Universal Orlando’s Mardi Gras: International Flavors of Carnaval runs Feb. 6 to March 27, 2027. That’s 50 days, down from 57 in 2026, because Easter comes a week earlier.
Universal Orlando has its 2027 Mardi Gras dates, and anyone planning a late-March trip should look twice.
Universal Mardi Gras: International Flavors of Carnaval runs Saturday, Feb. 6, through Saturday, March 27, 2027, at Universal Studios Florida. It’s included with regular park admission.
That’s 50 days. The 2026 event ran 57, per Attractions Magazine, so next year’s version is a full week shorter.
Why is Universal Mardi Gras shorter in 2027?
Blame the calendar, not Universal.
The event wraps up the day before Easter, the same way it did this year. In 2026, Easter fell on April 5. In 2027, it falls on March 28, eight days earlier.
The start date only moved up a little, to Feb. 6. The end date had to move a lot. So the event loses about a week off the back end.
It’s happened before. Attractions Magazine notes Universal also ran a 50-day Mardi Gras back in 2017.
What’s included in Universal Mardi Gras?
Universal hasn’t announced the 2027 details yet. The concert lineup, the parade theme and the food menus are all “coming soon,” per Inside Universal.
Going by how it’s run in recent years, expect three main pieces:
A nightly parade with floats and plenty of beads flying into the crowd
International food and drinks at booths around the park, inspired by Carnaval celebrations around the world
Concerts on select nights, usually after the parade
In 2026, the parade floats came from Kern Studios, the same company that has built floats for Mardi Gras in New Orleans since 1947, per Inside Universal. The food lineup had more than 60 tasting-size items.
Universal also sold a food and drink card in 2026 that gave you $75 in credit for $65, with a bigger discount for annual passholders. If that comes back, it’s the easiest way to graze through the booths without paying full price for every plate.
Do you need a separate ticket for Universal Mardi Gras?
No. It’s included with a regular Universal Studios Florida ticket or an annual pass.
That’s what makes it different from Halloween Horror Nights, which needs its own ticket. Mardi Gras happens during normal park hours, and if you’re in the park that evening, you’re in.
There’s one catch. In 2026, Seasonal Passholders were blocked out on concert days, per Inside Universal. Universal hasn’t said whether that repeats in 2027, so check before you book a trip around a headliner.
When is Mardi Gras 2027?
The real Fat Tuesday falls on Feb. 9, 2027. Universal’s event opens three days earlier, on Feb. 6, and then keeps going for seven more weeks.
That’s the Universal way. New Orleans parties for a few weeks and shuts it down when Fat Tuesday ends. Orlando stretches it into spring break.
What else is happening at Universal Orlando in early 2027?
Mardi Gras usually overlaps with the busy spring break stretch, and 2027 will be no different. Epic Universe will be closing in on its second birthday, and the new Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift coaster is still being built at Universal Studios Florida, where it’s set to open in 2027.
So if March 2027 is on your calendar, you’ll have a shorter window for Mardi Gras than usual. Concerts have usually landed on Saturdays, so watch for the lineup if you want one. And pack for beads.
Article compiled with the help of the Pirates & Princesses newsroom.
Pirates and Princesses is your destination for Disney news, theme park updates, and the pop culture you love. From Disney cruises and travel tips to Disney fashion, food, collectibles, and movie news, PNP covers it all. Visit us at piratesandprincesses.net for daily coverage. Follow PNP on Facebook and Instagram, and listen to the Pirates & Princesses podcast on Apple Podcasts and YouTube.
Hat Tips:
Inside Universal (Sept. 24, 2026), the 2027 dates, admission and what’s still to come
Attractions Magazine (Sept. 2026), the 50-day and 57-day comparison, the Easter timing and the 2017 precedent
Inside Universal (Feb. 2026), the 2026 parade floats, food count and passholder blockouts
Inside Universal (Sept. 21, 2026), Hollywood Drift testing at Universal Studios Florida
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