the Holidays at Universal and Mardi Gras.

In fact, the 2023 Universal Mardi Gras Celebration paved the way for a new Tribute Store location. Previously located in New York, this season’s shop can be found in the star-studded Hollywood section of Universal Studios Florida. The Tribute Store now alternates between these two spots.

For Universal Mardi Gras 2026, the Tribute Store takes us to the fictional “TonTon’s Roadhouse.” A looming skeleton in a top hat welcomes guests into a weathered Louisiana watering hole with secrets lurking behind every door.

Mardi Gras beads hang from the rafters above a teal-lit bar counter in this classic bayou bar. Vintage posters plaster the wood-paneled walls, advertising house spirits like “Gator Shine” and “Never Clear,” plus live acts including “Gregory & the Ten Ton Tikis.”

A small stage with a drum kit sits ready for the next performance, while a “Pub Time Darts” machine (permanently out of order) and popcorn cart complete the roadhouse atmosphere.

Duck through the doorway and find yourself on the neon-soaked streets of a New Orleans back alley. Blacklight illuminates vibrant graffiti, crawfish, and stylized flames in hot pink, electric green, and purple.

The path winds into a cluttered voodoo shop overflowing with Spanish moss, skulls, flickering lanterns, and gravestones. At the end, a white marble doorway reveals a red velvet parlor — a brief taste of Southern Gothic elegance before you emerge into the French Quarter.

Emerge onto a vibrant recreation of Bourbon Street, complete with wrought-iron balconies, striped awnings, and the glowing “Hotel Anna Marie” sign. A towering skull in a top hat — flanked by gators and dripping with beads — commands the center of the space. Shop for hats, shirts, masks, and beads along “Krewe Way,” then snap a photo on the red velvet couch before heading out.

Whether you’re here for the theming or the merchandise, TonTon’s Roadhouse delivers a journey through the mysterious side of New Orleans — from roadhouse revelry to voodoo secrets to Bourbon Street celebrations. Pick up your beads, snap a photo, and laissez les bons temps rouler!

Mardi Gras 2026 Merchandise

While beads are the traditional Mardi Gras garb, Universal has a plethora of options to join in the celebration, from apparel to drinkware. Here’s some of what you can find at Universal Studios Florida and Universal CityWalk:

Mardi Gras 2026 – FAQ

Let the good times roll with these answers to your questions about Universal Studios Florida’s Mardi Gras bash.

Is Mardi Gras at Universal Studios Florida appropriate for young kids?

The wild and colorful performers at Mardi Gras 2022

In a word, yes. Everything is totally kid-friendly, and we definitely recommend bringing along everyone in the family. Many Mardi Gras “characters” walk the streets, handing out beads and posing for photos. Mixed with the New Orleans party music filling the air, it’s a very festive atmosphere.

I need beads, beads, and more beads, please

Beads are the central icon of Mardi Gras, and don’t you worry – you’ll be able to collect them ’til your little heart’s content. And, even better, the vast majority of these quintessential items are absolutely free to you.

How do you collect beads? The usual way – by cheering and raising your hands at the parades.

And in case the standard-issue beads just aren’t to your liking, Universal also sells specialty ones (for $6.00+) at the main Universal Studios Florida gift shop, the Mardi Gras Tribute Store, and at two merchandise stands: one across from Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon and the other across from Fast & Furious – Supercharged.

Are there any benefits for annual passholders?

Passholders can save 15% on the previously mentioned Mardi Gras Float Ride and Dine Experience. Enjoy a delicious, three-course meal and participate in this exciting parade!

(Need some more info or explanations on what all these various levels of Universal Orlando’s annual passes are? No problem – check out our complete guide to annual passes.)

Do you have a question about the information on this page or would you like to provide feedback? Please let us know by posting in our Orlando Informer Community on Facebook.

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Mardi Gras 2026 at Universal Orlando – Complete Insider’s Guide