TOURISM MATTERS FIT FÊTE: BUILDING A HEALTHIER, MORE CONNECTED NEW ORLEANS
SEPTEMBER 2026
TO N.O. 5 GETTING Employee Spotlight - Gwen Cornelious STORY 6 COVER Fit Fête: Building a Healthier,
More Connected New Orleans
BEYOND THE BEADS 8 From Ghost Tours to Cemetery Preservation, New Orleans Embraces its Haunted Side
COMPANY’S COMING 14 Convention Calendar MUSIC TO OUR EARS 16 What Others are Saying about New Orleans
HOW TO
Reach Us Tourism Matters is published by Gambit for New Orleans & Company, the official destination marketing and sales organization for the New Orleans tourism industry. Our vision is to make New Orleans the most remarkable, unique and welcoming city in the world. The mission of New Orleans & Company is to inspire, promote and encourage travel to the city for the economic, social and community benefit of New Orleans and its people.
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PHOTO COURTESY OF CITY PARK
MEMBERSHIP NEWS 10 Welcome New Members! BE A TOURIST 12 Leisure Events Calendar
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PHOTO BY PAUL BROUSSARD
TO N.O. 4 GETTING Member Profile: LeBlanc + Smith
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LETTER 3 CEO Walter J. Leger III
Executive Team Walter J. Leger III, President and CEO Alice Glenn, Executive Vice President Stephanie Turner, SVP, Convention Sales & Strategies Kim Priez, SVP, Tourism Kelly Schulz, SVP, Communications and PR Jeremy Cooker, SVP of Marketing Sam Joffray, Event Development and Production Executive Tammie Boteler, VP of Finance
504-566-5011 | 2020 St. Charles Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70130
Brian Walker, VP of Information Technology
www.neworleans.com
Rachel Avery, CMP, Director, Convention Services and Special Events
Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: @Visit New Orleans | @Neworleansandco
Tara Stackpole, Director of Executive Operations
Laura Russett, Director of Administration
WILLIAM CHANEY + MARY BETH ROMIG, TOURISM MATTERS EDITORS COVER PHOTO BY JUSTEN WILLIAMS
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S E P T E M B E R 2026 | N E W O R L E A N S & CO M PA N Y
PHOTO COURTESY OF NEW ORLEANS & COMPANY
TABLE of CONTENTS
A MESSAGE from the CEO
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verything we do at New Orleans & Company begins with a simple belief: when people choose New Orleans, the impact reaches far beyond the visitor economy.
Travel supports jobs and small businesses. Conventions bring leaders, ideas and investment to our city. Festivals and cultural events sustain the people and traditions that make New Orleans unlike anywhere else. And stronger connections — to other cities, other countries and one another — create opportunities that benefit our entire region. As we enter the final months of 2026, there is real momentum to build upon. Our fourth quarter is shaping up to be particularly strong for meetings and conventions, bringing thousands of attendees to New Orleans during a critically important period for our hospitality community. These gatherings fill hotel rooms and restaurants, but their impact goes further—supporting local jobs, generating economic activity and introducing decision-makers from around the world to everything New Orleans has to offer. Fall also reminds us why there is always another reason to come back. NOLA x NOLA, the 10th annual Fried Chicken Festival, Art for Art’s Sake, Krewe of Boo and so many other experiences give visitors—and all of us who call this place home—new ways to experience the culture, creativity and energy of New Orleans. We are carrying that message into the marketplace as well. Our fall advertising campaign will showcase cooler temperatures, extraordinary festivals and New Orleans’ identity as a city of music, culture and connection, reaching potential travelers in important regional and national markets. And we continue to strengthen the connections that make visitation possible. The Amtrak Mardi Gras Service recently celebrated its first anniversary connecting New Orleans and Mobile. With approximately 150,000 passengers in its first year and visitation from Mobile to New Orleans up nearly 20
PHOTO COURTESY OF NEW ORLEANS & COMPANY
Dear Friends of New Orleans & Company,
CVB
percent since service began, it is another reminder that connectivity creates opportunity—for New Orleans and for the entire Gulf Coast. This issue of Tourism Matters also highlights something new: the inaugural Fit Fête, November 13–14 at City Park. Fit Fête is about more than a single weekend. It reflects a broader vision of New Orleans as a place where people come together not only to celebrate, but to live well, compete, connect and build community. The New Orleans Marathon is already approaching 3,000 registered runners from 49 states and 16 countries. The New Orleans Community Games will bring corporate and nonprofit teams together for everything from pickleball and flag football to yoga, fishing, cornhole, tug of war and team challenges. We want Fit Fête to become a signature New Orleans weekend—one that brings together health, community, friendly competition and, most importantly, the joy of being together. Because ultimately, that is what New Orleans does better than anywhere else. We bring people together. And when people come together in New Orleans, remarkable things happen. I hope you’ll join us at City Park November 13–14. To field a team or learn more, visit nolafitfete.com or contact Jenna Theriot at jtheriot@neworleans.com
Sincerely,
Walter J. Leger III President & CEO New Orleans & Company
NEWORLE ANS .COM | SEP TEMBER 2026
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GETTING to N.O.
Member Spotlight
LeBlanc + Smith
Upon graduating from Loyola University New Orleans, LeBlanc started a record label that ultimately failed and evolved into an event planning and guerrilla marketing firm.
PHOTO COURTESY OF LEBLANC + SMITH
Three months after Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, he opened the music venue Republic New Orleans, his first hospitality project. Twenty-one years later, LeBlanc is the founder and visionary of the New Orleans-based hospitality group LeBlanc + Smith, a boutique collection of restaurants, bars, and hotels dedicated to redefining 21st-century Southern hospitality. The diverse portfolio ranges from internationally acclaimed boutique hotels to dive bars and po-boy shops.
LeBlanc went on to open extremely successful projects throughout New Orleans, playing a pivotal role in the hospitality landscape, earning him a James Beard nomination in the Outstanding Restaurateur category. Most recently, he expanded to Nashville and Atlanta, and has plans to continue to grow throughout the South. LeBlanc proudly champions Southern hospitality through a diverse and contemporary lens that makes all who visit feel at home. This New Orleans-based group is committed to creating soulful, welcoming spaces where guests feel a genuine sense of connection and home. His approach embodies his vision of balanced, community-driven hospitality that embraces joy and authenticity. Under LeBlanc’s leadership, LeBlanc + Smith not only curates unforgettable guest experiences but also fosters a unique team culture that values transparency, teamwork, and growth, empowering employees to become future industry leaders. LeBlanc believes that the magic of a space is the key ingredient.
THE CHLOE
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The list includes some of New Orleans’ most celebrated hospitality concepts, including The Chloe (Condé Nast Traveler Hot List), The Celestine, Sylvain, The Will & The Way, and Anna’s (Esquire’s Best Bars), among others.
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PHOTO COURTESY OF LEBLANC + SMITH
HOUMA, LOUISIANA NATIVE ROBÉRT “RO” LEBLANC WAS NOT BORN INTO a hospitality-rooted family. But the name he has made for himself and the properties his company has developed in recent years shows that creativity and a strong eye for authenticity are key ingredients to success.
“In a digital world where emotion often gets lost, hospitality has a unique ability to create experiences that bring people together,” LeBlanc said. “We don’t just want you to have a great cocktail or meal. We want you to have fun amongst a great group of people, too. It’s about creating an experience.”
THE WILL & THE WAY
Amid his expansion into other markets, namely Nashville and Atlanta, LeBlanc remains committed to staying in New Orleans instead of moving away. “In New Orleans, every single day, there is something that moves you,” he said. “You feel alive in New Orleans.” He describes New Orleans as a place that puts a premium on human interaction. And as he grows his organization to more Southern destinations, LeBlanc hopes to “export” the New Orleans culture in each of its projects. “We do not want to export the New Orleans that people traditionally classify as New Orleans — Cajun and Zydeco music, red beans and rice, jambalaya, blackened redfish,” he said. “What we try to export is New Orleans’ joie de vivre.”
GETTING to N.O.
Employee Spotlight
CVB
IN LOVING MEMORY:
Ms. Gwen Cornelious
PHOTO COURTESY OF NEW ORLEANS & COMPANY
1955 - 2026 NEW ORLEANS & COMPANY IS MOURNING THE LOSS OF OUR DEAR COLLEAGUE AND FRIEND,
Ms. Gwen Cornelious, who passed away on August 8, 2026, after a long illness. Ms. Gwen joined our organization in 1990 and served with distinction in our Finance Department for more than three decades. She lived our culture values of excellence, trust, inclusivity, authenticity, innovation and collaboration every day. She was an absolute pro. As an Accounts Payable Specialist, Ms. Gwen’s job was to hold us all accountable for our credit card statements and other important financial matters, and she did it with gusto! Generations of employees fondly recall how she would pursue us via e-mail and also in the hallways looking for receipts and back up information for our expenditures.
Walt Leger III, New Orleans & Company’s President and CEO said, “Ms. Gwen left no detail uncovered. She was a big part of the reason why we have achieved flawless financial audits every single year. She was aggressive, but always kind. Her loss is devastating for us personally and professionally, and she is sincerely missed.” Tammie Boteler, New Orleans & Company’s Vice President of Finance, and Ms. Gwen’s long-time supervisor and friend added, “I had the pleasure of working with Gwen for over 26 years.
She was not only my colleague, but a dear friend who will be forever loved and forever missed. She was an amazing person, with many talents and a gentle soul, and a kind heart.” Ms. Gwen is survived by her Spouse Aaron, Daughter Alexis, three grandchildren, five siblings, and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. We are grateful for the colleague, professional and friend that she was to so many of us at New Orleans & Company! Rest in peace, Ms. Gwen.
NEWORLE ANS .COM | SEP TEMBER 2026
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Fit Fête: Building a Healthier, More Connected New Orleans BY WILLIAM CHANEY
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PHOTO COURTESY OF CITY PARK
ith Fit Fête approaching November 13-14 at City Park, this new signature weekend reflects something New Orleans does exceptionally well: bringing people together through community, hospitality and celebration. Focusing on health and wellness is important for our community, but also helps move the needle on showing the world a broader vision of all the attributes that make New Orleans such a remarkable place. Fit Fête is focused on delivering a signature New Orleans event, one that is social, inclusive, and distinctly aligned with how our community comes together.At first glance, Fit Fête is about fitness. In reality, it is about something much bigger. Healthy communities are built in many of the same ways as healthy workplaces and strong economies. They require people to connect, support one another, work toward shared goals, and invest in a common future. When people are healthier physically, mentally, and socially, they can become stronger teammates, more engaged neighbors, and more active participants in the life of their city.
Ta d Gorm l ey St a d i u m , C i t y Pa r k
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Fit Fête brings those ideas together through three connected experiences: the New Orleans Community Games, the return of the New Orleans Marathon, and WellNXT New Orleans x Fest. For the local business community, the New Orleans Community Games offers something many organizations are searching for today: authentic team building. “Workplace culture is not created by mission statements or email signatures,” said Walt Leger III, President and CEO of New Orleans & Company. “It grows through shared experiences that build trust, strengthen relationships, and remind employees that they are part of something larger than themselves. Strong teams are built when colleagues have opportunities to communicate,
collaborate, and connect outside of their normal responsibilities.” Leading up to the event, participating employees will be able to earn points for their organizations through a season-long challenge platform. The Community Games will culminate on November 13 with sports, games, and team-building activities in City Park, where companies and organizations of similar sizes will compete for points on a community-wide leaderboard. The Games are designed to provide team building without the boardroom. Employees can break a sweat, break down barriers, and build camaraderie in an environment centered on participation and fun. The larger goal is to strengthen communication, build trust, and create shared memories that
CVB important role, and the team’s success depends on everyone doing their part. Businesses that train together, encourage one another, and cross the finish line together may discover that those lessons carry back into the office long after race day. Not everyone defines wellness in the same way, and Fit Fête recognizes that. Throughout the weekend, WellNXT New Orleans x Fest will transform Tad Gormley Stadium into a free wellness experience centered on movement, nutrition, recovery, mindfulness, and family activities. The festival will focus on whole-self wellness through five immersive zones: Move, Nourish, Breathe, Care, and Play. The range of experiences reflects the idea that wellness is not one-size-fitsall. Some participants may be interested in nutrition, mindfulness, or recovery, while others may run a race, compete with coworkers, or simply attend with friends and family.
employees can carry back into the workplace. The second major component of Fit Fête is the return of the New Orleans Marathon on November 14 following a seven-year hiatus. The race series will include a full marathon, half marathon, 5K, and marathon relay, creating options for experienced runners, first-time participants, and workplace teams. For local organizations, the marathon relay offers another natural opportunity to build connections. Coworkers can divide the course, train together, and work toward a shared finish line. A relay team is also a simple but powerful metaphor for a successful workplace. Progress depends on preparation, communication, accountability, and trust. Each participant has an
By bringing the Community Games, New Orleans Marathon, and WellNXT New Orleans x Fest together, Fit Fête allows people to participate in the way that works best for them. The event reflects the way New Orleans approaches life. The city celebrates together, solves problems together, welcomes visitors together, and supports its communities through challenges. Its culture has always been rooted in bringing people together, and health and wellness should be no different. “Investing in wellness is not simply about encouraging exercise or reducing healthcare costs. It is about creating a city where people want to live, work, learn, invest, and prosper,” said Leger. “Those investments benefit individual employees and organizations, but they also strengthen neighborhoods and the larger New Orleans community.”
Get Involved! REGISTRATION ALSO CONTINUES FOR THE NEW ORLEANS COMMUNITY GAMES, with recently fielded teams Sodexo Live, Hotard, the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, Highgate, Windsor Court, Gootee Construction, Habitat for Humanity, Zehnder Communications, The Ehrhardt Group, and Brand Society among those preparing to compete. Thank you to all of the organizations that have already registered and committed to being a part of this event. Local businesses and organizations can begin preparing now by registering a Community Games team and encouraging employees to start earning points through wellness challenges and community activities. Registration packages begin at $1,500 for four athletes, with additional packages available for teams of 10, 20, 48, 96, or more. All registration fees include a credit toward 2027 New Orleans & Company membership dues. To field a corporate or nonprofit team, or learn more about the entire weekend, visit nolafitfete.com or contact Jenna Theriot at jtheriot@neworleans.com. However they choose to participate, organizations will be investing in more than a weekend event. They will be investing in stronger workplaces, healthier residents, and a more connected New Orleans.
NEWORLE ANS .COM | SEP TEMBER 2026
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BEYOND the BEADS From Ghost Tours to Cemetery Preservation, New Orleans Embraces its Haunted Side BY BENJI JENKINS
PHOTO BY CHERYL GERBER
A historic New Orleans home takes on an eerie glow after dark, reflecting the city’s long connection to ghost stories and haunted history.
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The city’s many ghost tours follow the steps of infamous crimes, voodoo culture, and delve deep into the city’s cemeteries and the stories that lie within them. Visitors can choose from a variety of experiences offered by Haunted History Tours, Royal Carriages, Gray Line New Orleans, and Dupont & Company, with options ranging from haunted walking Th e d i st i n c t i ve a b ove - g ro u n d to m b s of St . Lo u i s and carriage tours to Ce m ete r y No. 1 s h owc a s e o n e of New Or l e a n s’ m ost family-friendly experire cog n iz a bl e h i sto r i c b ur i a l t ra d i t i o n s . ences. Some operators also offer tours specifically designed with younger visitors NOLA Historic tours is run by presin mind, including Unique NOLA Tours’ ervationist and author, Rob Florence, Spooky Family Ghost Tour, which offers who has dedicated much of his work age-appropriate haunted storytelling to preserving countless historic tombs for the whole family. such as the Homer Plessy tomb and the Tomb of Marie Couvent. Florence NOLA Historic Tours leads tours also led the restoration of the New throughout the city, educating and Orleans Musicians tomb, which now entertaining those curious about the offers free burials to musicians, maincity’s spectacular historical sites and taining and honoring the crucial legacy traditions, including countless haunted venues and cemeteries. of our city’s music culture.
PHOTO BY PAUL BROUSSARD
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ew Orleans is continuously regarded as the most haunted city in America, a reputation that is well nurtured and embraced by the city. Here, the line between the living and the dead is often blurred, and there is no shortage of ways to get in touch with the city’s spooky side. Ghost Tourism, travel centered around stories, sites, and over all history tied to death, tragedy, and dark historical events, is woven into the visitor experience of New Orleans.
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Florence takes a firm stance on positioning his tours beyond the spooky and sensational. He believes that ghost tourism in New Orleans can be heavily educational in local history as so much of the city’s haunted reputation is attributed to real historical figures and true events. “It is crucial to convey these narratives responsibly and respectfully because they are often sensationalized. Not only is sensationalism unnecessary as New Orleans history is more interesting than fiction, but sensationalized tours can be intrusive on historic neighborhoods and cemeteries.” New Orleans recognizes ghost tourism as a significant contributing sector of the New Orleans visitor economy, and cemeteries are among the many assets that help sustain it. In a multitude of ways, New Orleans cemeteries are emblems of our city’s intricate past of immigration patterns, urban development, and the challenges of city life below sea level. With the city’s rich past on display, cemeteries give visitors a tangible connection to the people, traditions, and stories that shaped New Orleans. “New Orleans cemeteries are essential to the cultural and physical landscape of New Orleans, demonstrating how our architecture responds to and
PHOTO BY ROBERT FLORENCE
“The role haunted and cemetery tours play in our city’s tourism industry is immense and growing,” Florence said. “New Orleans is considered ‘America’s most haunted city’ for several historic reasons and is one of the world’s only cities whose cemeteries are a major tourist destination.”
V i s i to rs g at h e r fo r a g u i d e d to u r a m o n g t h e h i sto r i c a b ove - g ro u n d to m b s of St. Lou is Ce mete ry No. 1, on e of New Orl e an s’ most i co n i c ce m ete r i e s .
reflects the ecological realities and cultural influences of the city,” said Sara Lowenberg, director of Save Our Cemeteries. “They are essential sacred spaces, community gathering places, and physical records of the people who shaped our city.” As a department of the Preservation Resource Center of New Orleans, Save Our Cemeteries stands on the frontier of the city’s cemetery preservation initiative. The organization advocates for the upkeep of our city’s historical landscape, not only through tomb restorations, but through volunteer opportunities, workforce development, educational lectures, restoration workshops, and around the clock cemetery tours exploring the generations of legacy yielding lives lived in New Orleans.
Save Our Cemeteries is entirely nonprofit, channeling ghost tourism revenue directly into initiatives such as the Bridge to Crafts Careers program which aims to train the next generation of crafts people in masonry, ironwork, and plasterwork through hands-on restoration education. The program is currently focusing on the restorations of abandoned tombs in Historic St. Louis Cemetery No. 2, connecting paid participants with local employment opportunities within related trades. Ghost tourism matters to New Orleans, not simply because it attracts visitors, but because it can deepen historical understanding and encourage the preservation and appreciation of the places that tell the city’s story.
NEWORLE ANS .COM | SEP TEMBER 2026
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MEMBERSHIP NEWS Welcome New Members » 3rd Block Depot
» Cafe Hope
» French Quarter Suites Hotel
» 55 Fahrenheit
» Cafe Malou
» Frenchmen Art Bazaar
» Abbott’s Frozen Custard
» The California Building
» Fritai
» ABC Computer & Audio Visual Rental
» Castle Merchandising Inc
» Gators and Ghosts
» Accounting Services Unlimited
» Chada NOLA
» Greater New Orleans East
» Aflac
» The Channel
» Africa Love Store Nola
» Charles & Julia
» Gulf Coast Bank & Trust Company
» Alinea Coffee Roasters + Espresso Catering
» Charmant
» Habibi Lebanese Grill
» Chateau Hotel
» Hansen Music Productions, LLC
» The Chloe Restaurant
» Healthy Cleaning Service Solutions
» COCO KOREA BBQ
» High Hat Cafe
» Code Red Caper
» Historic Streetcar Inn
» Crazy Johnnie’s Food and Spirits
» Hungry Eyes
» Audio Visual Production Lab
» The Crustacean Club
» Image Krewe
» B. Bryant Films
» Cultural Curriculum Project
» International Arts Foundation
» The Bag Vault NOLA
» Debra Gould & Associates, Inc
» Ironic Reports
» Bart’s Office Inc.
» Devotion Studios
» Italian Barrel French Quarter
» The Bell
» Dirty Coast
» IZZAT
» Bayou Bootleg
» EFFECT CO.
» J&M Displays
» Betsy Ann Riverboat
» The Elysian Bar
» JETSET Bachelorette
» Biscuits and Buns OCH
» Favorites
» Joseph Walton Photography
» Blo blow dry bar
» Firefly Ambiance
» Junior’s on Harrison
» Brasa New Orleans
» Fleur de Mahj
» JusTini’s
» BrightFrame Studios, LLC
» Fracture
» KIRA Nola/Ohm Lounge
» Broussard’s Restaurant & Courtyard
» Francesca by Katie’s
» The Knockaz Brass Band
» American Tradeshow Services LLC » André Cailloux Center for Performing Arts and Cultural Justice » Anna’s » The Antidote Juice
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S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 6 | N E W O R L E A N S & C O M PA N Y
Business Alliance
CVB
» KREWE » La Madeleine » Lafayette Hotel
» NOLA LAPEL PINS & BEAUCOUP MERCH » Nola Video Krewe
» Securitas » Social Restaurant
» NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune
» Social Restaurant Madisonville
» Lantern Light Inc.
» The NOW Massage Downtown New Orleans
» Studio Shandon Melvin
» Le Richelieu Hotel
» OnPath Credit Union
» Succotash Nola
» Lil’ Dizzy’s Cafe
» OperaCréole
» Suis Generis
» Live Event Productions
» Palmettos on the Bayou
» Louie Louie
» Paradigm Gardens
» Luca Falcone
» The Patterson
» Sushi By Us
» Lyles Coffee Co
» Petite Rouge Coffee Truck
» Mahony’s Poboys
» Peychaud’s Cocktail Bar
» SWIETstuff: Wearable Art with a Social Mission
» The Magnolia at Stonebridge
» The Point Bar & Kitchen
» Misfit Toys NOLA
» Pyro Productions Inc
» The Monarch
» Roami at The Churchill
» The Mortuary Haunted Mansion
» Rockabye Karaoke
» Motion Electric Films
» Royal’s Woodfire Pizza
» Natalie Fowler (Eyeluster Photography)
» Rubenstein Hotel
» The Lakehouse Nola
» New Orleans Courtyard Hotel by the French Quarter » New Orleans Event & Film Studios » New Orleans Tourism and Cultural Foundation
» Sunsets NOLA
» Tatum’s Toppers » Total Access Mobility » Turning Tables » Turtle Bay Food & Spirits
» Ruby Slipper
» Two Sisters on Bourbon
» Saddle Bar
» The Warbler Hotel
» Saint Claire » Saint Phillip Street Gourmet Coffee and Tea » Salon Salon
» Wells & Kappel LLP » Wheel Fun Rentals - New Orleans
» Nik Richard
» Screaming Peacock
» The Will and The Way
» Nola Cannabis Co.
» Sean Regan Law
*through July 2026
NEWORLE ANS .COM | SEP TEMBER 2026
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BE A TOURIST
Leisure Events Calendar
SEPTEMBER » New Orleans Fashion Week SEPTEMBER 20-26 Canal Place neworleansfashionweek.com
» New Orleans Cocktail Week SEPTEMBER 21-27 neworleanscocktailweek.com
» NOLAxNOLA SEPTEMBER 24- OCTOBER 4 Citywide neworleans.com/nolaxnola
OCTOBER » National Fried Chicken Festival OCTOBER 2-4 Lakeview/Lakefront
» Gentilly Fest OCTOBER 9-11
Pontchartrain Park gentillyfestival.com
OCTOBER 24
French Quarter kreweofboo.com
friedchickenfestival.com
» Oktoberfest
» New Orleans Film Festival
» Art for Art’s Sake
Deutsches Haus deutscheshaus.org/oktoberfest
New Orleans Film Society neworleansfilmsociety.org
» Nola Funk Fest
» Freaky Deaky
Goldring Woldenberg Riverfront Park nolafunkfest.com
Mardi Gras World freakydeakynola.com
» Praise Fest
» Halloween Festivities
Bayou St. John praisefestnola.com
Various Locations neworleans.com/halloween
OCTOBER 3 Magazine Street magazinestreet.com/event/art-for-art-sake
» Crescent City Blues and BBQ Fest OCTOBER 9-11 Lafayette Square jazzandheritage.org/events/ 2026-crescent-city-blues-bbq-festival
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» Krewe of BOO!
S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 6 | N E W O R L E A N S & C O M PA N Y
OCTOBER 9-24
OCTOBER 16-18
OCTOBER 16-18
OCTOBER 22-NOVEMBER 1
OCTOBER 30-31
OCTOBER 30-31
PHOTO BY RICHARD NOWITZ
Citywide
NOVEMBER
» Sober Fest
» Bayou Bacchanal
The Broadside bridgehouse.org/events/soberfest
Congo Square friendsofculture.org
» Annual Bayou Classic Thanksgiving Day Parade
NOVEMBER 7
» Oak St. Po’boy Fest NOVEMBER 8
8100-8700 Blocks of Oak Street poboyfest.com
» New Orleans Fit Fête NOVEMBER 13-14
New Orleans City Park neworleans.com/fit-fete
» WellNXT New Orleans X Fest
NOVEMBER 21
NOVEMBER 26
Downtown New Orleans mybayouclassic.com
» Greek Show & Battle of the Bands NOVEMBER 27
Caesars Superdome mybayouclassic.com
» Annual Bayou Classic Fan Festival NOVEMBER 28 Champions Square at Caesars Superdome mybayouclassic.com
» 53rd Annual Bayou Classic Football Game NOVEMBER 28 Caesars Superdome mybayouclassic.com
» Beignet Fest NOVEMBER 7
City Park beignetfest.com
NOVEMBER 13-14
New Orleans City Park wellnxtfest.com
» New Orleans Community Games NOVEMBER 13
New Orleans City Park neworleans.com/fit-fete/community-games/
NOVEMBER 14
Tad Gormley Stadium runsignup.com
» Luna Fete
NOVEMBER 13-15 Lafayette Square lunafete.org
PHOTO BY PAUL BROUSSARD
» New Orleans Marathon
NEWORLE ANS .COM | SEP TEMBER 2026
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COMPANY’S COMING
Conventions Calendar
SEPTEMBER
Emerald X, LLC
WEFTEC 2026
Healthcare Design Conference + Expo
SEPTEMBER 28–30
OCTOBER 13–21
New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center Water quality professionals, researchers and industry leaders gather for education, training, networking and an expansive exhibition showcasing the latest innovations in the water sector. weftec.org
New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center
Water Environment Federation
Healthcare architects, designers, facility leaders and industry partners gather to explore how responsibly designed environments can improve the safety, operation and success of healthcare facilities. hcdexpo.com
Opportunity Finance Network
OCTOBER
OFN42
American Academy of Ophthalmology
OCTOBER 20–24
AAO 2026
New Orleans Marriott
OCTOBER 8–12
Community development financial institution professionals, partners and ad-
New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center Ophthalmologists and other eye care professionals come together for scientific programming, continuing education, networking and an exhibition highlighting advances in ophthalmic care and technology. aao.org/annual-meeting
vocates convene for educational programming, networking and collaboration focused on expanding economic opportunity in communities nationwide. ofn.org/ofn-conference
International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans
72nd Annual Employee Benefits Conference OCTOBER 24–29 New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center Employee benefits professionals gather for educational sessions, expert insights and discussions addressing the latest developments affecting benefit plans and their participants. ifebp.org P HOTO BY JUST IN WIL L IA MS
American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists
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PharmSci 360 OCTOBER 25–28 New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center Pharmaceutical scientists from around the world come together for scientific sessions, professional development, networking and an exhibition covering each stage of the drug-development process. aaps.org/pharmsci
CVB
NOVEMBER Diving Equipment and Marketing Association
DEMA Show 2026 NOVEMBER 3–6 New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center Professionals from the diving, travel and action water sports industries gather for the leading global trade event featuring equipment, education, business development and networking opportunities. demashow.com PHOTO BY PAU L BR OUSSAR D
National Association of REALTORS®
NAR NXT, The REALTOR® Experience NOVEMBER 5–9 New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center Real estate professionals convene for educational programming, national networking and an expansive expo featuring emerging tools, technology and ideas shaping the industry. narnxt.realtor
American Association for Respiratory Care
AARC Congress 2026
research, exchange ideas and explore the convention theme, “Move/ments in Communication.”
NOVEMBER 10–17
natcom.org
New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center Respiratory care professionals come together for continuing education, networking and programming highlighting the latest research, technology and practices in the field. aarc.org/congress
Association for Career and Technical Education
National Communication Association
New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center
112th Annual Convention
CareerTech VISION 2026 and Centennial Celebration NOVEMBER 28–DECEMBER 5 Career and technical education professionals, administrators and industry part-
NOVEMBER 18–21
ners gather for educational sessions, an expo and ACTE’s centennial celebration
New Orleans Marriott and Sheraton New Orleans Communication scholars, educators and professionals gather to present
honoring 100 years of leadership and innovation. careertechvision.com
NEWORLE ANS .COM | SEP TEMBER 2026
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MUSIC to our EARS “New Orleans doesn’t ask you to choose between history and hedonism; it gives you both. The past here isn’t something you leave behind when the museum closes. It follows you into the restaurant, onto the dancefloor, down the street, and into the music. I left with powdered sugar on my shirt and no intention of waiting another 20 years to return.” — MICHAEL SOLENDER, JOURNALIST HOSTED BY NEW ORLEANS & COMPANY WRITING FOR ATLANTA VUE
TOURISM MATTERS FIT FÊTE: BUILDING A HEALTHIER, MORE CONNECTED NEW ORLEANS SEPTEMBER 2026
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S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 6 | N E W O R L E A N S & C O M PA N Y
Tourism Matters New Orleans & Company 2020 St. Charles Ave. New Orleans, LA 70130
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