Start the New Year in New Orleans
The holidays may be over but there’s still plenty of celebrating going on in the Crescent City, starting with the Allstate Sugar Bowl on New Year’s Day. Then Carnival season kicks off on January 6th (Twelfth Night) with king cake parties and parades. Resolve to make a trip down here this year! Here’s what else is happening this month:
Allstate Sugar Bowl
– January 1
The Caesars Superdome will be lit up with excitement for the 91st Annual Allstate Sugar Bowl. And did we mention there’s a parade?
Saints Game
– January 4
Come down to the French Quarter and watch the boys in black and gold take on the Dirty Birds (the Falcons) from your favorite bar or restaurant.
Pelicans Games
– January 2, 6, 13, 14, 17, 21 & 30
The Pels play six games at home in January. Come join the fun.
Noël Coward’s Blithe Spirit
– January 8-26
Life–and the afterlife–can get complicated. Get your seats now for this Noël Coward classic directed by Ricky Graham at Le Petit Theatre.
January Mardi Gras Parades
– January 6, 10, 24, 25, 30 & 31
There are 14 Mardi Gras parades in January this year, including four on Twelfth Night, January 6th, the first day of the Carnival Season. For a complete parade schedule, click below. Get ready to catch some beads!
See parade schedules and routes
Martin Luther King Day 2026
– January 19
Every year, the city honors Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legacy with days of service, a parade, and much more. The Ogden Museum of Southern Art usually offers free admission plus art, crafts, and music, and New Orleans City Park hosts an annual day of service.
Classes at the New Orleans School of Cooking
Experience what TripAdvisor readers named the #2 Food Experience in the World! Sign up for a hands-on class, demo classes, and lab classes.
Liverpool Legends (The Complete Beatles Experience)
– January 24
Get back to the Jefferson Performing Arts Center to see the Grammy-nominated and internationally acclaimed Liverpool Legends.
Order a Fresh King Cake from New Orleans!