August 17, 2026
September 3–6, 2026 | New Orleans Yoga Festival
Step into the soulful energy of New Orleans at the New Orleans Yoga Festival, a four-day immersion into music, movement, mindfulness, and, yes, yoga. This vibrant celebration brings together teachers, students, and wellness practitioners from across the United States for a transformative weekend. Centered at Hotel Peter and Paul, the festival offers a dynamic experience rooted in connection, creativity, and community. Expect a weekend filled with all-levels yoga classes across a variety of styles, hands-on workshops and wellness experiences, guided meditation and mindfulness practices, sound-healing sessions, and much more. https://nolayogafest.com/
September 3–7 | Southern Decadence
Southern Decadence 2026 spans five days over Labor Day weekend, featuring block parties, drag shows, dance events, and music throughout the French Quarter and surrounding areas of New Orleans. The Grand Marshal Parade, the centerpiece of the festival, steps off on September 6 at 2:00 p.m. from the Golden Lantern and winds through the French Quarter, with the heart of the action along Bourbon and St. Ann Streets. www.ambushmg.com
September 13 | Sunday on the Point
Founded in Algiers, the Krewe of ALLA—for “ALgiers, LouisianA”—has deep roots on the West Bank and is best known for hosting the Krewe of ALLA parade, the headliner parade in New Orleans on the Wednesday preceding Mardi Gras. With Sunday on the Point, the organization returns to its origins, creating a signature community event along the Mississippi River. Scheduled for September 13 from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and aligned with an away game of the New Orleans Saints, this inaugural event will take place in historic Algiers Point, adjacent to the Algiers Ferry Terminal. Attendees can expect a festive, family-friendly atmosphere featuring a large outdoor screen broadcasting the Saints game, along with a curated marketplace of local vendors showcasing small businesses offering food, beverages, and arts and crafts. With sweeping views of the Mississippi and the French Quarter skyline, Sunday on the Point offers a uniquely New Orleans setting for game day.
https://kreweofalla.net/sunday-on-the-point.html
September 21–27 | New Orleans Cocktail Week
The 4th annual New Orleans Cocktail Week is September 21 to 27. Passes are on sale now for $15. Many of the top bars and restaurants participate in this amazing event. The New Orleans Cocktail Week pass entitles guests to reduced prices on signature cocktails at more than a dozen bars and restaurants and, at select locations, additional cocktail and entrée/small-appetizer pairings for a fixed price. https://neworleanscocktailweek.com/2026-new-orleans-cocktail-week-passes/
September 24–27 | International Arts Festival
International Arts Festival is a global cultural experience rooted in the African diaspora, bringing international music, culture, and business/community exchange together in New Orleans. The International Arts Foundation exists to create, utilize, and maintain cultural bridges, helping people better understand culture, history, and opportunity through hands-on experiences and global connections. Discover the International Arts Festival at the Public Market at South Shore Harbor—an open-air waterfront venue on Lake Pontchartrain in New Orleans East. Set against marina views and lake breezes, the market transforms into a vibrant gathering space for art, culture, food, and community, with plenty of room to explore, connect, and celebrate local creativity. https://www.internationalartsfest.com/
September 24–October 4 | NOLAxNOLA (NOLA by NOLA)
NOLAxNOLA is an unforgettable celebration of live music and entertainment spanning two weekends every fall. Taking place in dozens of music venues across the city and featuring a diverse lineup of local and national artists, NOLAxNOLA gives music enthusiasts options to experience transformative performances in nearly every genre, every neighborhood, on every night of the 11-day festival. https://www.neworleans.com/nolaxnola/
September 25–26 | BlackAmericana Fest
BlackAmericana Fest is a vibrant, two-day celebration spotlighting Black artists in Americana, Country, and Folk music. Open to all ages, the festival blends powerful live performances, inspiring panels, interactive art, and family-friendly activities to honor and reimagine traditional American genres through a fresh and inclusive lens. The festival will be held at The Broadside (600 North Broad Street). https://www.blackamericanafest.com/
October 2–4 | National Fried Chicken Festival
Founded in 2016 in New Orleans, the National Fried Chicken Festival, presented by Raising Cane’s, was built on a simple but powerful idea: bringing people together through a shared love of food, music, and culture. The festival’s 10th-anniversary edition will be bigger, bolder, and more flavorful than ever, with a top-tier music lineup to match. Guests can expect everything they’ve come to know and love: crave-worthy creations from award-winning chefs and top restaurants, nonstop entertainment across multiple stages, luxurious VIP experiences, immersive sponsor activations, and fun for the whole family—plus some brand-new surprises in this milestone year. https://www.friedchickenfestival.com
October 3 | Art for Art’s Sake
Art for Art’s sake happens in two areas of the city. Presented by the Magazine Street Merchants Association, Art for Art’s Sake is back for its annual showcase of art, food, music, and fun on Magazine Street. With more than 100 shops, stores, restaurants and galleries participating along the six-mile stretch, Art for Art’s Sake is expected to bring out hundreds of shoppers on October 3. Also, the galleries on Julia Street along with the Contemporary Arts Center (CAC) celebrate Art for Art’s Sake downtown. This annual rite of fall was created by the CAC in 1980 and has been presented with the Arts District of New Orleans for more than three decades. It has become one of the hottest events of the year for art lovers.
October 9–11 | Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival
The Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival, presented by the Jazz & Heritage Foundation, will feature two music stages with live blues and jazz performances from artists like Samantha Fish, Booker T. Jones, and Little Freddie King. There will also be a local art market and some of the best BBQ vendors in the Big Easy. Since New Orleans’s BBQ scene has grown so much since this festival began in 2006, the festival will showcase regional styles of barbecue with an emphasis on Louisiana. The annual festival takes place at Lafayette Square Park, which is bordered by Poydras Street and St. Charles Avenue, across from the historical Gallier Hall, the former City Hall and another great site for music throughout the years. https://www.jazzandheritage.org/events/2026-crescent-city-blues-bbq-festival
October 9—11 | Gentilly Fest
Gentilly Fest celebrates the culture of the neighborhood. With a mission to highlight the local music and arts and strengthen community bonds, the festival aims to foster local economic growth and promote new businesses. The festival features continuous live music on three stages, sumptuous food from a variety of local restaurants and caterers, and fine arts and crafts for sale from many local vendors. https://www.gentillyfestival.com
October 9–24 | Oktoberfest
Step into the Deutsch world at the Deutsches Haus’s annual Oktoberfest. This festival features all things German: brats, sauerkraut, pretzels, strudel, and, of course, beer! In fact, festivalgoers have almost 30 beer options—both local and German—as well as various wines and more than 20 different schnapps. If you’re looking to fuel your competitive spirit, enter the 5K race from the Fairgrounds to the festival on October 18. Or get in on the German fun by participating in the Masskrugstemmen, or steinholding, an event in which participants compete to see who can hold a full beer stein in one hand with arm extended for the longest time. Oktoberfest takes place October 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, and 24. It takes place from 4:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. on Fridays and 1:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. on Saturdays. https://deutscheshaus.org/oktoberfest/
October 16–18 | Praise Fest
Praise Fest is a three-day outdoor event that is free to all and takes place every October on Bayou St. John. It attracts local as well as national gospel artists and world-renowned speakers. The ultimate goal is to bring different cultures as well as families, churches, community leaders, etc., together to praise Jesus in unity. https://www.praisefestnola.com/
October 22–27 | New Orleans Film Festival
The 37th Annual New Orleans Film Festival (NOFF), presented by Andscape and organized by the New Orleans Film Society, is a renowned celebration of independent filmmaking that champions diverse voices and groundbreaking stories. As an Academy Award®–qualifying festival in the Documentary Short, Narrative Short, and Animated Short categories, NOFF serves as a vital platform for emerging and established filmmakers. NOFF annually brings together 150-plus films and hosts 100-plus filmmakers from New Orleans, the greater South, and beyond. https://neworleansfilmsociety.org/
October 24 | Krewe of Boo!
The Krewe of Boo! parade will take place in the French Quarter starting at 6:00 p.m. Founded in 2007, the first Krewe of BOO! parade rolled the following year as a fundraiser for Hurricane Katrina relief. It was a success, and after several years passed with no Halloween parade, New Orleanians felt the absence of this event. Therefore it was brought back from the dead by popular demand in 2013. Today the parade boasts 450 riders, 15 floats, and 35 marching bands and dance krewes. Krewe of BOO! has grown from a single parade into a weekend full of events. https://www.kreweofboo.com/
October 31 | Voodoo Fest, Celebrate New Orleans Voodoo
Voodoo came to New Orleans in the early 1700s through slaves brought from West Africa. It then infused the city’s dominant religion, Catholicism, becoming a voodoo-Catholicism hybrid sometimes referred to as New Orleans voodoo. Every year, locals and tourists alike enjoy going to the Voodoo Authentica of New Orleans Cultural Center and Collection’s free annual VoodooFest, held every Halloween (October 31) from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. In 2021, the festival will celebrate its 23rd year of sharing voodoo’s many invaluable contributions to our city’s unique historic and present culture. Through entertaining musical presentations and educational lectures by local favorites, the festival endeavors to shed light on this widely misunderstood religion. Bring your drum, rattle, or clapping hands, and don’t miss the festival’s closing Ancestral Healing Ritual at 7:00 p.m.!
October 31–November 1 | NOLA Zydeco Fest
NOLA Zydeco Fest is an annual event that bridges the flavors of southwest and southeast Louisiana culture. This festival is a vibrant of Creole music, culture, food, and dance—this year taking place on the bayou at Heritage Park in Slidell. This one-of-a-kind event brings together legendary zydeco performers, cultural heritage experiences, and authentic Louisiana vibes for all ages. https://nolazydecofest.com/
October 30–November 1 | Halloween New Orleans
Halloween New Orleans will take place October 30 to November 1. The theme will be “Vice & Virtue.” Enjoy three amazing events packed full of unforgettable experiences and endless possibilities. All proceeds go to Lazarus House. Halloween New Orleans is one of the most celebrated LGBTQ+ party weekends of the year while also being one of the longest-running and most respected fundraising events in the country. halloweenneworleans.com/
November 7 | Beignet Fest
The city’s favored French treat is celebrated at the Beignet Festival at City Park Festival Grounds. Come hungry and feast on delicious, decadent delicacies from traditional sweet treats covered in powdered sugar to savory options bursting with seafood, cheese, and more from some of the city’s best restaurants, caterers, and food trucks. Profits from the Beignet Festival will benefit the Beignet Fest Foundation, whose mission is to celebrate and improve the lives of children with developmental delays and disabilities. The event also includes live, local music performances, Kids Village, Artist Market, and Beer Garden. beignetfest.com
November 8 | Oak Street Po-boy Festival
The 18th Annual Oak Street Po-boy Festival returns on November 8 from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.. Catch the game on-site and pack an appetite for over 100 interpretations of the po-boy! Get ready for multiple live music stages, sponsored activities, a VIP area, Kids Zone, Art Market, and a day of history panels. The festival is free, but a wristband is required to purchase a po-boy. https://www.poboyfest.com/
November 13–15 | Luna Fête
Luna Fête is a visionary initiative by Arts New Orleans that demonstrates the power of art to transform communities. This free public festival of light, art, and technology celebrates New Orleans’s creative industries, offering a memorable experience for diverse audiences. Luna Fête’s 12th edition will span from Gallier Hall to the Piazza d’Italia, transforming downtown New Orleans into a playground of illumination via LED lights, lasers, and projected artworks. https://www.lunafete.org/
November 14–15 | Tremé Creole Gumbo Festival
The Tremé Creole Gumbo Festival is a vibrant celebration held annually in New Orleans, showcasing the culinary and cultural heritage of the Tremé neighborhood live at Louis Armstrong Park. Renowned for its diverse gumbo offerings, the festival presents a feast for the senses, with local chefs dishing out their unique interpretations of this beloved culinary staple. Alongside the food, festival goers can enjoy live music performances reflecting Tremé’s deep-rooted musical legacy, from jazz and blues to brass bands. The festival also features local artisans, crafts, and activities for the little fest goers. https://www.jazzandheritage.org/events/2026-treme-creole-gumbo-festival/
November 28 | Bayou Classic
The Bayou Classic is more than a football game—it’s a cultural tradition that brings together fans, alumni, and families for a weekend of spirited rivalry and celebration each November in New Orleans. At its heart is the historic gridiron showdown between Grambling State University and Southern University, two powerhouse institutions of higher learning and athletics. While football takes center stage, the Bayou Classic is just as famous for its surrounding traditions. The most celebrated of these is the Battle of the Bands, featuring Grambling’s “World Famed” Tiger Marching Band and Southern’s “Human Jukebox.” On the Friday night before the game, the bands face off in a dazzling showcase of sound, precision, and pageantry—an event so popular that many consider it as much a highlight as the game itself. From the football field to the bandstands, the Bayou Classic represents excellence, tradition, and community pride, carrying forward a legacy that unites generations of fans while showcasing the best of HBCU culture to a national audience. http://thebayouclassic.com
