Mardi Gras Permits

2026 Mardi Gras Lottery Vending Important Dates

2026 Registration Process

All participants must submit the completed official lottery registration card to the Bureau of Revenue, City Hall, Room 1W15.  The designated period to receive registration cards is Monday, January 5, 2026, through Friday, January 16, 2026.  A sales tax deposit in the amount of $1,000.00 in the form of a certified check or money order must accompany the official lottery registration card in order to be considered a valid registration.  Additionally, the following criteria must be met:     

• If mailed, the official lottery registration card must be received in the Bureau of Revenue on or before January 16, 2026 (Regardless of the postmark date).
• If hand delivered, the registration card must be stamped in the Applications Unit on or before January 16, 2026, by 5:00 p.m.
• Only those registration cards received during the designated period will be accepted and used to prepare the official lottery entry card.
• Certified check or money order, must be made payable to the City of New Orleans.
• All participants not selected for a fixed location will be refunded their deposit within ten (10) days.

NEW REQUIREMENTS:

• Copy of the vehicle registration for the vehicle that will be used to vend along the parade route.
• One (1) Vehicle registration per deposit.  All the rules for a legal food truck apply.
• A valid picture ID must be presented during the Fixed Location Selection Process on Janurary 24, 2026.
• All participants must be present on the selection Saturday to participate in the selection process

2026 Lottery Process

1. Participants need not be present for the lottery.
2. The Lottery will be conducted at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, January 22, 2026, at Gernon Brown Rec Center 1001 Harrison Ave. New Orleans, LA 70124.
3. The City will have the official lottery entry of each eligible lottery participant.            
4. The Department of Finance representative will read each eligible lottery participant’s name from the official lottery entry card and place the same into the selection hopper.
5. The Department of Finance representative will select the official lottery entry card from the hopper, and the names will be placed on the lottery board in the order in which they were drawn.  This order will be used during the fixed location selection process.
6. After all the official lottery entry cards have been selected, participants who are present will receive confirmation of their placement on the lottery board.  All participants who were not present for the lottery drawing may call the Bureau of Revenue at (504) 658-1662, (504) 658-1645, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. to obtain the results of the lottery drawing.  The results of the drawing will be posted on the City of New Orleans website at www.nola.gov.

2026 Fixed Location Selection Process

1. The fixed location selection process is scheduled for Saturday, January 24, 2026, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. at Gernon Brown Rec Center 1001 Harrison Ave. New Orleans, LA 70124 for the lottery participants.
2. Names will be called according to their placement on the lottery board.  A valid picture ID with vehicle registration must be presented at this time.
3. All participants must be present on location selection on Saturday to participate in the selection process
4. Each participant will be allowed to select only one (1) fixed location.
5. In order to expedite the fixed location selection process, please have at least five (5) locations ready when called.  You will have ten (10) minutes to choose a location. After ten (10) minutes, the next participant may make their selection. 
6. Permit and license fees in the form of a certified check or money order must be submitted at the time of the fixed location selection, in the amount of $655.25 (only if a valid health and fire permit has been obtained). The initial $1,000.00 submitted during the registration process will be applied as the sales tax deposit for the first category choice.  For each additional category at the same location, an amount of $1,505.25 will be required.   Payment of permit and license fees do not guarantee issuance of a permit until proper approvals are obtained from the State Health Department and the City Fire Department, if necessary. 
7. All food vendors must secure a State Health Permit and City Fire Permit, if using flammable materials, prior to receiving the City of New Orleans Occupational License and permit. 
8. The fixed location selection process will continue until all locations are selected.
9. The participant names remaining on the lottery board will have a chance to select a location in the event a participant is unable to meet all requirements.
10. Process #9 will only be limited to those participants who have not selected a location. Participants who have already selected a location will not be allowed to change their location.
11. In accordance with Section 34-37(b) of the Code of the City of New Orleans, a specific location can be assigned but not guaranteed by the City of New Orleans.
12. Participants interested in one-day permits should refer to the Mardi Gras Booklet for fee rates.

ANY PROCEDURE LISTED IN THE AFOREMENTIONED CORRESPONDENCE MAY BE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

Should you have any questions, please contact the Application Unit at (504) 658-1662 or (504) 658-1645.