Tulane graduation weekend 2027: things to do in New Orleans

Saturday, 15 May 2027 · ExpectedNew Orleans, United States

Tulane University Commencement brings parents, grandparents and siblings to New Orleans for a weekend. The ceremony takes a morning: this guide covers where to stay, the celebration dinner and what to do with the rest of the time.

Tours in New Orleans Hotels for these dates

Know before you go

Confirm the date and ticket rules on the school's commencement page: guest tickets are often limited.
Book the celebration dinner when you book the hotel. Every restaurant in town is full that weekend.

Airport to Yulman Stadium

Louis Armstrong (MSY) is 25 minutes from the French Quarter; flat taxi fare to the CBD.

St. Charles streetcar to campus.

Public transport directions to Yulman Stadium

Where to stay by budget

Budget	Where	Why
Budget	Mid-City	Streetcar to the Quarter.
Mid-range	Warehouse District and CBD	Walk to the Quarter.
Splurge	French Quarter	Historic hotels.

Three hotels we would book

Budget: The Quisby
Mid-range: Ace Hotel New Orleans
Splurge: Hotel Monteleone

Links search the nights from 14 May to 16 May. Event weekends sell out early and prices rise as the date gets closer: book a cancellable room as soon as you know you are going.

Day plans for the free hours

Built around the usual graduation weekend schedule for Saturday, 15 May 2027. Session times change: check the official timetable and move the blocks around.

Arrival day

Friday 14 May

Check in, walk the campus with your graduate and book a celebration dinner.

FreeCity Park.
EatCochon Cajun

Ceremony day

Saturday 15 May

Ceremonies take the morning. The afternoon is for photos and a long lunch.

EatParkway Bakery Po-boys
Easy outingFrench Quarter food tour Half day · Food
Gumbo, beignets and po-boys.

The day after

Sunday 16 May

A free day before everyone leaves. A good time for a trip out of town.

Half-daySwamp boat tour Half day · Family
Alligators and bayous.
EatCafé du Monde Beignets

Grandparents and siblings

Low walking and kid friendly.

Family pickPlantation tour Full day
Whitney or Oak Alley.
Rain or heat backupCooking class Half day · Food · Indoor
Creole dishes.

Family-friendly picks

Half day · Family

Swamp boat tour

Alligators and bayous.

See times and prices

Audubon Aquarium.
Audubon Zoo.

Evening and day-trip tours

Evening · Low walking · Nightlife · Food

Jazz cruise on the Steamboat Natchez

Mississippi sunset.

See times and prices

Evening · Nightlife

Ghost and voodoo tour

French Quarter stories.

See times and prices

Full day

Plantation tour

Whitney or Oak Alley.

See times and prices

After dark

Frenchmen Street.

6 tours worth booking for Tulane

Tour	Length	Good for
Swamp boat tour	Half day	Families
French Quarter food tour	Half day	Food lovers
Plantation tour	Full day	Everyone
Cooking class	Half day	Food lovers, Bad weather
Jazz cruise on the Steamboat Natchez	Evening	Tired legs, Night owls, Food lovers
Ghost and voodoo tour	Evening	Night owls

Event weeks sell out. Book tours with free cancellation as soon as the session times are published.

Where to eat

Café du Monde Beignets
Commander's Palace Creole jazz brunch
Cochon Cajun
Parkway Bakery Po-boys

Reserve dinner for the nights around the event: restaurants near the venue fill up days ahead.

Rainy-day backups

Half day · Food · Indoor

Cooking class

Creole dishes.

See times and prices

National WWII Museum.
New Orleans Museum of Art.

Getting around on event days

Streetcars and the RTA app; parade days close most of Uptown and the CBD.

Day trips from New Orleans

Swamps: 45 minutes
Baton Rouge: 1.5 hours

Bringing a group?

Corporate hospitality, fan clubs, teams and families travelling together: tell us the dates and group size and we will put together tours, transfers and a group dinner for Tulane.

Plan a group trip

Questions people ask

When is Tulane University Commencement 2027?

The next edition is Saturday, 15 May 2027, following the usual pattern. The organiser has not confirmed it yet.

How do I get from the airport to Yulman Stadium?

Louis Armstrong (MSY) is 25 minutes from the French Quarter; flat taxi fare to the CBD. St. Charles streetcar to campus.

Where should I stay for Tulane University Commencement?

For most visitors the best base is Warehouse District and CBD: Walk to the Quarter.

What else can we do around Tulane University Commencement?

Good short outings in New Orleans include Swamp boat tour, French Quarter food tour, Cooking class. See the day plans on this page for a full schedule.

What is there for kids and families near Tulane University Commencement?

Family-friendly picks: Swamp boat tour. Audubon Aquarium.

How far is Yulman Stadium from New Orleans centre?

About 5 km in a straight line. St. Charles streetcar to campus.

More events in New Orleans

29 Jan 2027*Mardi Gras
New Orleans, United StatesCulture 29 Apr 2027*New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival
New Orleans, United StatesFestival

More University graduations

15 May 2027*Georgetown Commencement
Washington, D.C., United StatesGraduation 15 May 2027*Fordham University Commencement
New York City, United StatesGraduation 16 May 2027*Boston University Commencement
Boston, United StatesGraduation 16 May 2027*Yale Commencement
New Haven, United StatesGraduation 16 May 2027*Notre Dame Commencement
South Bend, United StatesGraduation 16 May 2027*Tufts University Commencement
Boston, United StatesGraduation

Everything we cover in New Orleans