Universal Studios Mardi Gras 2026

In 2026, Universal Studios Florida are celebrating their annual Mardi Gras event with live music, a themed parade, food booths, beads, and seasonal entertainment across the resort.

Universal Mardi Gras usually runs across late winter into spring. Official 2026 event dates, concert nights, and line-up details should be checked against Universal's current event page once they are fully published.

Universal Mardi Gras combines live music, parade floats, food booths, and seasonal entertainment into one of the resort's best-known annual events.

Admission is included with a standard single day ticket or annual pass to Universal Studios Florida but bear in mind that Seasonal Annual Passes have some blockout dates during Mardi Gras.

You can get into the Mardi Gras spirit and enjoy a Big Easy Bash with street performers, stilt walkers, live music and loads of beads as well as plenty of food and drink.

Universal Orlando Mardi Gras Parade

The Mardi Gras parade follows the normal parade route, starting in the Hollywood Studios area of the park at the end of Hollywood Boulevard and travelling in a clockwise direction past the Music Plaza stage, the New York area and ending back at the start, near the Horror Make-Up Show and Mel’s Drive-In.

The parade takes about 15 minutes to pass and about 45 minutes to complete the circuit.

The parade usually runs on event nights, but times can vary by date, so it is always worth checking the official daily park schedule before you go.

Expect a mix of themed floats, street performers, dancers, musicians, and plenty of bead throwing throughout the route.

The parade takes its inspiration from New Orleans Mardi Gras traditions and is usually one of the main reasons guests time their visit around the event.

Parade Viewing

Thousands of coloured beads and doubloons are thrown from the floats to be caught by the watching onlookers so it pays to choose the right spot to watch the parade from.

Universal sometimes offers special viewing options or event perks for Annual Passholders, but these can vary from year to year.

The area around Mel’s Drive-In is great as you get to see the floats twice, at both the start and end of the parade which gives you maximum bead collection opportunities!

The event is generally family-friendly, and Universal may offer designated viewing options or special experiences for younger guests depending on the season.

Guests with accessibility needs should check the latest Universal event guidance on the day of their visit for viewing and parade-access arrangements.

If you are planning on watching the evening concert, bear in mind the parade comes round right before the start of the concert. Your best bet to see both is to locate yourself near to Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit and the Music Plaza Stage before the parade starts.

If you intend on leaving the park immediately after the parade then position yourself nearest to the park exit on the parade route so you can head straight out after the parade passes.

Wherever you decide to watch from you need to stake out a spot some 30 to 45 minutes before the parade starts especially on concert nights which are generally busier anyway.

Riding on the Floats

If you want to be a part of the action and toss some beads yourself, you can sign up to ride on one of the floats yourself with up to five guests but places are very limited. Note that larger groups may be split across multiple floats.

Universal usually offers a float-riding option in some form, but the reservation method and check-in process can change from season to season.

If float-riding is available during the current season, check the Universal Orlando app and official event guidance for the latest reservation instructions.

To book a float ride:

• head over to the Map and scroll down the list of Rides until you find the Mardi Gras Parade Float Riding
• click on Reserve and if passes are available, enter the number of guests and the time you want to checkin to ride a float

Remember it will take two to three hours out of your day so you may miss the start of the concert if you are planning on watching the concert as well on concert nights.

Check-in locations and timing for float riders can change, so rely on the current-day instructions provided in the app or by team members in the park.

You have to be at least 48” tall to ride on the floats and remember you have to stand the whole way round the parade route. Anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

Dine & Ride on the Floats

For the ultimate experience you can purchase a special Mardi Gras Float Ride and Dine Experience which gives you a guaranteed place on one of the floats and a three-course meal on the same day.

The meal can be taken at one of four restaurants and you can choose from the full menu:

• Finnegan’s Bar & Grill or Lombard’s Seafood Grill in Universal Studios
• Cowfish or NBC Sports Grill & Bar in CityWalk

Each meal consists of an appetiser, entrée and dessert plus a non-alcoholic beverage and costs $84.99 per person plus tax (gratuity included). Passholders can get a 15% discount.

Note you also require a normal admission ticket to Universal Studios Orlando and dining reservations are at specific times, 3:00 p.m. for days when the parade starts at 6:15 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. on days when the parade starts at 7:45 p.m.

Reservations must be made at least 24 hours in advance. Standard wheelchairs can be taken on the floats but you must advise Universal at least 48 hours before boarding the float.

Universal Orlando Mardi Gras Food and Drink Offerings

Mardi Gras at Universal usually includes a broad food and drink programme inspired by New Orleans and carnival celebrations around the world.

Food booth names, menu items, and marketplace locations can change from year to year, so the current official event guide is the best place to confirm what is available.

Expect a mix of savoury dishes, sweets, cocktails, beer, and non-alcoholic drinks spread across the park and, in some years, beyond Universal Studios Florida itself.

Food booths are usually spread around the park, but exact operating hours and locations can shift by season and by day.

Menu sizes and pricing can vary, especially for specialty cocktails, sampler portions, and seasonal desserts.

Souvenir cups and refill-style offers sometimes return, but the details can change from one event season to the next.

Sweet treats, beignets, and New Orleans-inspired flavours are usually part of the seasonal line-up, but exact menu items should be checked once Universal publishes the current food guide.

New Orleans-inspired dishes and carnival flavours are usually central to the event, but exact food and drink highlights should be based on the current season's official menu release.

Note that all guests must be 21 or over with Photo ID in order to purchase or consume alcoholic drinks and it is strictly one drink per ID.

Universal Orlando Mardi Gras Food & Beverage Card

If you plan to sample multiple booths, Universal often offers some kind of festival food and beverage payment option or event-specific card to make purchases easier.

These products have changed over time, so it is worth checking the current Universal event page to see how the latest version works.

Because Universal can change the structure, pricing, and benefits of these cards or lanyards, current details should always come from the latest official release.

The cards are valid at both parks, CityWalk and Volcano Bay.

If there is a discounted event card or lanyard in 2026, Universal usually shares those details as part of the current season's food and drink announcement.

Passholder Perks

Universal Annual Passholders often receive extra Mardi Gras perks, but the exact benefits vary from year to year.

Universal Orlando Mardi Gras Concert Series

The Mardi Gras concert series usually brings a mix of pop, rock, R&B, country, and other headline artists on select nights during the event.

Concerts usually take place at the Music Plaza Stage, and viewing can become busy quickly on headline nights, so arriving early is often the safest approach.

The official Universal Mardi Gras event page remains the best place to confirm the latest concert line-up and event schedule.

Universal Orlando Mardi Gras Tribute Store

The Tribute Store is becoming a regular fixture at all Universal Orlando celebrations and Mardi Gras is no exception.

The Tribute Store usually returns in some form for Mardi Gras season, although its theme and location can change from year to year.

Universal often uses the Tribute Store to extend the event theme through immersive rooms, seasonal snacks, and exclusive merchandise.

Here you will be able to purchase a range of exclusive merchandise including keychains, pins, lanyards, face masks, caps, socks, beer steins and wine glasses. You can even buy a Universal Studios Florida Mardi Gras themed licence plate!

Merchandise, snacks, and themed photo opportunities inside the Tribute Store can vary widely, so current details should be checked once Universal reveals the latest seasonal concept.

Universal Orlando Mardi Gras Scavenger Hunt

Universal has also experimented with Mardi Gras scavenger-hunt style activities in some seasons.

If a scavenger hunt or similar add-on returns in 2026, it should be confirmed through the official event guide rather than assumed.

Universal CityWalk

In some seasons, Universal extends parts of the Mardi Gras atmosphere beyond Universal Studios Florida into CityWalk, hotels, or other nearby areas of the resort.

CityWalk offerings and seasonal overlays can change from year to year, so it is best to confirm any current Mardi Gras venue changes once Universal publishes them.

Pat O'Brien's and other CityWalk venues may also add Mardi Gras-themed food, drinks, or entertainment during the season.

Additional CityWalk and resort food specials may appear during the event, but they are best checked once the current season is formally announced.