Louisiana’s Washington Mardi Gras returns for its 77th year with January 2026 events at Washington Hilton
A Louisiana political and cultural tradition returns to Washington
Washington Mardi Gras, a long-running Louisiana tradition staged in the nation’s capital, is set to hold its 77th edition in late January 2026. The event is organized by the Mystick Krewe of Louisianians and centers on a formal Saturday-night ball at the Washington Hilton.
The 2026 chairman is Rep. Steve Scalise, who represents Louisiana’s 1st Congressional District. The 2026 royal court is led by King W. Gray Stream and Queen Sarah Heebe.
Key 2026 dates and location
The Washington Mardi Gras Ball is scheduled for Saturday, January 31, 2026, with related official programming held during the same week at the Washington Hilton, adjacent to the Dupont Circle area.
Washington Mardi Gras Ball: Saturday, January 31, 2026 (Washington Hilton).
Mardi Gras Day in 2026: Tuesday, February 17, 2026.
What the official weekend schedule includes
Official materials for the 2026 Washington Mardi Gras outline a sequence of ticketed events culminating in the ball. The schedule includes costume-fitting windows and two major evening programs in the International Ballroom: a Captain’s Dinner Dance and, on Saturday night, the Mardi Gras Ball with a formal presentation segment.
Organizers indicate that rooms and on-site logistics can be subject to change, and that access to the main evening events is controlled through tickets or wristbands depending on the function.
How Washington Mardi Gras fits into Louisiana’s civic life
Washington Mardi Gras dates to 1944, beginning as an effort by Louisianians in Washington to bring a familiar Carnival-season celebration to the capital. Over time, it evolved into a multi-day series of social events, dinners, and gatherings that blend cultural pageantry with the presence of Louisiana’s congressional delegation and other leaders who travel to Washington for the festivities.
Washington Mardi Gras has historically served as both a cultural showcase and a recurring point of convening for Louisiana’s political and civic networks in Washington.
Related public Mardi Gras programming in Washington
A separate, public Mardi Gras celebration is also scheduled in Washington in February. Organizers at The Wharf have announced a Mardi Gras parade and party on Sunday, February 15, 2026, including a parade along Wharf Street, live music, and a fireworks finale. That waterfront event is distinct from the ticketed Washington Mardi Gras Ball at the Washington Hilton.
For attendees and residents, the two events reflect different parts of the city’s Carnival-season calendar: an invitation-based, formal Louisiana tradition in late January, followed by a public festival weekend on the Southwest waterfront in mid-February.