When spring rolls around on Tulane University’s campus, that can only mean one thing: Crawfest is near. A Tulane tradition centered around food and music, Crawfest is set to return to campus April 18, 2026.
Since 2007, Crawfest has been one of the largest student-run events in the country. It began with a group of students who wanted a campuswide spring event with the same spirit that Homecoming brings in the fall.
The event celebrates New Orleans culture through live music and food, and, in just about a month, the Berger Family Lawn will be filled with people ready to enjoy the over 10,000 pounds of perfectly seasoned and boiled crawfish.
If that is not enticing enough, tickets are free for all Tulane students who register with their student ID. For non-students, tickets are priced at $20. With unlimited crawfish and access to live music from local bands, Crawfest remains one of Tulane’s most anticipated events.
The all-you-can-eat crawfish is first-come, first-served, so it is best to get there early. For those who are not crawfish enthusiasts, the festival will also include local food and drink vendors available for purchase, with vegan and gluten-free options as well.
This year, Crawfest will also expand into the Newcomb Quad, nearly doubling the event space. The event has not utilized both quads since 2019, when the School of Architecture and Built Environment’s temporary pavilions were put up.
In addition to the main festival, Crawfest is now partnering with Seniors for the Tulane Fund to put up a VIP tent for graduating seniors. Seniors who donate to the fund will be able to skip the general line and head straight to the tent, which will include a private boil with free alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.
This year’s lineup features local musicians like Jake Ewald, who is best known as a founding member of Modern Baseball and the lead singer of Slaughter Beach, Dog. The festival will also feature New Orleans-based band, The Deslondes, whose music blends folk and blues, while Swinging Gypsies brings another local jazz influence to this year’s lineup.
Crawfest also brings in artists from outside New Orleans, including Dogpark, an indie rock band that formed at the University of Richmond, and Laundry Day, a New York pop rock band.
Performances will begin at 11:30 a.m. with Hotel Burgundy, followed by Swinging Gypsies on the main stage at 12:15 p.m., and The Deslondes at 1 p.m. Laundry Day will take the stage at 1:45 p.m., with Jake Ewald following at 2:30 p.m. and, finally, Dogpark will close out the day with their performance at 3:30 p.m.