Fat Tuesday, also widely known as Mardi Gras, falls on Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026, marking the culmination of the Carnival season and the final day of indulgence before the solemn 40-day period of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 18.
The date shifts annually because it is tied to the movable feast of Easter, calculated as the first Sunday after the first full moon following the spring equinox. In 2026, Easter Sunday lands on April 5, placing Ash Wednesday exactly 46 days earlier and Fat Tuesday the day before that. This year’s celebration coincides with Lunar New Year on Feb. 17, creating an unusual overlap of major cultural and religious observances.
Fat Tuesday derives its name from the French “Mardi Gras,” literally “Fat Tuesday,” referring to the tradition of consuming rich, fatty foods — especially those containing meat, dairy and eggs — before the Lenten fast that prohibits such items for many Christians. The day is also called Shrove Tuesday in some traditions, from the old English practice of being “shriven” or confessed before Lent, and Pancake Tuesday in parts of the United Kingdom and
Commonwealth nations, where people traditionally eat pancakes to use up rich ingredients.
The roots of Fat Tuesday trace back to pre-Christian spring festivals that celebrated fertility and renewal, later incorporated into Christian observances. By the Middle Ages, the custom had evolved into a day of feasting and revelry across Europe to clear pantries of forbidden foods ahead of Lent’s austerity. French colonists brought the tradition to the Americas in the 17th and 18th centuries, where it flourished particularly in New Orleans.
In the United States, Mardi Gras is synonymous with New Orleans, where Carnival season officially begins on Epiphany, or King’s Day, on Jan. 6 — the date the Magi visited the infant Jesus. The 2026 season runs from Jan. 6 to Feb. 17, featuring hundreds of parades organized by krewes (social clubs), elaborate floats, marching bands, throws of beads, doubloons, cups and MoonPies, and masked balls.
Major 2026 parades in New Orleans include longstanding favorites like Endymion on Feb. 14 (Saturday before Fat Tuesday), Bacchus on Feb. 15 and Zulu and Rex on Fat Tuesday itself. Zulu, founded in 1909 as one of the first Black krewes, features signature coconut throws and a unique satirical style, while Rex, the “King of Carnival,” dates to 1872 and represents the pinnacle of old-line Mardi Gras tradition.
Beyond New Orleans, Fat Tuesday celebrations thrive in other Gulf Coast cities. Mobile, Alabama — often called the birthplace of American Mardi Gras, with roots in 1703 — hosts over 40 parades from late January through Feb. 17, 2026, including the Order of Athena, Knights of Revelry and Comic Cowboys. Galveston, Texas, runs events from Feb. 6-17, featuring block parties and themed parades. Lafayette and Baton Rouge in Louisiana also feature vibrant community parades and king cake parties.
King cake, a cinnamon-swirled pastry decorated in purple, green and gold — the official Mardi Gras colors symbolizing justice, faith and power — is a staple of the season. A small plastic baby figurine is baked inside, and whoever finds it in their slice hosts the next party or provides the next cake.
Globally, Fat Tuesday takes different forms. In Brazil, it aligns with Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, featuring samba parades and street parties. In Germany, it’s Fasching or Karneval, with costume balls. In Poland, the related “Fat Thursday” (Tłusty Czwartek) features pączki (filled doughnuts) a week earlier. In Sweden and Finland, semla buns mark the day.
For many Christians, particularly Catholics, Orthodox and some Protestants, Fat Tuesday represents a final opportunity for merrymaking before Lent’s focus on prayer, fasting and almsgiving. The Lenten fast traditionally involves abstaining from meat on Fridays and limiting indulgences, though practices vary by denomination and individual.
In 2026, the holiday arrives amid typical winter weather challenges in the South, but forecasts suggest mild conditions for parades. Public health officials continue to emphasize crowd safety, hydration and responsible celebration following lessons from past years.
Fat Tuesday’s cultural significance extends beyond religion. It serves as a communal release valve, a celebration of excess in a society often marked by restraint, and a showcase of local heritage through music, food and pageantry. New Orleans’ economy benefits enormously, with millions of visitors boosting tourism revenue during the season.
As Feb. 17 approaches, preparations are in full swing. Krewe members finalize costumes, float builders add finishing touches, and bakeries produce thousands of king cakes.
Whether in the streets of New Orleans, Mobile or quieter observances at home with pancakes and family, Fat Tuesday 2026 invites people to feast, forgive and prepare for reflection.
The day reminds observers that joy and discipline coexist in faith and culture. After the last bead is caught and the final float rolls by, Ash Wednesday dawns with the sign of the cross in ashes and the words, “Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”
