About Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras — Fat Tuesday — is the climax of New Orleans' Carnival season, falling 47 days before Easter (February 9 in 2027). The countdown above computes the date automatically every year and ticks toward the biggest free party in America.
Carnival season actually starts on January 6 (Twelfth Night) and builds for weeks: krewes roll elaborate parades like Zulu, Rex, Endymion and Bacchus, riders throw beads and doubloons, and king cake — with its hidden plastic baby — appears in every office. It all stops at midnight sharp on Fat Tuesday, when the New Orleans police symbolically clear the streets and Lent begins on Ash Wednesday the next morning.
Because Mardi Gras is pegged to Easter — always falling 47 days before it, the day before Ash Wednesday — the date slides between early February and early March each year. The countdown above works the date out automatically and shows exactly how many days, hours and minutes remain until the next Fat Tuesday. Whether you are planning a trip to New Orleans, a king-cake party or just love the spectacle, add it to your own page so you are ready when the parades roll.
Upcoming dates
| 2027 | Tuesday, February 9, 2027next |
| 2028 | Tuesday, February 29, 2028 |
| 2029 | Tuesday, February 13, 2029 |
| 2030 | Tuesday, March 5, 2030 |
| 2031 | Tuesday, February 25, 2031 |
FAQ
When is Mardi Gras 2027?
Tuesday, February 9, 2027 — always 47 days before Easter, so the date moves each year between early February and early March.
Why does the Mardi Gras date change?
It is tied to Easter: Fat Tuesday is the eve of Ash Wednesday, the start of Lent, which itself shifts with Easter each year.
What does Mardi Gras mean?
French for "Fat Tuesday" — the last day of feasting before the fasting season of Lent.
How is Mardi Gras celebrated in New Orleans?
With weeks of krewe parades like Zulu, Rex and Bacchus, masked balls, beads and doubloons thrown from floats, and king cake, all peaking on Fat Tuesday.