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Universal Mardi Gras returns to Universal Studios Florida from February 6 to March 27, 2027, and it is included with a regular theme park ticket. You get an evening parade with bead-throwing floats, concerts on select nights at the Music Plaza Stage, and food and drinks from New Orleans and other Carnival traditions, which you pay for separately.
The parade and concerts happen after dark, so your hotel decides how easy the night is. For Universal’s separately ticketed fall event, see our Halloween Horror Nights hotels guide.
Quick answer: Universal Mardi Gras 2027 runs from February 6 to March 27 at Universal Studios Florida, with no extra event ticket. On October 28, 2026, Universal had not yet announced the 2027 concert lineup, parade times or park hours. For the shortest walk back after the parade, book Hard Rock Hotel (about 9 minutes from the park gate) or Loews Royal Pacific Resort; both include free Universal Express Unlimited. Cabana Bay and Aventura are the walkable lower-priced picks, and the DoubleTree at the Entrance to Universal is the walkable off-site choice.
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On this page
Universal Mardi Gras 2027 at a glance
Status on Universal’s pages on October 28, 2026; Universal says details can change without notice.
| Part of the event | 2027 status | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Event dates | February 6 to March 27, 2027 | Included with admission |
| Mardi Gras parade | Returns; 2027 times not posted | Included |
| Concerts, Music Plaza Stage | Select nights; lineup not announced | Included |
| Food and drinks | Returns; 2027 menus not posted | Pay as you go |
| Float Ride and Dine Experience | “Select dates in spring”; no 2027 dates listed | Extra; price varies by date |
Universal Mardi Gras dates, tickets and what is still unannounced
Universal’s event page lists February 6 to March 27, 2027, and says Mardi Gras is “included with your Theme Park Ticket or Annual Pass (blockout dates apply).” The parade, concerts and food tents are inside Universal Studios Florida, so you need admission to that park on the day.
- A shorter season: Universal’s 2026 events guide listed Mardi Gras from February 7 to April 4, 2026. The 2027 run lasts 50 days, from Saturday, February 6, to Saturday, March 27, the day before Easter.
- Not posted yet: the concert lineup, parade times, 2027 menus and park hours (Universal’s hours feed had no Universal Studios Florida hours for February or March 2027 on October 28, 2026).
- Early Park Admission: Universal lists it as a hotel perk during Mardi Gras, but its published schedule ends on November 30, 2026, and covers Islands of Adventure and Epic Universe, not Universal Studios Florida.
The Mardi Gras parade: timing, viewing spots and float rides
Universal’s parade page promises floats inspired by New Orleans traditions such as masks and feathers, beads and doubloons, food, music and the bayou. Its blog guide says the floats are built with Kern Studios, the team that creates parade floats in New Orleans, with a new theme each year.
The parade runs in the evening. Universal has not posted 2027 start times, and its guide says to confirm parade and concert times in the Universal Orlando Resort app on the day. For viewing, the guide suggests the Hollywood area, where you see the parade start and come back around, or the New York area just past Finnegan’s Bar & Grill, which has more room to catch beads.
Mardi Gras Float Ride and Dine Experience
To throw beads instead of catching them, book this paid add-on. Universal’s parade page still describes it for “select dates in spring,” without 2027 dates or prices at the time of writing. Its terms say:
- You get one float-rider spot plus a three-course meal with a non-alcoholic drink at a participating restaurant, such as Lombard’s Seafood Grille in the park or NBC Sports Grill & Brew at CityWalk.
- Riders must be 18 or older or ride with a parent or legal guardian, be at least 48 inches tall and stand for the whole parade, in “The Krewe” costume.
- Buy at least 24 hours ahead. The ticket is non-refundable and does not include park admission.
Universal Mardi Gras concerts at the Music Plaza Stage
Universal promises live performances on select nights, with pop, rock, country, R&B and more. Its concerts page said “Check back soon for more details in 2027” on October 28, 2026.
Universal’s concerts page no longer shows the 2026 list. Local TV station WKMG (ClickOrlando) reported it on January 13, 2026: 11 concerts from February 7 to March 28, eight on Saturdays, including Kaskade, Bebe Rexha and Barenaked Ladies. That is a news report, not a Universal page, and Universal has not said whether 2027 will follow the pattern.
- Arrive early: Universal’s guide suggests arriving 2 to 3 hours before a concert to stand near the front.
- Express does not hold a spot: Universal Express covers ride queues. Universal’s Mardi Gras pages do not mention Express or reserved viewing for the concerts or the parade.
Food, drinks and the French Quarter Courtyard
Universal’s guide places the food tents, bars and live Louisiana jazz and zydeco bands in the French Quarter Courtyard, in the New York area of the park. Expect Cajun classics such as jambalaya and gumbo, and signature drinks with and without alcohol. You must be 21 or older with a valid photo ID to buy alcohol.
The 2027 menu was not out yet. In 2026, Universal’s Food and Beverage Card cost $65 for a $75 value or $120 for a $150 value. The Mardi Gras Tribute Store, with themed merchandise, is in Hollywood across from Five & Dime.
The Universal hotels sell Mardi Gras dishes too. These examples come from the 2026 hotel menu (February 7 to April 4, 2026); expect new items and prices for 2027.
| Hotel | 2026 Mardi Gras dish | Where | 2026 price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hard Rock Hotel | Bayou Board | Velvet Bar | $42 |
| Loews Royal Pacific | Chicken & Sweet Potato Lumpia | Islands Dining Room | $15 |
| Loews Portofino Bay | Muffuletta-Inspired Pasta | Trattoria del Porto | $26 |
| Cabana Bay | Mardi Gras Flatbread | Bayliner Diner | $13.75 |
| Aventura | Korean Cajun Jambalaya | Bar 17 Bistro | $22 |
What a Universal hotel adds during Mardi Gras
Universal’s Mardi Gras page lists three hotel perks: Early Park Admission up to an hour before regular opening at select attractions (Universal chooses the park), free transportation (shuttle buses from every Universal hotel and water taxis from four of them), and special Mardi Gras menu items, which you pay for.
Hard Rock, Loews Royal Pacific and Loews Portofino Bay also include Universal Express Unlimited for every registered guest. It works at participating rides at Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure during normal park hours, but not at Epic Universe, Volcano Bay, Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure or Pteranodon Flyers. Mardi Gras is not separately ticketed, so Express works on rides on event days. Our Universal Studios Florida tips cover ride order.
Universal’s terms tie Early Park Admission and Express to your room key card and park admission; they do not mention where you booked. Mobile check-in needs a reservation made directly with Universal, and package savings apply only to packages from Universal or registered travel agencies. A Booking.com rate does not include park tickets, so buy them separately and confirm the perks at check-in.
Getting back after the parade or a concert
Universal’s hotel FAQ gives no finishing time for hotel transportation, so ask the front desk for the last boat and bus. It lists water taxis every 30 minutes, buses every 30 minutes from the four water-taxi hotels, and every 15 minutes from Cabana Bay and Aventura.
| Hotel | Way back at night | Walk from the park gate | Free Express | Self-parking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hard Rock Hotel | Walk, water taxi or bus | About 0.4 mi, 9 min | Yes | $36 + tax a night |
| Loews Royal Pacific | Walk, water taxi or bus | About 0.6 mi, 13 min | Yes | $36 + tax a night |
| Loews Portofino Bay | Water taxi, walk or bus | About 0.8 mi, 18 min | Yes | $36 + tax a night |
| Loews Sapphire Falls | Water taxi, walk or bus | About 0.9 mi, 20 min | No | $36 + tax a night |
| Universal Aventura | Walk or bus | About 1.1 mi, 24 min | No | $30 + tax a night |
| Universal Cabana Bay | Walk or bus | About 1.2 mi, 26 min | No | $26 + tax a night |
| DoubleTree (off-site) | Walk, taxi or rideshare | About 1 mi, 22 min | No | US$34 + tax a day |
Walks are public foot-path routes from the Universal Studios Florida entrance to each lobby, measured for our guide to hotels within walking distance of Universal in October 2026, without crowds. Loews Sapphire Falls Resort keeps the water taxi but does not include Express; see our Loews Sapphire Falls Resort guide.
A parking example with published rates: three nights of self-parking cost $108 plus tax at Hard Rock and $78 plus tax at Cabana Bay. Day visitors pay $35 including tax at Universal’s garages, and Universal’s parking page says self-parking there is free after 6 p.m. (except Halloween Horror Nights nights, December 31 and at Epic Universe). Day-guest self-parking at the Universal hotels is listed at $53 plus tax, so use the garages.
The best hotels for Universal Mardi Gras
We picked these six for the trip back after an evening parade or concert: the walk from the park gate, free boats and buses, the included Express and a spread of budgets. Universal hotel facts and fees come from Universal’s hotel pages (October 28, 2026). Rates vary by season, availability and how far ahead you book.
1. Hard Rock Hotel at Universal Orlando
Hard Rock has the shortest walk back, about 0.4 mile or roughly 9 minutes from the Universal Studios Florida entrance, plus the water taxi and buses. Every registered guest gets Universal Express Unlimited for the rides.
Universal lists guest rooms from 375 to 500 square feet, and two-queen rooms for up to five guests (maximum occupancy may require a rollaway, $35 a day plus tax). Overnight self-parking is $36 and valet $45 a night, plus tax. Read our Hard Rock Hotel Orlando review.
2. Loews Royal Pacific Resort
Royal Pacific has the same free Express and water taxi as Hard Rock. The walk to the Universal Studios Florida gate is about 0.6 mile, roughly 13 minutes, and Islands of Adventure is about half a mile away.
The trade-off is room size: Universal lists 335 square feet for Garden View and Water View rooms, with one king bed or two queen beds. Self-parking is $36 and valet $45 a night, plus tax. See our Loews Royal Pacific Resort review.
Check your dates for Loews Royal Pacific Resort on Booking.com
3. Loews Portofino Bay Hotel
Portofino Bay is the calm base after a loud night: a re-creation of an Italian seaside village around a harbor, where the water taxi docks. On foot, the Universal Studios Florida gate is about 0.8 mile, roughly 18 minutes.
Standard rooms are 450 to 490 square feet, against 375 to 500 at Hard Rock and 335 at Royal Pacific. Free Express Unlimited is included, and self-parking is $36 and valet $45 a night, plus tax. Our Loews Portofino Bay Hotel review covers the rooms and pools.
4. Universal Cabana Bay Beach Resort
Cabana Bay is the lower-priced family pick that still lets you walk: about 1.2 miles, roughly 26 minutes, from the Universal Studios Florida gate to the lobby, with buses every 15 minutes as the backup.
Standard rooms have two queen beds and sleep up to four. Family Suites are 430 square feet and sleep up to six, with two queen beds, a pull-out sofa and a kitchenette with a mini refrigerator, microwave and sink. Self-parking is $26 a night plus tax, the lowest of these picks, and Express is not included. See our Universal Cabana Bay Beach Resort review.
5. Universal Aventura Hotel
Aventura is a glass tower with walking paths to the two original parks. The walk back from the Universal Studios Florida gate is about 1.1 miles, roughly 24 minutes, and buses run every 15 minutes.
Families of five can book the 575-square-foot Kids’ Suite, with a king bed, a sofa bed and a separate area with two twin beds. Self-parking is $30 a night plus tax, and Express is not included. Read our Universal Aventura Hotel guide.
Check your dates for Universal Aventura Hotel on Booking.com
6. DoubleTree by Hilton at the Entrance to Universal Orlando
The DoubleTree on Major Boulevard is the off-site hotel where walking is realistic: about a mile, roughly 22 minutes, from the Universal Studios Florida entrance on public sidewalks and crosswalks.
It is not a Universal hotel, so you do not get Early Park Admission, Express or Universal’s boats and buses. Its Booking.com listing (October 28, 2026) shows self-parking at US$34 a day plus tax, valet at US$38 a night plus tax and a minimum check-in age of 21, and says cribs and extra beds are not available. Hilton’s own page (April 2026 archived copy) listed valet at $44 and cribs as available, so confirm both with the hotel. Read our DoubleTree at the Entrance to Universal review.
Closures and weather in February and March 2027
- Volcano Bay: closed for maintenance since October 26, 2026, with a planned reopening on or before April 1, 2027. Universal’s hours feed lists it as “Closed for Season” through March 31, 2027, for the whole Mardi Gras run.
- Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey: closed February 8 to 19, 2027, at Islands of Adventure, per Universal’s closures list.
- Cool evenings: Universal’s guide warns that nights can be chilly and suggests a light jacket. Our guides to Orlando in February and Orlando in March have weather averages and other events.
- Pools: Universal’s hotel FAQ says the pools are heated, but slides close below 60°F, pools below 50°F and the whole pool deck below 45°F.
- Crowds: Presidents’ Day falls on February 15, 2027, and March brings spring break. Our spring break in Orlando guide lists the 2027 school breaks, and our guide to the best time to visit Universal Orlando compares the months.
How to choose
- Shortest walk to bed: Hard Rock Hotel, then Loews Royal Pacific Resort.
- Families on a budget: a Cabana Bay Family Suite for up to six, or an Aventura Kids’ Suite for five.
- Off-site and on foot: the DoubleTree at the Entrance to Universal, with no $35 garage fee if you walk.
Frequently asked questions
When is Universal Mardi Gras 2027?
Universal Mardi Gras 2027 runs from Saturday, February 6, to Saturday, March 27, 2027, at Universal Studios Florida. That is 50 days, about a week shorter than the 2026 run. Universal had not posted 2027 park hours, parade times or concert dates on October 28, 2026.
Is Universal Mardi Gras included with park admission?
Yes. Universal says Mardi Gras is included with your theme park ticket or Annual Pass, and blockout dates apply. You need admission to Universal Studios Florida that day. Food, drinks, merchandise and the Float Ride and Dine Experience cost extra, and hotel rooms booked on Booking.com do not include park tickets.
Who is performing at Universal Mardi Gras 2027?
Universal had not announced the 2027 lineup at the time of writing; its concerts page said “Check back soon for more details in 2027.” Local TV station WKMG reported the 2026 lineup in mid-January 2026: 11 concerts, eight of them on Saturdays. Concerts are on select nights at the Music Plaza Stage and are included with admission.
What time is the Universal Mardi Gras parade?
Universal had not posted 2027 parade times on October 28, 2026. Its guide says the parade runs in the evening and tells you to confirm the start time in the Universal Orlando Resort app on the day. Universal suggests watching from the Hollywood area or the New York area near Finnegan’s Bar & Grill.
What is the best hotel for Universal Mardi Gras?
Hard Rock Hotel is the closest, about a 9-minute walk from the Universal Studios Florida entrance, and it includes free Universal Express Unlimited for rides. Loews Royal Pacific Resort is about 13 minutes away with the same perk. Cabana Bay and Aventura are walkable lower-priced options, and the off-site DoubleTree is about 22 minutes away.
Can you ride a float in the Universal Mardi Gras parade?
Yes, with the paid Mardi Gras Float Ride and Dine Experience, which adds a three-course meal at a participating restaurant. Riders must be 18 or older or ride with a parent or guardian, be at least 48 inches tall and stand for the whole parade. Universal had not listed 2027 dates or prices when we checked on October 28, 2026.
Bottom line
Universal Mardi Gras 2027 is easy to add to a February or March trip: it runs from February 6 to March 27 and comes with your Universal Studios Florida ticket. Wait for the lineup if a headliner matters, plan around the Volcano Bay closure, and stay where you can walk or take a boat back. Check your dates for Hard Rock Hotel on Booking.com.
How we checked this guide: On October 28, 2026, we read Universal’s Mardi Gras, parade, concert, hotel, FAQ and parking pages, its park-hours feed, the Discover Universal Mardi Gras guide (updated September 30, 2026) and the 2026 menu on the Universal hotels’ events site. DoubleTree fees come from its Booking.com listing that day and an April 2026 archived copy of Hilton’s page. Walking times come from public foot-path routing, re-run that day. Read how we research our guides.
Sources checked in October 2026: Universal Mardi Gras, Universal Mardi Gras parade and Float Ride and Dine, Complete Guide to Mardi Gras at Universal Orlando Resort, Universal Orlando park hours and temporary closures, Universal Orlando directions and parking