Eat your way through Jazz Fest 2026 (And find a few treasures, too)

The music at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival is legendary – but you could also call Jazz Fest a food festival with a world-class soundtrack. The Fest, as many locals call it, is one of the rare places where you can taste your way across Louisiana without leaving an oblong horse-racing track. As locals and longtime fans of the food, the music, and the culture, we wanted to dish a little on how to explore the food – and cultural finds – of the Fest.

Start smart and pace yourself.

Come hungry, of course. And if you want to enjoy some of the more hyped Fest dishes without the wait, come early, before the lines get long. But while some Fest foods have become famous, the truth is that everything out there is tried and true Louisiana food from well known eating and catering establishments, and therefore it’s gonna be great. A shorter line can mean a hidden gem, and at Jazz Fest, that’s part of the fun.

Where to go first.

That depends on which entrance you use, because there’s no right or wrong way to explore the Fest. Follow your nose to whatever smells (and looks and sounds) amazing! Here are a couple of food booths with historical significance, having been at the Fest since the earliest days (it started in 1970):

• Vaucresson’s Sausage Co. has been a true flavor of New Orleans since 1899 and was one of the original Jazz Fest food vendors. Fest-goers continue to line up for their fresh sausage po-boys made by this third-generation, family-owned business run by Vance Vaucresson and his wife, Julie. But Vance is not just the keeper of the business’ historic recipes – he’s also a jazz singer!
• Red beans & rice is a signature New Orleans dish made famous a century ago by jazz musician Louis Armstrong, and it’s a must-try. Douglas’ Red Beans & Rice was founded by the late Judy Burks, who stirred her bean pot at Jazz Fest for nearly 50 years with a recipe inspired by the legendary Buster Holmes’ Restaurant (an early 20th century jazz musician hangout in the French Quarter). Today, her business partner continues the tradition.

Jazz Fest is po-boy heaven.

The po-boy is another iconic local food, and nobody does it better than the vendors at Jazz Fest. You’ll have to pace yourself, and maybe share with a friend, to get a taste of the many po-boys on offer. There’s the Roast Beef Po-Boy from DiMartino’s, an old New Orleans Italian eatery established way back in 1975, and the (probably) world-famous Cochon de Lait Po-Boy from Walker’s BBQ.  Vaucresson’s many Sausage Po-Boys (including one with Alligator Sausage) make it on this list, too. Fresh Gulf Coast seafood makes a splash with The Galley Restaurant’s Fried Softshell Crab Po-Boy, Stufhapn Catering’s Crabmeat Po-Boy, the Fried Shrimp Po-Boy and Fried Oyster Po-Boy from Vucinivich’s Restaurant… and lots more.

Cool Down Like a Local.

Somewhere between bites, find your way to the Iced Tea Tent run by Southern Concessions – and if you know, you know. This is where you grab a not-so-small or a very large cup of the iced, delicious, sweet or unsweet teas that have become a ritual for locals at the Fest. This year there’ll be Rose Mint Herbal Iced Tea, Berry Breeze Herbal Iced Tea, and Southern Style Sweet Iced Tea.  For a more caffeinated and creamy option, head over to grab a Frozen Cafe Au Lait from New Orleans Coffee Company.

Taste the whole state.

Fest-goers are not just eating New Orleans – they’re tasting all of Louisiana. Cajun, Creole, Soul Food, Southern, Vietnamese, Jamaican, Greek, Mexican – the cuisines that have taken root across Louisiana are here. Don’t miss Crawfish Bisque from Lil’ Dizzy’s, Cajun Boiled Crawfish from Clesi’s Seafood, Boudin (a Cajun sausage) from Papa Ninety, Ya Ka Mein from Ms. Linda’s, Lump Crab Beignets from Loretta’s, and Quail, Pheasant and Andouille Gumbo from Prejean’s – to name just a few.

Take a Trip Without Leaving the Grounds.

When you’re ready for a change of pace, head to the Cultural Pavilion for a trip around the world. Every year, Jazz Fest spotlights a different country with live performances, traditional dishes, and cultural showcases that bring a global flavor to the Fest. This year, all eyes, ears and tastebuds are on Jamaica!

Don’t Skip the Arts & Crafts.

Once you’ve eaten your way through a few Louisiana delicacies, wander into the many arts and crafts areas. This is where you’ll find handmade jewelry, folk art, woodwork, fine art, textiles, and one-of-a-kind pieces you won’t see anywhere else. We’re fans of the South’s favorite starter – deviled eggs! – so we love the hand-carved Deviled Egg Platters made by woodworker Lee Toney in the Louisiana Marketplace (he’ll be there the second weekend of Fest). Shop for treasures through the Congo Square African Marketplace, the Native American Village,  and the many Arts & Crafts Tents, too – and do it all to the rhythm of the music, of course.