Hey Thrill Seekers,
Are you heading to Orlando in 2026??? Yes? Well are you there between February 7th through April 4th, 2026? You are!!! Well aren’t you lucky little bead catchers cos you’re heading to Orlando at exactly the right time. Universal Orlando will be throwing their famous celebration of fun and flavours of the Big Easy’s and you’re invited.
What do I need to know?
- At Universal Mardi Gras: International Flavors of Carnaval, you’ll experience an outrageous and colourful parade, enjoy live entertainment and concerts, indulge in food and drinks from around the world, and catch a whole lot of beads.
- This year, Universal Mardi Gras will run from February 7 to April 4. This event is included with your Universal theme park ticket with no extra cost to experience all the fun.
- Authenticity is the name of the game, as Universal’s event stays true to the traditional roots of the New Orleans street party so many know and love. However, there are a few unique Universal twists too.
Who’s playing and when?
The concerts are one of the big draws for Universal’s Mardi Gras with an eclectic mix of genres and artists. This year is no exception.
| DATE | HEADLINER |
| February 7 | Kaskade |
| February 14 | Portugal. The Man |
| February 15 | Ivy Queen |
| February 21 | Joey Fatone & AJ McLean |
| February 28 | RuPaul (DJ SET) |
| March 7 | Shaggy |
| March 13 | Tyler Hubbard |
| March 14 | Bebe Rexha |
| March 15 | Zedd |
| March 21 | Barenaked Ladies |
| March 28 | The All-American Rejects |
Arrive early cos these events can get super busy.
Beads, how do I get beads!!!?
Just like New Orleans’ famed Mardi Gras parade, Universal have a spectacular parade that hits the streets of Universal Studios in the evening, with colourful parade floats, even more colourful performers (one word — GLITTER!), and of course, beads!
Universal’s parade floats are designed and built in partnership with Kern Studios, the same team that creates the parade floats up in New Orleans. Every year, there’s a new theme developed for the floats along with the iconic floats, like King Gator. Each one has a unique costume designed for the bead throwers and a batch of beads coloured to match the look and feel of the float.
You have two ways to experience the parade: 1) as a Bead Catcher and 2) as a Bead Thrower. Both are equally as fun as the other and depend on what you would like to do for the night. Being a Bead Catcher allows you more time to enjoy the French Quarter Courtyard and rides in the park, while also being able to grab a good spot for the concert.
Will you be visiting Universal’s Mardi Gras in 2026 and which band are you most looking forward to seeing?
Smiles included…
Jamie
