This May in New Orleans
Photo courtesy of New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival on Facebook
May sits in the New Orleans climatic sweet spot. It’s sunny, and you can wear shorts on most days, but it’s (usually) not super hot yet. Come evening, when the thermometer starts to dip into the 70s, the air feels something like perfect. If you’re planning a trip to New Orleans this May, find your French Quarter hotel, and check out these big events you can enjoy during your stay.
Jazz Fest
Thursday, April 23 – Sunday, May 3, 2026
Jazz Fest is the biggest music festival in the best music city in the USA and one of the marquee events on the New Orleans calendar. For the last weekend in April and the first weekend in May, the city hosts hundreds of bands and thousands of tourists, who stream into the Fair Grounds Race Course from around the world.
Dozens of food vendors will show off the best of local cuisine, while artisans create and trade Louisiana crafts. On the days between the weekends, some of the world’s great musicians will be partying (and often, playing) at gigs all around the city.
The Jazz Fest lineup is famously scheduled into “cubes” for attendees. So, find your cubes, and enjoy yourself!
Attending for the first time? Check out our First-Timer’s Guide to the New Orleans Jazz Fest!
New Orleans Greek Festival
Friday-Sunday, May 22-24, 2026
New Orleans Greek Festival returns on the Memorial Day weekend to the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral (1200 Robert E. Lee Blvd.). As usual, expect great Hellenic music, traditional dancing, cathedral tours, ouzo, Greek wines, and Greek coffee, plus, of course, the food.
Oh, the food. Souvlaki, baklava, dolma (stuffed grape leaves), spanakopita (spinach pie), and gyro sandwiches (pita bread pockets stuffed with lamb, pork, and zesty sauce), and more. The fest is kid-friendly, and is held both indoors and outdoors.
More May Events
Although not specific to New Orleans, there are a few events you can celebrate here with gusto. Grab a margarita at one of our many wonderful restaurants on Cinco de Mayo (Tuesday, May 5, 2026), celebrate Mother’s Day (Sunday, May 10, 2026) by booking brunch at one of the many elegant eateries, or visit The National World War II Museum to honor Memorial Day (Monday, May 25, 2026).
Coming to New Orleans in May?
Check out our guide to where to stay in the French Quarter, and be sure to check out our resource for French Quarter Hotels. Also, consider booking a guided tour of St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 to experience the hauntingly beautiful past of New Orleans.
For easy, informative sightseeing, we recommend the City Sightseeing New Orleans city tour on the open-top, double-decker bus. It runs every 30 minutes through the Garden District, French Quarter, and CBD. You can hop on and off anytime!
Happy May!
