On Valentine’s Day, love wasn’t just in the air in New Orleans—it was rolling down the streets in a blaze of lights, music, and more than a few million beads. The Krewe of Endymion delivered one of Carnival’s most anticipated spectacles with its 2026 theme, “Endymion: American Songbook,” transforming timeless music into towering, illuminated works of art.
Founded in 1967, Endymion has grown into one of Carnival’s legendary “Super-Krewes.” It reached that status in 1974 when it expanded its float count and began inviting celebrity guests, forever changing the scale of Mardi Gras parades. Today, with roughly 3,200 riders and dozens of floats—many built as tandems that stretch the spectacle even farther—Endymion stands as one of the largest and most extravagant parades of the season. Its motto, “Throw ‘til it Hurts,” is more than a catchy line; the krewe estimates it tosses over 15 million throws along the route each year.
The parade began at the intersection of City Park Avenue and Orleans Avenue, but the excitement started long before the first float rolled. Endymion is so popular that seasoned parade-goers claim their viewing spots in the early morning hours—even though the procession doesn’t start until the early evening. Families set up ladders, grills fired up in Mid-City neighborhoods, and the energy steadily built toward what many consider the crown jewel of Mardi Gras Saturday.
This year’s theme paid tribute to some of the greatest singers and songwriters in American history. Each float translated the essence of beloved songs into visual form—bright colors, elaborate set pieces, and dynamic lighting brought lyrics to life. It was a moving jukebox of American culture, rolling through the streets in rhythm with the roar of the crowd.
Riding as co-grand marshals were Carnival historian and author Arthur Hardy and new LSU football coach Lane Kiffin, a pairing that blended tradition with contemporary Louisiana pride. Their presence reflected Endymion’s unique ability to honor the past while celebrating the present.
Reigning as Endymion LX was Robert Jonathan Blackwell, while the queen, Miss Lily Joyce Bruneau, added regal elegance to the night’s festivities. The daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Adrian Lee Bruneau and granddaughter of Endymion president State Rep. Charles Emile “Peppi” Bruneau, her royal role felt deeply rooted in krewe tradition and family legacy.
The name Endymion itself comes from Greek mythology—a mortal granted eternal youth by Zeus at the request of the Moon Goddess, who loved him for his beauty. That mythological connection feels fitting for a parade that seems perpetually youthful, reinventing itself year after year while maintaining its larger-than-life appeal.
As float after float passed—39 in total, many extended into tandems—the scale of Endymion became clear. Massive lighting rigs illuminated the streets, beads rained down in glittering arcs, and riders lived up to the krewe’s “Throw ‘til it Hurts” mantra. The parade’s sheer size and intensity make it an endurance event for both riders and spectators, but that’s precisely the point. Endymion doesn’t do subtle.
In recent years, celebrity grand marshals have included the likes of Anderson Cooper, Kelly Ripa, Maroon 5, Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Steven Tyler, Pitbull, KC and the Sunshine Band, Kiss, and Flo Rida—a testament to the krewe’s star power. The 2025 Grand Marshal, basketball legend and LSU icon Shaquille O’Neal, only reinforced Endymion’s ability to attract headline-making names.
But the night didn’t end when the last bead was thrown. In classic Endymion fashion, the parade concluded with a ride into the Caesars Superdome for the legendary Endymion Extravaganza. Inside, thousands of revelers gathered for a concert event that felt more like a major music festival than a traditional ball. This year’s headliners, Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton, delivered back-to-back sets in a dynamic dual performance that perfectly echoed the parade’s American Songbook theme.
On a night dedicated to love, Endymion reminded New Orleans why this Super-Krewe holds such an enduring place in Carnival history. It was a celebration of music, myth, spectacle, and sheer excess—in other words, a Valentine written in beads and bright lights to the city that knows how to party like nowhere else on earth.