Best Festivals in the New Orleans Area this Summer
No matter the weather, New Orleans is always looking to celebrate. Whether it be a music, a food festival, or a celebration of culture, the metro area's calendar is booked throughout the summer with festivals left and right.
Here are some can't miss summer events taking place in Greater New Orleans.
New Orleans Wine & Food Experience
June 10-13, Multiple Locations
nowfe.com
The New Orleans Wine & Food experience celebrates New Orleans for what it does best: eating exquisite meals and sipping on the finest wines. After 34 years of this annual celebration, the festival has become one of the city's most celebrated culinary events, a major attraction for critics and connoisseurs across the nation. Top chefs around the city create unique menus featuring local ingredients and diverse flavor profiles to craft an unforgettable culinary experience.
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit NOWFE's website or Instagram.
Pridefest
June 13, Multiple Locations
nolapridefest.com
What started out as Pride block parties outside the Phoenix Bar in 2015, New Orleans Pridefest has evolved into a massive success, bringing the community together to crowd the corner of Rampart Street and Elysian Fields Avenue each June. The festival gathers thousands of community members from New Orleans and surrounding areas throughout the South. New Orleans Pridefest is a registered nonprofit that supports the LGBTQ+ community in New Orleans and its culture and causes through its annual festival.
For more information and special passes, visit New Orleans Pridefest's website or Instagram.
Juneteenth Freedom Festival
June 19, Louis Armstrong Park
nolajuneteenthfestival.org
The NOLA Juneteenth Festival began in June 2020 in New Orleans and has since evolved into a multi-production organization that fosters community and highlights wellness and economic development. The festival is held each year not only to honor the history of Juneteenth but also to examine the state of liberation within the Black community and to promote Unity & Cooperative Economics. With second lines, live performances, and pageants, the Juneteenth Freedom Festival is a powerful festival that truly brings the community together.
For more information and vendor registration, visit NOLA Juneteenth's website or Instagram.
Foodie Feast: Louisiana Seafood Cook-Off Edition
June 26, Pontchartrain Convention & Civic Center
louisianaseafood.com/louisiana-seafood-cook-off
Since 2008, the Foodie Feast: Louisiana Seafood Cook-Off has been catapulting aspiring chefs into business, whether by opening industries or by hosting a cooking show. The cook-off is one of the most popular and respected culinary competitions. Competitors, coming from across the state, compete for the crown along with the chance to represent the state at the Great American Seafood Cook-Off.
For more information and tickets, visit Louisiana Seafood's website or Instagram.
ESSENCE Festival of Culture
July 3-5, Multiple Locations
essence.com/essencefestival2026
The Essence Festival celebrates New Orleans' vibrant culture with over 20 crafted experiences. The activities vary from music performances with headliners such as rapper Cardi B to style and cuisine experiences. The annual Essence Festival, now with a 55-year legacy, was born from the 25th anniversary celebration of Essence Magazine. This music festival is more than a festival; it is a movement to celebrate Black excellence along with community and commerce.
For more information and tickets, visit Essence's website or Instagram.
Uncle Sam Jam
July 3, Lafreniere Park
unclesamjamjefferson.com
The Uncle Sam Jam is an annual festival celebrating July 4th and patriotic pride. Hundreds of community members gather to celebrate their country with some America-themed fun. The festival offers live music along with food vendors and dozens of family-friendly activities. The festival takes place in a 155-acre meadow, giving attendees a comfortable space to enjoy the music and a closing fireworks show.
For more information, visit Uncle Sam Jam's website or Instagram.
Bastille Day Fête
July 10, Alliance Française de La Nouvelle-Orléans
af-neworleans.org/bastille-day-fete
A French celebration welcome to all levels of fluency, Bastille Day celebrates revolutionary spirit and the French language. The festival invites all ages to learn more about France and to immerse oneself into the French language. Along with a costume contest, Bastille Day will offer local food vendors with French cuisine, DJ sets, and live performers. Having a French ambiance filled with fine wines and a dance floor, Alliance Française welcomes all of New Orleans to celebrate the city's historic connection to France.
For more information and tickets, visit Alliance Française's website or Instagram.
Running of the Bulls
July 10-12, Multiple Locations
nolabulls.com
Join San Fermin in Nueva Orleans in their 20th annual Running of the Bulls at 6:30 a.m. on July 11 for a roller derby race through the streets of the French Quarter. The two rules of the race are run and do not stop running. The race was curated in 2007 by self-titled "El Padrino" (The Godfather) of San Fermin New Orleans after attending Sanfermines, a festival in Pamplona, Spain. After seeing his friend dressed as a runner during Mardi Gras, he rushed to find other Pantores to make his idea a reality.
For more information and to register, visit NOLA Bulls' website or Instagram.
New Orleans Beatles Fest
July 11, Jefferson Performing Arts Center
jeffersonpac.com/events/detail/new-orleans-beatles-fest-1
Having become one of the most anticipated Beatles celebration in the nation over the past 24 years, WCA Entertainment and The Legacy Tribute Series return for another run of the New Orleans Beatles Fest. Join the rest of the community for a concert celebration to commemorate the music that has inspired multiple generations. Beatles tribute band Newspaper Taxis will return as the house band this year. The 2026 celebration will revolve around Beatles albums Rubber Soul and Revolver.
For more information or tickets, visit the Jefferson Performing Arts Center's website or Instagram.
Tales of the Cocktail
July 19-24, Multiple Locations
talesofthecocktail.org
Tales of the Cocktail returns as the annual meeting place for up-and-coming industry professionals such as bartenders or distillers. The convention is a space for these professionals to exchange new ideas and techniques. The event started in 2002 as a walking tour of all of New Orleans' best offered cocktails and has evolved into a world renowned conference with in-person education, tastings, and awards. This event is not only for professionals, however—any cocktail enthusiasts or guests who simply want a drink are also encouraged to attend.
For more information or tickets, visit the Tales of the Cocktail's website or Instagram.
White Linen Night
August 1, Arts District
artsdistrictneworleans.com/events/fidelity-bank-white-linen-night
In conjunction with their monthly First Saturday Gallery Openings, the Arts District New Orleans (ADNO) is returning with their 31st annual celebration of visual arts on the 300-600 blocks of Julia Street from 5 to 10 p.m. The event is a celebration not only of arts and culture, but the vivacity of New Orleans art, which makes the city so unique. Galleries on these blocks, along with museums such as The Contemporary Arts Center and The Ogden Museum of Southern Art, will present exhibitions, some being unveiled for the first time at the event. Attendees are strongly encouraged to put of their best all-white outfits to optimally enjoy the galleries and food and drink vendors along the street.
For more information and tickets to private events, visit ADNO'S website or Instagram.
Satchmo SummerFest
August 1-2, New Orleans Jazz Museum
frenchquarterfest.org/satchmo
The annual Satchmo SummerFest is the only festival in the world that commemorates Louis Armstrong. Planned to always coincide with Armstrong's birthday, August 4, which had not been discovered until long after his death as Armstrong would always state that his birthday was on Independence Day in interviews. The first festival took place in 2001 to celebrate his 100th birthday; this was the same year New Orleans' airport was renamed to be the Louis Armstrong International Airport. Stop by the Satchmo SummerFest to for lectures, food vendors, and live music to say "Happy Birthday" to the man whose iconic and universal influence has flowed from one generation to the next.
For more information and lineups, visit the Satchmo SummerFest's website or Instagram.
Dirty Linen Night
August 8, Royal Street
dirtylinen.org
The Royal Street Arts District is hosting their 23rd annual Dirty Linen Night this August from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. Will call is located at Galerie Rue Royale on 541 Royal St. The event takes place for locals or visitors to enjoy French Quarter art and food with a cocktail in hand. The event originated as a satirical version of White Linen Night and has continued as such, encouraging attendees to revel in the dirty side of New Orleans. The festival is unique in its not-so pristine celebration of the Quarter. Galleries will be open to guests, along with live music down the blocks of Royal Street.
For more information and tickets, visit Dirty Linen Night's website or Instagram.
Red Dress Run
August 8, Armstrong Park
noh3.com/RDR/RDRHome.php
Each year, the New Orleans Hash House Harriers, with the mantra "a drinking club with a running problem," puts on the Red Dress Run on the second Saturday of August. The charity event is a "run" through the city, usually beginning in the French Quarter. The runners start out with a drink in hand and stop by local bars for refills throughout the celebration. Wristbands provide access to Armstrong Park, where the run will start with 9 a.m. kegs, which will be available for the entirety of the event, and all you can eat food vendors starting at 11:30 a.m. Early bird pricing, VIP tickets, and opportunities for donations are all available on their website.
For more information and tickets, visit the New Orleans Hash House Harriers' website or Instagram.
NOLA Yoga Fest
September 3-6, Hotel Peter & Paul
nolayogafest.com
The NOLA Yoga Fest offers a unique appreciation for movement and music, inviting guests to an immersive experience built from a devotion to service and community. The weekend-long event provides a specific appreciation for the transformative power of guided movement, leading attendees through a path that explores growth, healing, and awareness. The event will host meditations, live music performers, and conversational workshops. Yoga Fest is New Orleans' leading festival, which highlights consciousness and welcomes guests to build a lasting community impact sparking transformation and cultural convergence.
For more information and tickets, visit NOLA Yoga Fest's website or Instagram.
Southern Decadence
August 28 to September 2, French Quarter
southerndecadence.com
Every year during Labor Day weekend, New Orleans' queer communities join together to put on the Southern Decadence parade, New Orleans' biggest celebration of the LGBTQ+ community. The first Southern Decadence parade took place in 1973; a friend group nicknamed "The Decadents" first hosted their costumed party of galavanting through the French Quarter in 1972. What started as a going away party for spunky and spirited friend Machael Evers has transformed into a weekend-long celebration of New Orleans and all of its quirks.
For more information visit Southern Decadence's website or Instagram.
