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InterContinental New Orleans would like to thank you for staying with us to celebrate Mardi Gras 2026. As your hotel of choice, we hope to deliver a front-row seat to all that Mardi Gras has to offer. Below are a few tips that will prepare you for the world-famous celebration and provide a seamless and worry-free experience.
Getting to the Hotel
- Please print your hotel confirmation letter. To ensure the security of our guests, you will need to present this letter to gain entrance into the hotel.
- St. Charles Avenue is closed during parade times. We ask that you plan your arrival no later than one (1) hour before the parade is scheduled to start. Please note times are subject to change.
- Below is a list of parade dates and their start times. These parades pass directly in front of the hotel, resulting in limited access. See directions to our Camp Street entrance below.
Parade Schedule
Friday, February 6
- Krewe of Oshun and Cleopatra — 5:30 PM
Saturday, February 7
- Krewe of Pontchartrain, Mars, Choctaw, and Freret — 11:30 AM
- Knights of Sparta — 5:30 PM
- Krewe of Pygmalion — 6:15 PM
Sunday, February 8
- Femme Fatale, Krewe of Carrollton, and King Arthur — 11:00 AM
Wednesday, February 11
- Krewe of Druids and Alla — 6:15 PM
Thursday, February 12
- Krewe of Babylon, Chaos, and Muses — 4:30 PM
Friday, February 13
- Krewe of Hermes, d’État, and Morpheus — 5:30 PM
Saturday, February 14
- Krewe of Iris and Tucks — 11:00 AM
- Krewe of Endymion — 4:00 PM
Sunday, February 15
- Krewe of Okeanos, Mid‑City, and Thoth — 11:00 AM
- Krewe of Bacchus — 5:15 PM
Monday, February 16
- Krewe of Proteus and Orpheus — 5:15 PM
Tuesday, February 17 (Mardi Gras Day)
- Krewe of Zulu, Rex, Elks Orleans, and Crescent City — 8:00 AM
Valet Information
Valet parking is available starting at $60/night for standard vehicles and $65/night, plus tax for oversized vehicles. Nearby self-parking rates start at $45/night, plus tax for standard vehicles. This rate is applicable for the nights of Feb. 6 – Feb. 17. Tax rate of 12% City Parking Use and Sales Tax.
- Due to parade schedules and road closures, valet parking may not be available at all times and will not be available during road closures for parades.
- Valet parking is available on a first-come, first-serve basis during carnival season.
- Please remove all necessities and valuables upon arrival. Access to your car, as well as “in and out” privileges, is restricted during Mardi Gras, and suspended altogether two (2) hours before, during, and after parades.
- For your convenience and accommodation, we highly suggest that once your vehicle is valet-parked, it remains parked until checkout. We cannot guarantee you will be able to re-access the hotel once you depart or that our valet service will be able to timely retrieve and deliver your vehicle, due to parades, heavy pedestrian and vehicular traffic restrictions, and closed access points.
- Please allow a minimum two (2) hours for valet to retrieve your vehicle before and after parades as traffic flow dictates access to vehicles that are parked off-site.
- Camp Street access for valet is located at 339 Camp Street.
Arrival After Parades Start
From Louis Armstrong Airport:
- I-10 East to Exit 234 A (Hwy 90 West Westbank)
- Take Exit 11 (Tchoupitoulas Street)
- Go left at first light on Annunciation
- Go left at first light on Calliope
- Go right on Camp Street (2nd light)
- Cross Poydras and hotel rear entrance is on the left, 339 Camp Street
From Gretna:
- Highway 90 Westbank Expressway East toward New Orleans
- Cross the Crescent City Connection (Mississippi River Bridge)
- Take Camp Street exit
- Stay straight on Camp Street
- Cross Poydras and hotel rear entrance is on the left, 339 Camp Street
From Slidell:
- I-10 West to Exit 243 C (Hwy 90 West Westbank) left hand exit and stay in left lane
- Take Exit 11 (Tchoupitoulas Street)
- Go left at first light on Annunciation
- Go left at first light on Calliope
- Go right on Camp Street (2nd light)
- Cross Poydras and hotel rear entrance is on the left, 339 Camp Street
FAQ's For InterContinental New Orleans
No! Mardi Gras is a holiday, just like Christmas and Easter. It belongs to everyone. Do not believe the claims of businesses that offer "official" Mardi Gras merchandise or an "official" Mardi Gras website. Using the term “official” is just a way for vendors to sell their products or services to those who do not know better. Products or websites are not licensed by the government for Mardi Gras. Each individual parade krewe is responsible for all its merchandise. In some parts of the country, official organizations control their Mardi Gras celebration, but this is not true in New Orleans.
The weather during Mardi Gras can vary from very cold to very warm, almost hot. Sometimes it will change from one extreme to the other during the same day. It’s a good idea to layer your clothes since a chilly morning may turn into a warm afternoon.
Since you will be spending long days outside, pack comfortable shoes and clothes that can get somewhat dirty. Don’t forget to check the forecast for rain. If storms are predicted, then you’ll want to bring a raincoat!
Yes! Contrary to public perception, Mardi Gras is a family celebration. Those of us who grew up in New Orleans feel guilty once our children have grown up and we continue going to every parade because we used to use "taking the children" as our excuse! Bring big bags (even large garbage bags!) to hold all of the stuff they will catch. Throws often include toys, stuffed animals, beads, and more.
The only place you should avoid with kids is the French Quarter (where no full-size parades pass anyway). We recommend seeing the parades when they begin on St. Charles Avenue near Napoleon since parades can last until 11 p.m. near the end of the route. The Garden District portion of St. Charles is a family area where you will see many families staking out their parade watching position, having picnics, playing ball, and having fun under the beautiful oak trees. You don't have to worry about the streetcars, as they stop running in this area during Mardi Gras.
You may also want to consider taking your kids to the parades in suburban areas like Metairie, which is only 10 minutes away from New Orleans. Metairie's Caesar parade, the Saturday before Mardi Gras weekend, is the parade Disneyworld features on Mardi Gras day. Kids love it!
Please note FAQs are from: https://www.mardigrasneworleans.com/planning/faq
Please note FAQs are from: https://www.mardigrasneworleans.com/planning/faq