Universal Orlando celebrates Mardi Gras 2026
Food, fun and tons of beads! Universal Orlando lets the good times roll at Mardi Gras: International Flavors of Carnaval, happening through April 4, 2026.
The Easter season begins just days after Valentine’s Day.
It may feel like it’s too soon, but Mardi Gras arrives Tuesday, Feb. 17, and Lent begins the following day with Ash Wednesday, marking the final stretch before Easter Sunday in early April.
Easter falls more than two weeks earlier in 2026 than it did last year, meaning Ash Wednesday, Lent, Mardi Gras and other holidays associated with the Christian spring season have all moved up on the calendar.
Here’s a look at when some of the significant dates tied to Easter fall on the calendar this year.
When is Easter 2026?
This year, Easter Sunday is observed on April 5.
Why is Easter so early in 2026?
Easter follows a lunar-based system rather than a fixed date on the solar Gregorian calendar, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac.
The holiday is observed on the first Sunday after the Paschal full moon – the first full moon that falls on or after the March (spring) equinox. The date is determined by ecclesiastical calculations, which do not always align exactly with astronomical measurements.
In 2026, the spring equinox falls on Friday, March 20.
When is Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday 2026?
Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday in English, is Feb. 17. It marks the last day of Carnival before Lent begins on Ash Wednesday.
When is Ash Wednesday 2026?
Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of Lent, is on Feb. 18, 2026.
When is Lent 2026?
This year, Lent begins Wednesday, Feb. 18, and ends on Thursday, April 2. It lasts six weeks leading up to Easter.
When is Good Friday 2026?
Good Friday is on April 3.
What is Lent?
Lent is the religious period of fasting and repentance observed by many Christians. It commemorates the 40 days Jesus is said to have spent fasting in the desert before his public ministry. The season also serves as a time of reflection and preparation for Easter.
During this period of penance, charity and fasting, people give up luxuries and vices, such as chocolate, coffee or smoking. It is also common practice in the Catholic Church to abstain from eating meat on Fridays during Lent, though eating fish is permitted (which led to the creation of Filet-O-Fish from McDonald’s).
Why do people celebrate Mardi Gras?
Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, is the final indulgent celebration before the solemn and reflective season of Lent, which promotes abstaining from vices.
Why do people celebrate Easter?
Easter is one of the most significant holidays in Christianity, marking the resurrection of Jesus Christ on the Sunday after his crucifixion and death on Good Friday.
According to Christian belief, Jesus’ death is seen as atonement for humanity’s sins and the promise of eternal life. His resurrection is considered a miracle and evidence of his divinity. Many Christians wear crucifixes or crosses as symbols of their faith.
