where is the mardi gras parade

The phrase “Mardi Gras parade” can refer to several different events, so the exact location depends on which one you mean and which city you’re in.

Main Mardi Gras parades in 2026

New Orleans, Louisiana (classic Mardi Gras)

Most people asking “where is the Mardi Gras parade” are thinking of New Orleans. Key details:

• Parades run across the whole Carnival season in and around New Orleans (Uptown St. Charles Avenue, French Quarter, Mid-City, Metairie, West Bank, Northshore).

• On Mardi Gras Day 2026 (February 17), the big parades in New Orleans proper are:
  • Zulu at 8:00 a.m. (Uptown New Orleans, traditionally starting near Jackson Avenue and moving along St. Charles).

* Rex at 10:30 a.m. (also Uptown/St. Charles, then toward Canal Street).

• Other areas (Metairie, Slidell, Covington, etc.) also have Mardi Gras Day parades, each with its own neighborhood route.

Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras (Australia)

If you mean the Sydney Mardi Gras Parade (a major LGBTQ+ event), that is a separate Mardi Gras-style parade.

• Date for the big parade: Saturday 28 February 2026.

• Location and route:
  • Starts near Hyde Park, then rolls along Oxford Street in the CBD/Darlinghurst.

* The central “bend” and main party atmosphere are around Taylor Square (Darlinghurst).

* Finishes via Flinders Street into Anzac Parade heading toward Moore Park.

Other cities

Many cities have their own Mardi Gras parades with different routes:

• Northshore (St. Tammany Parish, LA) parades in Slidell, Covington, Mandeville, Abita Springs, Madisonville, etc., each with local routes and times.

• Baton Rouge, LA, also runs several Mardi Gras parades, including Spanish Town and others, with routes through downtown and nearby neighborhoods.

Simple answer you can use now

If you’re:

• In or near New Orleans and mean the traditional Mardi Gras:
  The main Mardi Gras Day parades roll through Uptown New Orleans along St. Charles Avenue toward Canal Street , with additional parades in neighboring suburbs like Metairie and on the Northshore.

• In Sydney and mean the LGBTQ+ Mardi Gras:
  The main parade is on Oxford Street, continuing via Flinders Street to Anzac Parade toward Moore Park , with the heart of the action around Hyde Park and Taylor Square.

If you tell me which city you’re in (e.g., New Orleans, Sydney, Baton Rouge, etc.), I can point you to the exact street route and typical best viewing spots for your local Mardi Gras parade.