2026 Schedule

Step behind the sequins and into the magic.

At Mardi Gras World, the party never stops—it's just being built for next year. This isn't a museum of yesterday's parades; it's a living, breathing workshop where the spectacle of Mardi Gras comes to life 365 days a year.

It's a place where master artisans sculpt towering jesters, paint glittering dragons the size of buses, and weld the mechanical bones of floats that will soon roll through cheering crowds. The air smells of fresh paint and possibility. Glitter coats everything—and we mean everything.

Your hour-long journey begins with a film that unravels the mysteries of Mardi Gras traditions (why the colors? what's with the baby in the cake?), then launches into a guided expedition through cavernous warehouses stacked with fantastical creations. Peer up at three-story sculptures. Stand beside the very floats that celebrities and krewe royalty will ride. Touch the craftsmanship that transforms New Orleans every February.

And yes—you'll taste authentic Gambino's King Cake, the sweet, cinnamon-swirled crown jewel of Carnival season. One slice and you'll understand why locals count down the days until Twelfth Night.

Address: 1380 Port of New Orleans Place