Courtesy Universal Orlando Resort
Orlando’s spring calendar has two annual “drop everything” traditions, and 2026 is shaping up to be a particularly fun one-two punch: Universal Orlando Resort’s Mardi Gras: International Flavors of Carnaval and EPCOT’s International Flower & Garden Festival. If you’re looking for a couple of perfectly timed reasons to get outside, eat something unreasonable, and pretend you’re on vacation even if you’re just doing a day trip, this is your runway.
Universal Orlando’s Mardi Gras 2026: beads, bites, and big parade energy
Universal’s Mardi Gras celebration runs February 7 through April 4, 2026 at Universal Studios. That timeline is the sweet spot: cooler evenings (by our standards), longer daylight, and just enough spring-break buzz to keep the park feeling lively without making every step a contact sport. The heart of the event is the Mardi Gras parade, bold, oversized floats, performers, and the simple joy of a sky full of beads. And here’s the thing: this parade doesn’t feel like a “theme park version” of Mardi Gras as much as it feels like Universal decided to go all-in on the pageantry. It’s loud, saturated, and unapologetically festive; the kind of show that turns even cynical adults into people who suddenly believe they can catch things midair.
Food is the other headliner. The “International Flavors of Carnaval” branding is a not-so-subtle hint that the menus are meant to be a global snack crawl, not just a New Orleans greatest-hits list. And yes, live music is a huge part of Mardi Gras at Universal.
This Year’s Performances Include:
- March 7 — Ziggy Marley
- March 13 — Tyler Hubbard
- March 14 — Bebe Rexha
- March 15 — Zedd
- March 21 — Barenaked Ladies
- March 28 — The All-American Rejects
The “I want to be in the parade” move
If you’ve ever watched guests tossing beads from the floats and thought, Wait… people can do that? Yes, they can. This year marks the return of the Mardi Gras Float Ride and Dine Experience, which pairs a three-course meal with the thrill of riding a parade float and throwing beads. It’s one of those splurges that instantly upgrades the night into a story you’ll tell for years, especially if you’re traveling with friends or celebrating something.
Quick planning tips for Mardi Gras nights
Go early, stay late. The vibe builds as the sun goes down, and the park looks great under parade lighting. Pick a “parade-first” or “food-first” strategy. If you try to do everything at once, you’ll do nothing well.
EPCOT’s Flower & Garden Festival 2026: spring in its most photogenic form
Courtesy Walt Disney World
On the Disney side, the International Flower & Garden Festival runs March 4 through June 1, 2026. If Universal’s Mardi Gras is a party, Flower & Garden is a stroll; a bright, curated, and built for people who love wandering with purpose (and a snack in hand).
The festival’s superpower is how it transforms EPCOT into a living gallery: topiaries, themed gardens, and floral displays that make you stop mid-conversation because you suddenly realize you’re looking at a character-shaped sculpture made of plants.
Outdoor Kitchens: the spring snack crawl
Flower & Garden isn’t just about blooms, it’s also a legit food festival. This year sees the return of Outdoor Kitchens with “garden-fresh cuisine” during the festival. The smart way to do it is the same way you’d tackle EPCOT Food & Wine: share bites, split sips, and treat it like a progressive meal where everyone gets a vote.
Garden Rocks Concert Series: free concerts with a “wait for it” lineup
The festival also includes the Garden Rocks Concert Series, with performances included with EPCOT admission, running throughout the same March 4 – June 1 dates.
- March 5-7 — The Music of ABBA (New)
- March 8-9 — Simple Plan
- March 13-14 — Blue October
- March 15-16 — Billy Ocean
- March 20-23 — THE ORCHESTRA starring former members of ELO & ELO Part II
- March 27-28 — Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone
- March 29-30 — 38 Special
- April 3-4 — Chubby Checker
- April 5-6 — Sugar Ray
- April 10-11 — Information Society (New)
- April 12-13 — Rick Springfield
- April 17-18 — Berlin
- April 19-20 — The Commodores
- April 24-25 — FireHouse (New)
- April 26-27 — Air Supply
- May 1-2 — A Flock of Seagulls
- May 3-4 — Plain White T’s
- May 8-9 — Katrina, formerly of Katrina & The Waves (New)
- May 10-11 — 98 Degrees
- May 15-16 — The Spinners
- May 17-18 — Josiah Queen (NEW)
- May 22-23 — Iam Tongi (NEW)
- May 24-25 — A.J. Croce: Croce Plays Croce
- May 29-30 — Queensrÿche
- May 31-June 1 — Maverick City Music
Courtesy Walt Disney World
Which one should you prioritize (and how locals can do both)
If you’re visiting Orlando and can only pick one, it depends on your travel personality:
- Choose Universal Mardi Gras if you want a high-energy night: parade spectacle, beads, and the feeling that the whole park is throwing a party.
- Choose EPCOT Flower & Garden if you want a daytime-to-sunset wander: gardens, photo stops, slower pacing, and a snack strategy that feels like a hobby.
For locals, the best play is to treat them like a seasonal “series,” not a single outing. Universal’s run (February 7 – April 4) overlaps nicely with the early weeks of Flower & Garden (starting March 4), meaning you can hit Mardi Gras on a Friday night and do EPCOT on a Sunday morning without feeling like you’re forcing it.
Mardi Gras and Flower & Garden work because they’re not just events; they are mood shifts. One turns a theme park into a street party; the other turns a theme park into a garden walk with excellent snacks and a soundtrack.