Overview
When it comes to public safety, New Orleans & Company’s top priority is the well-being of all those who live and work here, as well as visitors to our great city. New Orleans successfully hosts some of the most iconic and complex events on the planet, from Mardi Gras to major sporting and cultural events to hundreds of meeting and convention groups arriving throughout the year. By the end of 2025, New Orleans reached its lowest homicide levels since the 1970s.
Mardi Gras 2026 Recap
Mardi Gras 2026 was a resounding success, marked by huge joyful crowds; beautiful weather; and strong regional visitation as well as guests from around the nation and the world. We delivered a safe and secure environment thanks to the great work of our sanitation workers, local law enforcement and seamless collaboration among city, state, and federal law enforcement agencies.
- New Orleans & Company data reveals more than 2.2. million visits over Mardi Gras. Of those, 1.2 million out-of-town guests visited New Orleans between February 12 – 17, 2026, which is a 20 percent increase over the same time period for Mardi Gras 2025.
- The NOPD credits the presence of federal law enforcement partners and the Louisiana National Guard for providing a presence in the French Quarter that allowed many of its officers to respond to calls in other parts of the city. This collaboration with federal, state and local partners is essential to public safety for large-scale events held in the city.
2026 Stats
-
The New Orleans Police Department continues to work on overall violent crime reduction. Those efforts brought the city’s homicide rate last year to the lowest rate since the 1970’s. Building upon the past three years from 2022 to 2025 homicides were down 55%, fatal shootings were reduced by 61%, armed robberies down 59% and carjackings plummeted by 70%.
-
The NOPD credits this progress in reducing violent crime to intentional, strategic officer deployment, smarter use of manpower and integration of technology to solve and prevent crime.
-
The NOPD credits the presence of federal law enforcement partners and the Louisiana National Guard for providing a presence in the French Quarter that allowed many of its officers to respond to calls in other parts of the city. This collaboration with federal, state and local partners is essential to public safety for large-scale events held in the city.
New Orleans & Company Partnerships
New Orleans & Company partners with and engages the top leadership of the NOPD on all elements, locations and activities of every gathering and convention so they may be available not only to meet and discuss all group priorities and requirements, but to ensure coverage around convention venues and all areas where specific events are occurring. NOPD creates a deployment plan designed specifically for the needs of that group.
Downtown Public Safety Rangers
The Downtown Development District (DDD) created the Public Safety Ranger program as an integral element of its public safety network. The Public Safety Rangers are a non-commissioned force of safety professionals who patrol Downtown on foot and on bicycle. Rangers are customer-friendly and act as extra eyes and ears for the police and the DDD.
Visitors Downtown also can utilize the DDD Public Safety Rangers, who are on duty seven days a week from 6 a.m.-10 p.m. Downtown SafeWalk escorts are offered free of charge within the DDD’s boundaries. Call or text 504-415-1730 at least 20 minutes prior to check availability.
Common Sense Tips for Visitors to Any Major City
- Travel in groups and avoid walking alone on unlit streets at night.
- Pay attention when walking and using your smart phone as these devices have been the target of thieves nationwide.
- Do not leave your purse, backpack or briefcase unattended, especially not on the back of your chair.
- Be on the lookout for pickpockets. Consolidate your wallet and move it to your front pocket. Wear a cross-body bag rather than a shoulder strap to keep your purse in front of you. Do not display large amounts of cash in public places.
- Consider removing your convention badge when leaving your hotel or meeting venue.
- When hailing a ride via a mobile app, confirm the identity of your driver before getting into the car.
- If you are intoxicated, please take a taxi, Uber or Lyft instead of walking or driving.
- Trust your gut instincts. If someone or something seems suspicious, leave the area, alert police officer or Safety Ranger.
- If approached by strangers for con games, such as, “I bet I can tell you where you got your shoes,” do not participate. Simply smile and walk past them.
- Lock car doors. Stow valuables out of sight in your vehicle. Ensure that your hotel room door is fully closed and locked at all times.
- Do not leave your drink unattended or accept drinks from strangers.
- Remember that most laws enforced in your city are enforced here as well.
