New Orleans rolls out 2026 Halloween calendar

New Orleans has announced a citywide 2026 Halloween slate running from mid-October through Halloween weekend, led by the free Krewe of BOO! parade on Oct. 24 and family events, ticketed parties and museum programming across the city. Organizers say schedules, prices and entry rules can change, so visitors should check official event listings before going.

Why it matters: - New Orleans is turning Halloween 2026 into a citywide tourism draw with free public events, family programming and ticketed nightlife built around Oct. 31. - The schedule spans the French Quarter, City Park, the Warehouse District and multiple venues, giving residents and visitors several ways to plan a weekend or longer stay. - Organizers say prices, admission rules and times can change, which makes official event pages important for anyone traveling or buying tickets.

What happened: - New Orleans announced a 2026 Halloween calendar that runs from mid-October through Saturday, Oct. 31. - The largest public event on the schedule is the Krewe of BOO! Halloween Parade on Saturday, Oct. 24, at 6:30 p.m. - The parade is free and open to the public. - The parade starts at Elysian Fields Avenue and moves through the French Quarter and Warehouse District before ending near Andrew Higgins Drive. - The route includes Elysian Fields Avenue, North Peters Street, Decatur Street, Canal Street and Tchoupitoulas Street. - Halloween New Orleans, the city's LGBTQ+ Halloween weekend and a fundraising event for Project Lazarus, is scheduled for Oct. 30 through Nov. 1. - The National WWII Museum will present Dine & Dance: The Haunted Canteen on Oct. 31 at BB's Stage Door Canteen. - The official New Orleans tourism calendar also lists additional Halloween programming during the final week of October.

The details: - Krewe of BOO! will feature Halloween-themed floats, marching bands, dance groups and walking krewes. - Costumes are encouraged, and the parade is promoted as family- and child-friendly. - More information and the official route are available through the Krewe of BOO! website. - Cocktails in the Courtyard is set for Friday, Oct. 23, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Pat O'Brien's, 718 St. Peter Street, with a jazz second line traveling through the French Quarter to the venue. - Monster Mash, the post-parade costume party, begins at 8 p.m. on Oct. 24 at Generations Hall, 310 Andrew Higgins Boulevard. - Monster Mash includes live entertainment, a DJ, costume contests and bar service. - General admission and VIP tickets are available for Monster Mash, and general admission is included for Krewe members. - Ghosts in the Oaks returns to New Orleans City Park's Carousel Gardens Amusement Park from Thursday, Oct. 15, through Sunday, Oct. 18. - Ghosts in the Oaks includes trick-or-treating, amusement park rides, activities and live entertainment. - City Park lists early admission from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. and general admission from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. - City Park currently lists tickets at $30 for early admission and $25 for general admission. - Children age 2 and younger are admitted free. - Advance tickets are required, and City Park says admission is limited. - Halloween New Orleans lists a Friday-night gala on Oct. 30 at The Barnett, a main Halloween party on Oct. 31 at The Fillmore and a Sunday afternoon tea dance on Nov. 1. - Additional Halloween New Orleans details and ticket information are still being released. - Dine & Dance: The Haunted Canteen includes the Victory Swing Orchestra, a three-course dinner and a Halloween-themed 1940s-style music and dance program. - Dinner seating begins at 5:30 p.m., and the program starts at 7 p.m. - Tickets are required, and the ticket price includes dinner and a glass of wine. - The tourism calendar lists Beyond the Veil — New Orleans' ONLY Haunted Variety Show on Oct. 27 and Dark Gift ALLIANCE — The Thirst on Oct. 29. - The city says its official tourism calendar will keep updating as more Halloween events are added. - For a broader listing of Halloween events, the official New Orleans tourism Halloween guide is available online.

Between the lines: - The release reads like a season preview for visitors, not a single-event announcement, and it positions Halloween as a multi-neighborhood economic and entertainment driver. - The mix of free public events and ticketed experiences suggests organizers are aiming at both locals and tourists, from families to nightlife crowds. - The repeated reminders to verify details reflect a busy event calendar where capacity limits and final logistics still may shift.

What's next: - Event organizers are expected to continue releasing ticket prices, final schedules and venue details as Halloween approaches. - Visitors planning for Halloween weekend should check each event's official website before traveling, especially for ticketed or reservation-based programs. - The New Orleans tourism calendar will keep adding and updating Halloween listings through October.

The bottom line: - New Orleans is building Halloween 2026 around one of its biggest public parades, a family-friendly lineup and a full weekend of citywide events.