French Quarter Festival
Four free days of Louisiana music on stages all over the French Quarter, in mid-April.
- When
- Usually Thursday to Sunday on the second weekend of April. 2026 was an exception and ran a week later (16–19 April). (source, checked 2026-10-26)
- Where
- 20+ stages across the French Quarter and the riverfront
- First held
- 1984
- Admission
- Free
- Organiser
- French Quarter Festivals, Inc. (nonprofit)
- Official site
- frenchquarterfest.org/
Announced by organiser "French Quarter Festival | April 8-11, 2027" (organiser, checked 2026-10-26) · 158 days away
About French Quarter Fest
French Quarter Fest began in 1984 and books only Louisiana musicians: traditional jazz, brass bands, zydeco, Cajun, funk, gospel and R&B, spread over stages from Jackson Square to the riverfront parks. There are no tickets and no gates.
Food booths are run by local restaurants, and the festival is the easiest way to sample a dozen kitchens in an afternoon. Crowds are heaviest on Saturday and around the riverfront stages.
It falls two to three weeks before Jazz Fest. Visitors who want both often split a trip or come for the second Jazz Fest weekend instead.
Tips
- Bring a folding chair or blanket for the riverfront stages, and cash or a card for the food booths.
- Hotels in the Quarter fill early for this weekend; book as soon as the dates are announced.
Dates, 2026–2035
| Year | Dates | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Thu–Sun 16–19 Apr | Held |
| 2027 | Thu–Sun 8–11 Apr | Announced by organiser |
| 2028 | Thu–Sun 13–16 Apr | Usual pattern, not announced |
| 2029 | Thu–Sun 12–15 Apr | Usual pattern, not announced |
| 2030 | Thu–Sun 11–14 Apr | Usual pattern, not announced |
| 2031 | Thu–Sun 10–13 Apr | Usual pattern, not announced |
| 2032 | Thu–Sun 8–11 Apr | Usual pattern, not announced |
| 2033 | Thu–Sun 14–17 Apr | Usual pattern, not announced |
| 2034 | Thu–Sun 13–16 Apr | Usual pattern, not announced |
| 2035 | Thu–Sun 12–15 Apr | Usual pattern, not announced |
"Usual pattern" rows project the timing described above onto each year. They are not dates: organisers set them, and they sometimes break the pattern (see how often the patterns held).
Recent: 2024: 11–14 Apr 2024; 2025: 10–13 Apr 2025; 2026: 16–19 Apr 2026.
Sources
- frenchquarterfest.org/ (2026 and 2027 dates; since 1984; checked 2026-10-26)
- frenchquarterfest.org/2025-fqfest-release/ (2025 dates; checked 2026-10-26)
- frenchquarterfest.org/2025-french-quarter-festival-music-lineup-announced/ (free admission; checked 2026-10-26)
Also in music festivals
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival · Mid-City Bayou Boogaloo · Essence Festival of Culture · Satchmo SummerFest