New Orleans (March 16, 2026) —  French Quarter Festivals, Inc. (FQFI) is pulling out all the stops for French Quarter Festival 2026, April 16-19, delivering four days of world-class local music, iconic New Orleans cuisine and the community spirit that makes this city unlike anywhere else on earth. With 302 performances and 45 debuts across 20 stages and the official parade, Grammy Award-winning headliners, a brand-new riverfront experience, over 70 local culinary vendors and the French Quarter Festival 5K Run presented by LCMC Health, this year’s festival is the biggest and boldest yet.

Grammy Award-winning New Orleans native PJ Morton headlines the Abita Beer Stage on Berger Great Lawn, while the festival debuts an expansive new riverfront experience at Goldring Woldenberg Riverfront Park at Governor Nicholls Wharf, giving attendees even more green space to enjoy live music along the Mississippi River.

“French Quarter Festival 2026 is an exciting year for us,” said Emily Madero, president and CEO of FQFI. “With PJ Morton coming back after 12 years, the debut of the Governor Nicholls Wharf Park and hundreds of local artists and chefs taking center stage. This year’s festival is bolder and more unmistakably New Orleans than ever. We can’t wait to welcome locals and visitors to the Quarter.”

The beloved After Dark concert series returns this year, and the French Quarter Fest app has been updated to help attendees plan their perfect weekend. The latest version, now available for download on both Android and iPhone, makes it easier than ever to navigate stages, explore food options and build a personal schedule.

Kicking off the four-day celebration, fans are invited to join festival organizers, sponsors and partners for the Annual French Quarter Festival Kickoff Parade on Thursday, April 16, at 10 a.m  featuring the Paulin Brothers Brass Band, New Wave Brass Band and more. The parade departs from the 200 block of Bourbon Street and winds through the French Quarter to Jackson Square for the opening ceremony at the NewOrleans.com Stage.

Returning in 2026, the French Quarter Festival 5K Race presented by LCMC Health takes place April 18 at 8 a.m., inviting runners and walkers to experience the riverfront in a whole new way. While FQFI has hosted runs in the past, the 5K makes its long-awaited return after an extended hiatus, offering a fresh opportunity for the community to engage with the festival beyond the music stages. Participants receive an official commemorative race shirt, a $10 RFID festival card and early access to festival grounds. Registration prices increase March 28. Register at runsignup.com/fqf5k.

HUNDREDS OF LOCAL PERFORMANCES ACROSS 20 STAGES

This year’s 100% local music lineup spans traditional jazz, brass band, funk, R&B, Latin, Zydeco and more, with something for every festivalgoer. Updated stage locations and expanded opening day programming mean more music than ever before.

A standout for 2026, the Willow Dispensary Stage shines with high-energy sets throughout the four day weekend. Debut artists include T’Monde, B. Cam & The Zydeco Young Bucks, and Yvette Landry & the Jukes, alongside returning favorites such as Brass-A-Holics, Sweet Crude and Amanda Shaw. The stage will also host daily dance lessons, inviting festivalgoers to learn new moves while soaking in the music.

A major highlight of this year’s expanded footprint is Goldring Woldenberg Riverfront Park at Governor Nicholls Wharf, where both the Pan-American Life Insurance Group Stage and the Jack Daniel’s Stage will anchor a vibrant new riverfront experience. The Jack Daniel’s stage shines with performances by Irma Thomas,  Bobby Rush, Big Freedia and Cupid and the Dance Party Express. The Pan-American Life Insurance Group Stage features Bill Summers & Jazalsa, and will also showcase exciting debuts by Leyla McCalla as well as Stanton Moore. 

The Abita Beer Stage at Berger Great Lawn, brings some of the weekend’s biggest names, including Grammy Award-winner PJ Morton, Dawn Richard, The Soul Rebels, Kermit Ruffins & the Barbecue Swingers, George Porter Jr. & Runnin’ Pardners and Irvin Mayfield, among many others.

In the heart of the French Quarter, the NewOrleans.com Stage powered by New Orleans & Company in Jackson Square opens Thursday following the festival’s opening ceremony and runs throughout the weekend, featuring New Orleans favorites Robin Barnes & The Fiya Birds, Charmaine Neville, and Delfeayo Marsalis & the Uptown Jazz Orchestra. 

The New Orleans Jazz Museum will host one stage Friday through Sunday due to ongoing construction, with free admission during the festival. Inside on the third floor, the Entergy Songwriter Stage spotlights debut performances from Lisbon Girls, Kyle Alexander and Cristina Kaminis. Outside on Esplanade Street, the Loyola Esplanade in the Shade Stage showcases more than a dozen brass bands, the debut of Casme and four sets from Loyola student performers, including the Loyola University Commercial Ensemble.

The festival brings music and dancing to the French Quarter neighborhood with the return of the French Market Traditional Jazz Stage, which also features free dance lessons, and the French Market Dutch Alley Stage, both located in the French Market District. Additional stages return Saturday and Sunday on Royal and Bourbon streets, including the Café Beignet Stage at Musical Legends Park, Jazz Playhouse at the Royal Sonesta New Orleans, the Omni Royal Orleans Stage and Hancock Whitney Stage. 

Rounding out the lineup, KREWE Eyewear returns as the official eyewear of French Quarter festival, with its stage at 600 Royal Street welcoming back Capivaras Jazz Quartet, The New Orleans Jazz Vipers and Seva Venet’s Traditional Lineup. Free dance lessons, sponsored by the French Market Corporation, take place throughout the weekend at both the Willow Dispensary Stage and the French Market Traditional Jazz Stage. 

The complete music schedule is now available at frenchquarterfest.org/music.

275+ CULINARY EXPERIENCES SHOWCASING THE BEST OF NEW ORLEANS FLAVOR

Few festivals can match French Quarter Fest when it comes to food, and 2026 is no exception. More than 70 local culinary vendors serve up over 275 dishes celebrating the city’s diverse and deeply rooted food culture, from longtime festival staples to exciting new arrivals.

Signature offerings include Loretta’s Pralines Crabmeat Beignets, 14 Parishes Jamaican Patty and Creole Country Cafe’s Seafood Pasta, a shrimp and crawfish dish in a parmesan garlic cream sauce. New this year, Spicy Mango joins the lineup serving an oxtail melt, while local favorite Willie Mae’s debuts their famous fried chicken. Chicken’s Kitchen also debuts at the festival, joining returning favorites Fritai, Addis NOLA, Monday and TJ Gourmet.

At the Mike’s Amazing Culinary Stage in Woldenberg Riverfront Park on the Kohlmeyer Lawn, renowned Chef Kevin Belton hosts four days of exclusive one-on-one interviews with iconic local chefs and culinary personalities. Social media influencer Lavelle Dunn takes the stage Saturday, April 18, for a special “happy hour” segment highlighting festival dishes and beverages. The Mike’s Amazing Airstream Cafe, located in the Jax Brewery Lot, serves a curated Cuban-Creole menu throughout the weekend, and 100 percent of proceeds from all Airstream sales go directly to FQFI to support festival programming.

On the beverage side, Abita Beer returns as a major festival sponsor alongside the debut of Upbeat Vodka, a new spirit from Abita making its French Quarter Fest premiere. Festival beverage booths serve cocktails featuring Jack Daniel’s, Fords Gin, Diplomatico Rum, el Jimador Tequila and Korbel California Champagne, with wines from Caymus Vineyards, Emmolo and Sea Sun, plus White Claw Vodka. Non-alcoholic options include Pepsi products, Gatorade and Aquafina water throughout the grounds.

LCMC Health’s Keeping You Well program helps festivalgoers feel their best all weekend long. Look for the LCMC Health heart logo on select menu items throughout the festival for lighter options still packed with New Orleans flavor, and stay hydrated with water available at official festival beverage booths all weekend long.

A complete list of confirmed culinary vendors is available at frenchquarterfest.org/food.

ELEVATED FESTIVAL EXPERIENCE

FQFI is committed to keeping the festival free and open to the public. Super fans can purchase VIP packages to support the organization’s mission while gaining access to exclusive VIP experiences. The Fest Family VIP Plus grants prime viewing spots for an up-close and personal musical experience at four front-of-stage locations.

Fest Family VIP members also enjoy private bars with three complimentary drinks per day at four different VIP locations (and the option to redeem at all festival beverage locations), air-conditioned restrooms, exclusive perks, and more. VIPs can add the convenience of a 4-Day Parking Pass, ensuring that arrival is seamless and stress-free. This year, the program will offer four-day weekend passes for $469 or single-day passes for $169. A limited number of passes are available and help to fund the free, local event. Fans can join and support the fest by purchasing passes today at frenchquarterfest.org/fest-family.

OFFICIAL 2026 POSTER AND FESTIVAL MERCH

 

French Quarter Festivals, Inc. is proud to spotlight local artist Anne Lipscomb as the official 2026 French Quarter Fest poster artist, while also unveiling the full 2026 merchandise collection, now available for purchase. A multidisciplinary artist working in digital illustration, watercolor, and pencil, Lipscomb blends storytelling, sense of place, and contemporary design. The 2026 commemorative poster is best described as New Orleans Modern Art Nouveau, drawing inspiration from classic art nouveau forms and movement, reimagined through a distinctly local lens. Bold, rhythmic and celebratory, the design captures the energy, culture, and spirit that define both the festival and the city.

“This piece is a love letter to the rhythm of New Orleans and the community that makes French Quarter Fest so special,” said Lipscomb. “I wanted it to feel vibrant, alive, and unmistakably rooted in place.” The official poster anchors this year’s expanded merchandise line, featured on commemorative prints, festival T-shirts, and additional 2026 apparel and accessories. Posters are priced at $35, with commemorative poster T-shirts available for $33. Fans can shop presale items now at shop.fqfi.org and secure a piece of the 2026 French Quarter Fest collection. Shop full 2026 merch lineup at shop.fqfi.org.

FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS AND SPECIAL EVENTS

  • FRENCH QUARTER FESTIVAL 5K Run presented by LCMC Health | Saturday, April 18; 8am
    Kick off festival weekend with the French Quarter Festival 5K Run presented by LCMC Health. The scenic route offers participants a unique way to experience the festival before the grounds open. Runners receive official race gear and post-race access to festival festivities. Registration and additional race details are available at runsignup.com/fqf5k.
  • FRENCH QUARTER FESTIVAL KICKOFF PARADE | Thursday, April 16; 10am
    The parade departs from the 200 block of Bourbon Street and proceeds through the French Quarter to Jackson Square, where the Opening Ceremony will take place.
  • FREE DANCE LESSONS PRESENTED BY FRENCH MARKET CORPORATION | April 16-19 at various times
    Festivalgoers can learn classic dance styles throughout the weekend with free dance lessons sponsored by the French Market Corporation. Lessons will take place at both the French Market Traditional Jazz Stage and the Willow Dispensary Stage.
     
  • FRENCH QUARTER FESTIVAL AFTER DARK | Friday, Apr 17 | 9:00 PM – 10:30 PM (doors open at 8pm)
    When the festival stages close, music continues with the return of the FQF After Dark series. Now in its fourth year, the late-night lineup features exclusive performances at some of New Orleans’s most iconic venues, giving fans another opportunity to catch their favorite artists in an intimate setting. Full details and ticket information can be found at frenchquarterfest.org/special-events.
    Friday, Apr 17 | 9:00 PM – 10:30 PM (doors at 8pm)
    Big Sam’s Funky Nation
    Good Measure, 600 Carondelet St.
    Purchase tickets here. 
     
  • THE FIRST PIANO PROFESSORS: NEW ORLEANS JAZZ MUSEUM EXHIBIT OPENING | Thursday, April 16; 6pm-8pm
    The First Piano Professors and Lost Music of Early New Orleans, opening at The New Orleans Jazz Museum documents the first generation of “piano professors” before the jazz and rhythm & blues legends who came in their wake, including Jelly Roll Morton, James Booker, and Fats Domino. The exhibition limns the lively world of musicians, publishers and engravers instrumental in shaping New Orleans in the early 1800s and presents the lost music of the pre-recording era from artists Basile Barès, Edmond Dédé, William T. Francis, Louis Moreau Gottschalk, Theodore von La Hache, the Lambert Family, and Maurice Strakosch among others.
     
  • STORIES BEHIND THE SOUNDS: CELEBRATE MUSIC HISTORY AT HNOC | April 16 & 18 at various times
    Visit the Historic New Orleans Collection to revel in the sounds that changed the world through an eclectic mix of discussions, performances, and films. From the deep connections between Cuba and New Orleans to the groundbreaking studio sessions that launched rock & roll, HNOC explores our famous musical heritage during French Quarter Fest.
     
  • CASHLESS FESTIVAL: French Quarter Festival will remain completely cashless in 2026
    All food, beverage, and merchandise booths will accept major credit cards and digital payments, including Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay, making transactions faster, safer, and more convenient for everyone.For guests who do not have access to cashless payment methods, FQFI will provide an on-site cash exchange station located in the heart of the festival footprint at Jax Lot, 500 Decatur Street, where cash can be converted to a prepaid card for use throughout the event
     
  • VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES: Volunteer registration is now open. Volunteers play a vital role in the festival’s success and receive exclusive benefits, including a collectible festival t-shirt, beverage tickets, entries into a festival merchandise raffle, and more. For additional details or to apply, visit frenchquarterfest.org/volunteers.

 

SPONSORS AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT MAKE THE FESTIVAL POSSIBLE

French Quarter Festivals, Inc. is proud of its 42-year history of delivering world-class community events that celebrate the best of New Orleans for locals and visitors alike.To support long-term sustainability, FQFI is launching its first full-scale grassroots fundraising effort during the festival. Admission remains free, and attendees are invited to give as they are able. A suggested donation of $5 for Fest will help maintain the volume and quality of cultural experiences the community relies on. Rising production and security costs, reduced public funding, and growing community need make new funding approaches essential. Contributions will directly fund paid performance opportunities for approximately 1,800 local musicians while keeping the festival accessible to all.

Donations can be made online or in person throughout the festival weekend. Attendees can scan the $5 for Fest QR code or connect with Donation Team members at major sites. Additional ways to give include tipping at official beverage booths and opting into a round-up contribution at points of sale. Every dollar supports local musicians, strengthens cultural traditions, and helps ensure inclusive programming remains a shared community experience for generations to come.

French Quarter Fest Sponsors Include:
Abita Brewing Company, Aetna Better Health of Louisiana, Airbnb, Baker Donelson, The Barnett, The Bec-Croche Giving Fund, Beignet Fest Foundation, The Berger Company, Blue Bikes, Brown-Forman, Café Beignet, Capital Vacations, Caymus Vineyards, Chevron, Collins C. Diboll Private Foundation, DECOY, Delta Utilities, The Derbes Foundation, Diplomatico Rum, el Jimador Tequila, Emmolo, Entergy, Fidelity Bank, Fords Gin, French Market Corporation, Friend Of Fest, Funny Bird, Hancock Whitney, The Helis Foundation, Historic New Orleans Collection, House Of Blues, Hornbeck Offshore, I.T.S Fire Alarm Security, Jack Daniel’s, Keep Louisiana Beautiful, KREWE,The Law Office of John W. Redmann, LLC, LCMC Health, Louisiana Fish Fry, Louisiana Lottery Corporation, Louisiana Office of Tourism, Loyola University, Luzianne Iced Tea, McLoughlin Family Foundation, Mike’s Amazing, The MISI, Music Performance Trust Fund & American Federation of Musicians Local 174-496, New Orleans & Company, New Orleans Jazz Museum, New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park Service, New Orleans School of Cooking, New Orleans Steamboat Company, New Orleans Tourism And Cultural Foundation (NOTCF), NOLA.com, Omni Royal Orleans, Pan-American Life Insurance Group, Park First, Pepsi, The Plant Gallery, Port of New Orleans & New Orleans Public Belt, The Reeves Family, RosaMary Foundation, Royal Sonesta New Orleans, Sal Borelli, Sea Sun Wines, Tropical Isle, Upbeat Vodka & Upbeat Vodka Cocktails, The Westin New Orleans, Willow Pharmacy, The Windsor Court, Woody and Kathy Jay,  WWL-Louisiana, and YPO.

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About French Quarter Festivals, Inc.

French Quarter Festival is produced by French Quarter Festivals, Inc. (FQFI), the 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, which also produces Satchmo SummerFest presented by New Orleans Tourism and Cultural Fund in August and Holidays New Orleans Style Concert Series in December.

FQFI’s mission is to promote the Vieux Carré and the City of New Orleans through high-quality special events and activities that showcase the culture and heritage of this unique city, contribute to the economic well-being of the community, and instill increased pride in the people of New Orleans. For more information about French Quarter Festivals, Inc. or any of these events, call (504) 522-5730 or visit www.fqfi.org.