Fat Tuesday (or Mardi Gras Day, if you prefer) will happen on February 17th this year. The big day falls on a different spot on the calendar each and every year, and there can be some wild swings. The earliest Mardi Gras can kick off is February 3rd and the latest it can fall is March 9th. Arthur Hardy, founder of the Mardi Gras Guide says weather should be favorable for parades this year and he’s seen a lot of enthusiasm building around the 2026 carnival season.
February 17th is a rather common day for Fat Tuesday to fall according to the Mardi Gras Guide founder. “February 17th is actually the most popular day for Fat Tuesday. It’s happened nine times on that day since 1857,” he notes. “People are so ready for Mardi Gras,” Hardy went on to say, adding that he’s seen a great deal of enthusiasm from both locals ready to attend parades and members of krewes gearing up for the celebrations. He adds that he hasn’t seen a large amount of panic in terms of pricing for throws due to tariffs and says he doesn’t expect anyone in the region to notice a lack of throws. “Mardi Gras seems like it’s bulletproof when it comes to so many things. We do it even when we can’t afford it and spend money we maybe don’t have. But, who cares? It’s Mardi Gras, right?” the longtime founder of the Mardi Gras guide told WWL listeners.
Hardy is retiring after 50 years of publishing the Mardi Gras Guide and will be riding as Grand Marshall of Endymion this year with a float, doubloons, and cups all bearing his likeness. He says it’s a tremendous honor to go out with such a bang, having only ridden in another parade once before as part of the Rex procession. There’s also a documentary currently being worked on that looks to tell Hardy’s life story, spotlighting him as an influential voice (especially around carnival season) in New Orleans for half a century.