NEW ORLEANS – As the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival returns April 23 – 26, 2026 and April 30 – May 3, 2026, the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority (RTA) encourages residents and visitors to take advantage of public transit options available. With more people expected to be on the move across the city, RTA is increasing service, providing rider support along directly affected routes, and staying focused on helping riders get to and from the Fair Grounds efficiently.

RTA reminds all riders that service delays are expected during Jazz Fest hours, particularly along routes serving the Fair Grounds and surrounding areas. Riders are encouraged to allow extra travel time when planning their trips.

Enhanced Transit Service to Support Increased Demand 

To accommodate the expected increase in ridership, RTA will operate additional service on key routes connecting riders to the festival footprint: 

• #91 Jackson/Esplanade: Three additional buses will operate daily from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., serving routes between Grand Route St. John and Elk Place at Canal Street.  
• #47 Canal–Cemetery Streetcar: Streetcar service will operate between Canal Street and Carrollton Avenue to Cemeteries Transit Center with approximately 20 minutes in frequency.  
• #48 Canal–City Park: 
  • Two additional buses will run daily from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., connecting the Riverfront to Grand Route St. John
  • One additional streetcar will operate from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., running between the foot of Canal Street and Esplanade Avenue/City Park.

Paratransit and Accessibility Support

RTA remains committed to accessibility throughout Jazz Fest. Dedicated paratransit vehicles will be available to support ADA riders:

• One vehicle stationed at Beauregard Circle from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. 
• One vehicle stationed at Grand Route St. John from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
  

Mobile Ticketing and Rider Assistance 

To improve the rider experience, RTA will deploy mobile ticketing stations and on-site information booth: 

• Canal Street & Bourbon Street: 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. 
• Beauregard Circle / Grand Route St. John: 5:00 p.m. – 7:45 p.m. 
• Information Booth & Pre-Boarding at Grand Route St. John and City Park Avenue: 12:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.  

Post-Festival Service 

Following daily festival programming, RTA will deploy additional buses during peak departure times from approximately 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. to assist with outbound crowds and maintain service reliability. 

Plan and Stay Informed 

Due to the scale of the event and associated traffic impacts, routes serving the Fair Grounds and surrounding areas may experience delays or temporary adjustments. Riders are encouraged to: 

• Plan trips in advance 
• Allow extra travel time 
• Check real-time updates via the Le Pass app or at norta.com 
• Call Rideline at 504-248-3900 to speak to a customer experience professional 

RTA looks forward to safely connecting festivalgoers to one of New Orleans’ most iconic events.

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The New Orleans Regional Transit Authority is a political sub-division of the State of Louisiana which is operated by an independent Board of Commissioners that serves Orleans, Jefferson, and St. Bernard Parishes. The agency operates car and passenger ferries, fixed-route buses, Paratransit, and streetcar services. For updates, service alerts, and agency news, follow the RTA on social media: @neworleansrta on Instagram, X (Twitter), and Facebook, and New Orleans Regional Transit Authority on LinkedIn.