Krewe du Vieux 2026
Krewe du Vieux is an iconic Mardi Gras organization and non-profit that promotes individuality and satirical commentary in the original Carnival tradition. Derived from 1978's Krewe of Clones, Krewe du Vieux established its title in 1987 with ties to artistic performance and absent of constraints on presentation.
What to Expect This Year
On January 31, Krewe du Vieux will parade through the city, additionally featuring its 17 sub-krewes. Starting where Royal meets Franklin, the parade will continue down Royal Street and end at Decatur and Frenchmen.
A themed float features the topic "Krewe du Viuex Saves the Wet Glands." The Royalty Float's theme is "All Hail: Queen Franziska Trautmann." The 17 sub-krewes each have a theme of their own, including, but not limited to, "Spank: Disappearing Landry," "C.R.A.P.S.: Crapocracy 2028," and "Mishigas: Kennedy's Remedies."
Krewe du Vieux Signatures
Unlike other super-krewes, Krewe du Vieux uses smaller human or mule-drawn floats, with marchers featured in between. Marchers uniquely feature live brass bands, and floats are hand-decorated by members of the respective float.
Themes often draw on old-Mardi Gras, with satirical and bawdy references to politics and society. This throwback to a 19th century style of Carnival parading maintains the origin of Mardi Gras and its ability to combine mockery with respect for art.
The Krewe's History
Krewe du Vieux officially gained its title in 1987, inspired by the no-longer active Krewe of Clones. Honing in on Clones's uninhibited nature, Krewe du Vieux strives to provide a creative and entertaining parade experience without excessive expenses and rules.
The parade theme for 2025 was "Krewe du Vieux is Revolting," crowning Little Freddie King. On February 15 of last year, Pocket Chocolate and the Honey Island Swamp Band were a couple of the musical highlights of the parade.
Now, the krewe parades on the third Saturday before Fat Tuesday with an extensive number of members in sub-krewes and marching. Going on its 39th year of establishment, Krewe du Vieux continues to uphold the most important elements of Mardi Gras—community, creativity, satire, and boldness.
