Louisiana Looks Ahead: Lean Mardi Gras Seasons Coming in 2026, 2027

As we wrap up the 2025 Mardi Gras season, some are already looking ahead to the 2026 season. Those who do will probably see something they don't like. The calendar in 2026 will not be as kind to Mardi Gras as it was in 2025.

The entire Mardi Gras season is built on a pretty structured schedule, but a schedule that adjusts year after year. The main nexus of Mardi Gras is Fat Tuesday, the day that ends the season. The date of Fat Tuesday is based upon the existence of Ash Wednesday, which comes right after. Ash Wednesday is set to be 46 days before Easter, so you can say that Fat Tuesday comes 47 days before Easter every year.

But then you have Easter that messes up the math, because Easter isn't a set date.

Like with Christmas, we know it's December 25th, no matter what day of the week that is. Or the Fourth of July, where the holiday date is literally in the name. Easter is WAY more complicated. According to the United States Naval Observatory:

"Easter falls on the first Sunday following the first ecclesiastical full moon that occurs on or after the day of the vernal equinox."

Crystal clear, right? Of course its not.

Essentially, Easter can never happen before March 22nd, and can't land after April 25th. Based on those dates, Fat Tuesday will always land between February 3rd and March 9th.

When you factor in Epiphany, the start of Carnival season will land on January 6th, however the start to the season is less "enforced" than the end. Epiphany, or 12th Night, or other celebrations that kick off Mardi Gras seasons can be placed on various dates early in the year, depending on celebration structures (want it to always be on a Saturday?).

In 2025, Fat Tuesday landed on March 4th. That's pretty close to the latest a Fat Tuesday can land on a calendar. Remember, the latest possible Fat Tuesday can be is March 9th. So this year was a pretty full year on the Mardi Gras calendar.

But 2026 isn't going to be as kind. The date for Fat Tuesday next year is February 17th. That's a full 15 days LESS in the Mardi Gras season in 2026 than we had in 2025.

Now if you think that 2026 sounds like a short Mardi Gras season, lets look past that to 2027. In 2027 Fat Tuesday will land on February 9th. That means your 2027 Mardi Gras season, from Epiphany on January 6th to Fat Tuesday will be just over 1 month. The 2027 Fat Tuesday will be the earliest until 2035, and we won't see another that early until 2046.