New Orleans is preparing for a busy Halloween weekend, with hotel occupancy projections pointing to stronger demand on Friday and Saturday compared with the same period in 2025. According to New Orleans & Company, the city's destination marketing organization, projected hotel occupancy for Friday, October 30, is 81%, up from 79% last year, while Saturday, October 31, is expected to reach 88%, compared with 80% in 2025.

Occupancy is projected at 65% on Thursday and 56% on Sunday, matching the figures recorded on those days last year. The outlook comes amid continued momentum in the city's meetings and conventions sector. Between September and the end of 2026, New Orleans is welcoming at least 225,000 attendees from more than 60 countries for 14 major conventions, conferences and meetings at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, alongside hundreds of additional events across hotels and other venues.

Halloween celebrations include Freaky Deaky at Mardi Gras World on October 30–31, costume parties, live music and nightlife in the French Quarter and along Frenchmen Street.

Ghosts, vampires and haunted houses: another side of New Orleans

Beyond its festivals and nightlife, New Orleans offers visitors an opportunity to explore its mysterious reputation through guided tours of haunted locations and historic neighborhoods.

Haunted History Tours, a company specializing in the city's supernatural and historical stories since 1995, offers walking experiences through the French Quarter, where guides recount local legends, unexplained events and tales associated with some of the area's most infamous locations.

One option is a two-hour ghost and legends tour of the French Quarter, advertised from $30. The experience explores the neighborhood's haunted history through stories told by local guides, connecting the city's historic architecture with its enduring folklore. The company also offers vampire tours, cemetery visits, haunted pub tours and excursions through other historic districts.

With its combination of cultural attractions, restaurants, live entertainment and supernatural storytelling, New Orleans is positioning Halloween weekend as an opportunity to experience one of its most distinctive traditions.

Final hotel occupancy figures will be available after the weekend.