- Patrick Warburton will serve as Bacchus LVII on Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026.
- The Krewe of Bacchus celebrates America’s 250th with 32 themed floats and the new Baby Whoppa.
- Parade includes 1,700 riders, 200 custom throws and 250,000 pairs of socks across 47 designs.
Patrick Warburton named Bacchus LVII
Actor Patrick Warburton — best known as David Puddy on Seinfeld and the voice of Joe Swanson on Family Guy — will reign as Bacchus LVII on Sunday, February 15, 2026. The Krewe of Bacchus announced Warburton as its celebrity king as part of a parade that will honor America’s 250th anniversary.
Warburton’s resume spans live-action and voice work, including roles in The Tick, Rules of Engagement, Men in Black II, Ted and upcoming voice work in Zootopia 2. Outside entertainment, he and his wife Cathy Jennings have raised more than $40 million for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital through their annual charity golf event, The Warburton.
Parade theme and highlights
The 2026 Bacchus parade will present 32 floats tracing chapters of American history. Themes include The Roaring ’20s, Pioneering Female Americans, World Wars I and II, and National Parks. The krewe will also debut Baby Whoppa, a new signature float for the procession.
Organizers say the krewe’s 1,700 riders will distribute more than 200 custom throws and an estimated 250,000 pairs of socks in 47 different designs — a signature Bacchus giveaway this season.
Route and timing
The Bacchus Parade rolls on the traditional uptown route, beginning at 5:15 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 15. Spectators planning to attend should check local traffic advisories and arrive early for prime viewing along the route.
Notable past Bacchus kings
Bacchus has a history of celebrity monarchs. Previous kings have included Shaquille O’Neal, Will Ferrell, Nicolas Cage and Andy Garcia — placing Warburton among a long list of performers and athletes invited to lead the krewe.
Watch and learn more
Local coverage and updates will be available from Fox 8 and other New Orleans outlets as parade day approaches. For related video and channel updates from the station, see Fox 8’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3ijTadOgOLbGWGC1rRy9lA?sub_confirmation=1
Why it matters
The 2026 Bacchus parade ties Mardi Gras tradition to a national milestone — America’s 250th anniversary — while spotlighting a celebrity host with deep local and philanthropic ties. The combination of themed floats, new signature pieces and large-scale giveaways aims to make this year’s parade one of the most notable in recent memory.
For parade-goers: mark your calendars for Feb. 15, arrive early, and expect larger crowds as the krewe celebrates both Mardi Gras and the nation’s semiquincentennial.
Image Referance: https://www.fox8live.com/2026/01/05/patrick-warburton-reign-bacchus-lvii-2026-parade/
