Congo Square Rhythms Festival 2027: Dates (Mar 27 to 28) and Fares

When is Congo Square Rhythms Festival 2027?

Congo Square Rhythms Festival 2027 is expected to run March 27 to 28, 2027. The dates follow the usual pattern and are not announced yet.

2027March 27 to 28, 2027Expected

How the dates are set: Held on a weekend in the second half of March, set each year by the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation.

See every event in March 2027

Congo Square Rhythms Festival schedule

Saturday, March 28, 2026: The Class Got Brass school band competition took place in Armstrong Park in conjunction with the festival.
Both days, 2026: The Congo Square Kids Village ran scheduled activities from noon to 6:00 PM each day.
Each year: The Mardi Gras Indian battle is always a major highlight: three tribes meet in Congo Square to battle and then unite in Indian prayer, Indian Red and chanting.

Source: jazzandheritage.org

Getting to Congo Square Rhythms Festival

The festival sits on the outskirts of the French Quarter in Tremé, in Congo Square at Louis Armstrong Park.

Source: jazzandheritage.org

Tickets and cost

Admission is free. Donations are accepted, with donation boxes at most of the park entrances.

Source: jazzandheritage.org

History of Congo Square Rhythms Festival

In the 1700s, enslaved and free people of color gathered in Congo Square on Sundays to trade goods and play music. The festival is one of four two-day music festivals launched by the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Jazz Fest itself was launched in Congo Square in 1970.

Source: timescolonist.com

Congo Square Rhythms Festival: questions people ask

When is the Congo Square Rhythms Festival 2026?

The 2026 festival was held Saturday, March 28, to Sunday, March 29, 2026.

Is the Congo Square Rhythms Festival free?

Yes, admission is free and open to the public. Donations are welcome.

Where is the Congo Square Rhythms Festival?

It is held in Congo Square at Louis Armstrong Park, on the edge of the French Quarter in Tremé.

What is Class Got Brass?

It is a program of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation where Louisiana middle and high school brass bands of up to 12 members compete in a second-line parade. More than $50,000 worth of instruments and supplies is at stake.

What is the significance of Congo Square?

Congo Square is where enslaved African people gathered on Sunday afternoons to practice their ancestral traditions. It is widely recognized as the birthplace of jazz.

Source: jazzandheritage.org

About Congo Square Rhythms Festival

A free weekend of African diaspora music, dance, food and Mardi Gras Indian tradition in New Orleans' historic Congo Square.

The festival fills Congo Square in Louis Armstrong Park with music, drumming, dance, an arts market and food that trace the African roots of New Orleans culture. Highlights include the Class Got Brass school band competition and the Mardi Gras Indian battle. It is free, so the practical catch is only finding a place to stay in March.

Know before you go

Admission is free, and donation boxes are set up at most park entrances.
The Kids Village runs scheduled activities from noon to 6 pm each day (2026 schedule).
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International (MSY) is about 30 minutes by car from the park, which sits on the edge of the French Quarter.

Planning the trip

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