Mardi Gras season always sneaks up fast in Mobile, and 2026 is moving even quicker.
Parades begin rolling before January is over, and once they start, the schedule barely slows until Fat Tuesday arrives in mid-February.
Downtown streets, island roads, and bayfront towns all fill in rapidly, turning ordinary days into parade days with very little warning.
From long-established downtown societies to beachside processions and pet-friendly parades, the 2026 lineup stretches across Mobile County and Baldwin County.
With dates confirmed and routes mapped, the season is already shaping up.
For official routes, city updates, and parade details, the City of Mobile maintains its Mardi Gras guide here.
January Parades Open the Season
The first parades of the season arrive on Dauphin Island, where Krewe de la Dauphine rolls Saturday, Jan. 17, at 1 p.m., followed by the Dauphin Island People’s Parade on Saturday, Jan. 24, also at 1 p.m.
Both parades travel along Bienville Boulevard from the island’s east end toward the elementary school before turning back.
Downtown Mobile joins the calendar on Friday, Jan. 30, with Conde Cavaliers at 6:30 p.m.
That evening overlaps with Senior Bowl festivities, including the Player Parade at 5:30 p.m. and a free Muscadine Bloodline concert around 7:30 p.m. in Mardi Gras Park.
Saturday, Jan. 31, brings a full slate. The Mystic Krewe of Salty Paws parades at 10 a.m. on Dauphin Island, Bayport Parading Society rolls downtown at 2 p.m., and Pharaohs Mystic Society plus Conde Explorers follow at 6:30 p.m.
Early February Fills Downtown and the Bay
February opens with Massacre Island Secret Society on Dauphin Island on Sunday, Feb. 1, at 6 p.m. Downtown Mobile hosts Order of Polka Dots on Thursday, Feb. 5, and Order of Inca on Friday, Feb. 6, both at 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 7, stands out as one of the busiest days of the season. Downtown parades include Mobile Mystics, Mobile Mystical Revelers, and Mobile Mystical Friends at 1 p.m., followed by Maids of Mirth, Order of Butterfly Maidens, and Krewe of Marry Mates at 6:30 p.m. on Route G. Fairhope hosts Mystic Mutts of Revelry at 3 p.m. and Knights of Ecor Rouge at 6:30 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 8, features Neptune’s Daughters and Order of Isis downtown at 6:30 p.m., along with Order of Misfits in Robertsdale.
Joe Cain Day and Lundi Gras Traditions
Joe Cain Day arrives Sunday, Feb. 15, beginning with King Elexis I at 2 p.m. on Route E, followed by the Joe Cain Marchers and Joe Cain Society at 2:30 p.m. Loxley’s Les Belles des Camelias rolls at 3 p.m.
Lundi Gras on Monday, Feb. 16, starts with King Felix III followed by the Floral Parade at 11:30 a.m. Downtown also hosts the MLK Business & Civic Organization Parade at 2 p.m., Infant Mystics plus Order of Doves at 6:30 p.m., and Order of Mystic Magnolias in Fairhope at 6:45 p.m.
Fat Tuesday Brings the Final Rolls
Fat Tuesday, Feb. 17, begins with morning parades in Gulf Shores at 10 a.m. and Order of Athena downtown at 10:30 a.m. Knights of Revelry, King Felix III, and Comic Cowboys roll at 1 p.m., followed by the MAMGA Mammoth Parade at 2 p.m.
Orange Beach’s parade also rolls at 2 p.m. along Perdido Beach Boulevard. The season closes downtown with the Order of Myths at 6 p.m., completing the final full circuit of the 2026 Mardi Gras calendar.
The Countdown Is Officially On
Once the first float rolls, Mardi Gras season rarely pauses. Nights fill quickly, weekends disappear, and familiar streets take on a different rhythm as parade after parade moves through the city and surrounding towns.
By the time Fat Tuesday arrives, the calendar will have carried the region through weeks of music, color, and long-running traditions that only come around once a year.
With dates set and routes confirmed, Mardi Gras 2026 is ready to move from planning to celebration.
The beads, bands, and big moments are already lined up. All that’s left is the wait for that first parade to turn the corner!
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