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 is typically held on select nights starting in February, with festivities concluding toward the end of March. Once the dates for 2026 have been announced, we will update this guide. 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

While we await the details for Mardi Gras 2026 at Universal Orlando Resort, relive the fun and flair of last year’s celebrations below!

The annual event runs daily from Saturday, February 1, through Sunday, March 30. 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

While we await the concert lineup for Mardi Gras 2026, take a look at last year’s unforgettable performances!

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 begin at 8:30 PM.

Here are the headliners for Mardi Gras 2025:

February
1 – T-Pain
8 – Joe Jonas
15 – Kool & The Gang
16 – Juanes
22 – Scotty McCreery

March
1 – Foster the People
8 – Illenium
15 – All Time Low
16 – Lawrence
21 – Coco Jones
22– DJ Pauly D
29 – TLC

Mardi Gras 2026 Parade

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

We don’t have the parade details yet, but in the meantime, check out the fun from the 2025 Mardi Gras celebration at Universal Orlando Resort below!

The parade will feature music, lights, and – of – course – beads being thrown from six brand-new and six returning authentic floats drafted and created in New Orleans, the heart of Mardi Gras.

The theme for this year’s Mardi Gras parade? A celebration of 30 years of Mardi Gras at Universal! Six all-new floats will debut, each inspired by some of the most famous Krewes in New Orleans. As always, this fan-favorite parade features dazzling floats designed and built in New Orleans, bringing authentic Carnival magic to the streets of Universal Studios Florida. 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 4

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

February 2 – 3
February 5 – 7
February 9 – 13
February 18 – 21
February 24 – 28
March 3 – 7
March 9
March 12
March 18

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

February 14
February 17
February 23
March 2
March 10 – 11
March 13 – 14
March 17
March 19 – 20
March 23 – 28
March 30

Parade starts at 7:30 PM on the following dates:

February 1
February 8
February 15 – 16
February 22
March 1
March 8
March 15 – 16
March 21 – 22
March 29

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. Additional details regarding registration will be available closer to the celebration.

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 or Universal CityWalk while also having a reserved spot on board a parade float! This offering begins at $89.99.

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

We’re still waiting to see what’s cooking for Mardi Gras 2026, but in the meantime, feast your eyes on the 2025 menu below!

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. For the first time, Universal’s Islands of Adventure and Universal’s Volcano Bay will be adding some Mardi Gras flavor to their menus. 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 2025 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 Baked Cajun Mac & Cheese and Margherita Poutine to sweet treats such as Apple Strudel and Limber, Mardi Gras has you covered.

Mardi Gras 2026 Tribute Store

The Tribute Store for Mardi Gras 2026 isn’t open just yet, but take a look at the fun theming from last year’s celebration!

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 2025, the Tribute Store takes us to the fictional “Legends of the Bayou Museum and Gift Shop.” This kitschy roadside attraction-style venue claims to hold the answers to some of the world’s biggest mysteries, with the Nusquam Nuisance as its headlining enigma.

Right outside the entrance, a large wooden bench invites guests to sit—though they may not be alone. Lurking just behind it is Sasquatch, watching over the scene. Step inside, and he takes center stage in the first room, captured mid-stride in his signature walking pose from famous sightings.

To the left, an “employee” of the shop welcomes visitors, looking like someone who’s seen his fair share of the strange and unexplained. He’s surrounded by fictional store merchandise, including classic souvenirs like bumper stickers, t-shirts, hats, and mugs. Be sure to check out the brochures in the rotating display stand—keen-eyed Tribute Store fans will spot callbacks to past settings, including the haunted P.S. Songbird from last year’s Mardi Gras and the video rental store from last summer.

The shop’s decor is a mix of fun and folklore, featuring framed cryptid sighting photos, a painted alligator archway, and even a sign daring you to peek behind a curtain—what’s behind it? That’s for you to discover.

Amidst the legends and lore, you’ll find everything you need to celebrate Mardi Gras in style, from hats and beads to masks and more!

Moving into the next area, you’ll encounter eerie exhibits featuring Skeleton Man, Loup-Garou, and haunted dolls. From there, the museum expands into a space filled with even more bizarre and unexplained oddities. Be sure to check out the interactive Wall of Mysteries—pressing its buttons reveals cryptids hidden within, from the Yeti to Mothman and more.

As you move forward, you’ll find that our museum tour has come to an end, making way for Legends of the Bayou’s secondary business—swamp tours! This area is completely transformed with lush greenery, leading guests through a house nestled deep in the swamp. Merchandise is cleverly displayed inside tree trunks, blending seamlessly into the immersive theming.

The final room serves as both the checkout area and a beautiful bayou scene. Here, it feels as if you’re drifting along the water, surrounded by lush plant life and wooden docks, with the night sky twinkling above and fireflies dancing in the air.

This season’s Mardi Gras Tribute Store offers an unforgettable shopping experience—one that’s worth exploring, even if you’re just passing through!

Mardi Gras 2026 Merchandise

We’re ready to shop ’til we drop at Mardi Gras 2026 at Universal Orlando Resort, but merchandise details aren’t out just yet. In the meantime, check out what was available in 2025!

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

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