Mardi Gras at Universal Orlando is the perfect addition to your visit to the Orlando theme park. With specialty food items and entertainment, including the Universal Mardi Gras parade, guests will find Mardi Gras at Universal Orlando to be a great time to visit.
I have been visiting Universal Orlando with my family of five since 2017 and one of our favorite times of year to visit is during the Mardi Gras event.
The event is held at Universal Studios Florida and is included in your general admission ticket. In the park you will find specialty food booths, live entertainment, a Mardi Gras Tribute Store, and the daily Mardi Gras parade.
I love the entire vibe of the event, it is awesome! It is definitely one of the can’t miss experiences at Universal Orlando.
Insider Tip: Purchase tickets before you arrive to get the best deal and save time!
Mardi Gras at Universal Orlando (Quick Take)
I have visited Universal Studios during Mardi Gras for many years and these are the things I never miss. It is all included in your regular admission ticket.
- Stay for the parade! I am not necessarily a big parade person but the Mardi Gras parade is so much fun. The floats are colorful and bright. Kids and adults love to catch beads and enjoy the ambiance. Guests can also be part of the parade and throw beads. I go into more details later in this post on how to do that.
- Walk-through the Mardi Gras Tribute Store. This has merchandise for the event and is really well themed.
- Try the specialty foods throughout the park. We always order the beignets and gumbo.
Before we get into all the things to see and do be sure you download the Universal Orlando app before your trip. This will allow you to mobile order, reserve a virtual queue for the float riding, and check ride wait times.
Mardi Gras 2026 details have not been announced yet but let’s take a look back at the fun from 2025.
Universal Orlando Mardi Gras 2026 Dates
2026 Mardi Gras dates have not been released yet. I will update when they do.
2025 Mardi Gras theme is International Flavors of Carnaval and will run February 1st- March 30th. Expect the biggest crowds during opening week as well as weekend dates throughout the event.
My Experience on the Parade at Universal Mardi Gras
On our last visit we had the opportunity to ride on a parade float and throw beads. It was so much fun and I would do it every night if we could.
The clouds were rolling over our heads and just as we the parade started, the rain started. It made for such a fun and unique experience. The parade will go in the rain so be prepared for all weather.
I loved the energy of it. It’s family friendly and all five of us had a blast throwing the beads at the crowds. It actually gets a bit chaotic and you want to throw beads at everyone you see.
They have endless amounts of beads on the floats and the experience goes really fast so you find yourself just throwing beads and hoping to get them to everyone you can.
Each Mardi Gras float is themed to something different but they are all gorgeous! The beads from each float are different colors too!
How to Ride the Mardi Gras Parade Float at Universal
If you want to be a Mardi Gras float rider you have a few options. There are free and paid opportunities. We secured a ride pass by using our annual pass to sign up early, these are free but sell out quickly. We have been lucky some years and not lucky other years.
Your second option is to join the virtual queue the day of your visit. We tried this 2 days in a row but were unsuccessful. These sell out quickly, we didn’t get them fast enough during our visit, but will try next time. Learn more here.
With a family of 5 it can be difficult to secure a day of spot. The five of us rode the float the first night but our second night 2 out of 5 of us got spots. It worked for us and was fun to see our family on the float and catch beads.
If you want to secure a spot before you arrive you can purchase a float and dine reservation. Prices start at $84.99+ a person. Learn more here.
Once you made a reservation you will receive an email with information about what to do next. We had to meet at the Animal Actor show to check-in, receive our float and vest, and meet with our float leader who offered furth instructions.
They will lead you backstage and no photo/video are allowed until the parade has started inside the park.
Where to Watch the Universal Mardi Gras Parade
The parade is the main event of the party and you will find crowds get busier as you get closer to the parade times. On our visit the parade was at 6:15pm but other dates had it as late as 7:30pm. Check the app or website for the latest times.
The parade route changes but it always starts near Cafe La Bamba either heads towards Transformers or down Hollywood Blvd.
If you want a good spot for the parade I suggest finding one around 30 minutes before. If you don’t need to be in the front row you can find a good spot 5 minutes before the parade.
Mardi Gras Food at Universal Studios
There are so many different specialty food items at the food booths for Mardi Gras at Universal. These are located at numerous booths throughout the park. For full menu check here.
We like to buy the beignets and the gumbo from the New Orleans booths.
Mardi Gras Food Card
One tip that I want you to know is to consider purchasing a Mardi Gras Food Card. The cards offer a discount, with options like paying $65 for a $75 card or $120 for a $150 card for annual passholders.
These cards can be used across the Universal Orlando Resort and they do not expire. We typically purchase 3-4 cards and use them for the entirety of our vacation. They are not only for the Mardi Gras booths.
If you are a frequent visitor you can purchase a few to use throughout the year. We purchase the $120.00 cards that gets us $150.00 worth of food. (The $120.00 cards are a passholder perk.)
We purchased a few cards in February and then used them at a NBC Sports Grill, a restaurant at CityWalk, during our April trip.
Keep in mind they can not be used with mobile ordering. In locations that have mobile ordering tell a server and you will order from the counter. It is very easy and we didn’t have an issue with it.
Mardi Gras Concerts at Universal Studios
Concerts are included with your admission ticket. If you are an annual pass holder be sure to check your blackout dates. Check back for the 2026 concert line up.
Mardi Gras Tribute Store
You also want to make sure you take time to explore the Mardi Gras Tribute Store. This is where you will find all the Mardi Gras merchandise but this is not a typical store.
This is immersive and themed. One year it was like stepping into the bayou and I was impressed. From the swamp like vibe to detailed elements throughout the store. Even if you don’t plan to purchase anything it is worth walking through.
Is It Worth Visiting Universal Orlando during Mardi Gras
Yes!!! Mardi Gras at Universal is totally worth visiting. It is included with your admission so it doesn’t feel like an extra added on cost and it truly enhances your visit. It has become one of our favorite events at Universal Studios.
We have visited so many years during the event and each year we find something different to love. This last visit was definitely being part of the parade. It was an experience we still talk about and would do it again!
It is a fun atmosphere and family friendly. We love visiting Universal during Mardi Gras and think it is one of the best times to visit.
If you are overwhelmed with planning or just want someone to make all the reservations for you consider using a travel agent. Our friend Nikki at Royal Treatment Travel is amazing and has helped us plan and book many of our trips. She finds the best deals and her service is complimentary for most theme park vacations! It is a win-win. Learn more here.
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Leah has been planning and writing about Universal trips since 2016. She loves finding the best places to eat and stay during her visits to the park. Leah enjoys the little details that make visiting the parks so immersive and special, and sharing that with her readers.
