Frequently Asked Questions

FCF offers a variety of ticket types and price levels to meet the needs of all our guests. We highly recommend purchasing early to take advantage of lower prices and secure your spot while supplies last, especially for our VIP and Beer Garden packages, which have limited daily capacity.

VIP 

Our VIP ticket permits entry to four separate VIP lounges located on-site at each music stage with three (3) alcoholic beverages of your choice which can be redeemed at either VIP lounge or any festival bar, one (1) fried chicken meal provided by an award-winning restaurant from either VIP lounge, luxurious tented lounge space with premiere stage viewing area and seating available first come first served, air-conditioned VIP restroom trailer, share-worthy photo ops, games, and complimentary water throughout the day. Food and drink tabs may be redeemed in any of the VIP areas.

UNACCOMPANIED MINOR VIP

As of last year, FCF is proud to allow children and minors under the age of 21 in dedicated VIP areas. Any guests under the age of 21 will need to purchase an unaccompanied minor ticket, which will grant them access to the two hub zone VIP areas at each main stage.

BEER GARDEN

The Stella Artois Beer Garden experience includes unlimited beer throughout the day in an exclusive lounge area with seating available on a first-come, first-served basis, an air-conditioned VIP restroom trailer, light snacks, and complimentary water throughout the day. All beer must be consumed within the beer garden. 

MUST BE 21+ TO ENTER THE BEER GARDEN. ANYONE UNDER 21+ WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO ENTER AND WILL NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR A REFUND.

GENERAL ADMISSION

For those just looking to get into the festival, GA includes event entry only; all food and beverages are purchased separately.

DISCOUNTED WEEKEND PASSES ARE AVAILABLE FOR ALL TICKET TYPES

Please read all FAQs for more detailed information.

In honor of our 10th anniversary, this year’s festival is expanding to THREE days (Fri • Sat • Sun)

  • The festival will be open from 3-9 PM on Friday, and 11 AM – 9 PM on Saturday & Sunday.
    • Gates close an hour before the festival ends each day.
  • Guests can expect similar 2025 ticket prices on Friday, while Saturday/Sunday prices will increase due to the caliber of entertainment on those days.
  • Tickets may be purchased online in advance or at the gate.
  • Advance tickets will be sent via email from Universe 2 days before the event.
  • Tickets are nonrefundable and cannot be switched to a different day once purchased.
  • Children 12 and under get in free and do not need a ticket for GA access.
    • All kids must be with a ticketed adult. No more than two kids per ticketed adult.
  • For VIP access, all children or minors under the age of 21 will need to purchase an Unaccompanied Minor VIP ticket.
  • This festival is cashless. No cash of any kind will be accepted.
  • Parking is available for purchase at the UNO Lakefront Arena.
    • New this year, you can now skip the hassle of paying on-site and pre-purchase parking as an add-on to any ticket.
  • No outside food or drink is permitted – with the exception of sealed water bottles.
  • VIP access is only for the selected package on each ticket.
  • VIP ticketholders receive entry to four total lounge areas (two 21+ lounges and two all-ages family lounges)
  • Beer Garden ticketholders receive entry to the Beer Garden area only.
  • Folding, festival-style chairs are permitted and can be purchased at our merchandise tent.
  • The festival is rain or shine, so please plan accordingly.

The 10th-anniversary edition of the National Fried Chicken Festival (FCF) presented by Raising Cane’s will be held the first weekend of October 2026–Friday, Oct. 2, Saturday, Oct. 3, and Sunday, Oct. 4

The 2026 festival is moving a very small distance on the other side of the levy to the UNO Lakefront Arena Festival Grounds, 6801 Franklin Ave, New Orleans, LA 70122.

For those wanting to drive and park on-site, there will still be two parking lots available first-come, first-served: one at the Lakefront Arena and another along Lakeshore Drive. For those parking in the Lakeshore lot, we will have free shuttles running to and from the Lakefront Arena Festival Grounds entrance.

PARKING ADD-ON: New this year, you can now skip the hassle of paying on-site and pre-purchase parking as an add-on to any ticket through Universe.

Uber/Lyft Drop-Off will be located within the Orleans Levee District parking lot (6920 Franklin Ave, New Orleans, LA 70122). We recommend ride-share drivers take Lakeshore Drive to Franklin Avenue to avoid traffic on Leon C. Simon.

Guests will receive an order confirmation email from Universe immediately upon purchase. Digital tickets with scannable QR codes will be emailed separately, 24-48 hours before the event begins.

PLEASE NOTE: All tickets are nonrefundable and cannot be switched to a different day once purchased. If you can no longer attend, you may gift or sell your ticket to someone else (the name on the ticket will not matter as long as they have the QR code)

FCF is 100% CASHLESS. The only acceptable forms of payment include credit cards, debit cards, and/or cash app.

No outside food or drinks will be permitted inside the festival, with the exception of sealed water bottles. Anything else will have to be thrown away at the gate.

APPROVED ITEMS:

  • Foldable chairs – no need to bring your own, we’ll be selling them on-site!
  • Strollers
  • Small, personal hand-held umbrellas
  • Sunscreen in non-aerosol containers up to 3.4 ounces or less
  • Personal-sized hand sanitizer
  • Sealed plastic water bottles or empty reusable water bottles
  • Picnic blankets
  • Cameras/video cameras: consumer-grade point-and-shoot, polaroid, Go Pros without detachable lenses and other accessories (monopods, selfie sticks, tripods, Go Pro mounts, and other attachments are not allowed)
  • Handbags
  • Binoculars
  • Factory-sealed eye drop containers

PROHIBITED ITEMS

  • Outside food or beverages (with the exception of sealed water bottles)
  • Tents, large umbrellas
  • Wagons
  • Ice chests and coolers of any kind
  • Weapons of any kind, including firearms, pocket knives, box cutters, pepper spray (or any dangerous chemical compound), box cutters, sharp objects
  • Illegal substances
  • Drugs or drug paraphernalia
  • Massagers
  • Pets (with the exception of service animals)
  • Professional photo, video, or audio recording equipment (no detachable lenses, tripods, big zooms, selfie sticks, or commercial-use rigs unless pre-approved media guest)
  • Laser pointers
  • Air horns, megaphones, whistles or noisemakers
  • Drones, remote-controlled aircraft, or toys
  • Toy guns, water guns, slingshots
  • Projectiles such as balls or frisbees
  • Any explosives, including fireworks

All bags will be checked upon entering the event.

No pets or animals of any kind will be allowed on festival grounds, with the exception of registered service animals.

Of course! FCF has continued to diversify and expand its culinary offerings each year to be as inclusive as possible. From vegan options to vegetarian, pescatarian, gluten-free, and everything in between – there will be something for everyone on the menu.

We’re going all in on entertainment for our 10th anniversary celebration, with some of the biggest names in music taking the stage on Saturday and Sunsday, including Nelly, Dillon Francis, 2 Chainz, Keri Hilson, A-Trak, Ying Yang Twins, Webbie, and Big Freedia performing with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra. Come out on Friday for Locals’ Day presented by Delta Utilities to hear all of your favorite Louisiana artists, bands and DJs. CLICK HERE for the full music lineup.

Please see our Accessibility accommodations here.

FCF 2026 is proud to be teaming up with official lodging partners, the New Orleans Marriott and Sheraton New Orleans Hotel, to provide guests of the fest with an exclusive offer for stays from Tuesday, Sept. 29 – Tuesday, Oct. 6.

CLICK HERE to book your room and save 15% on best available rates.

The festival only allows re-entry in the event of severe weather or for participants in the 5K on Saturday. All other ticket holders will not be allowed back in once they exit the gates.

The festival is rain or shine, so please plan accordingly and pack a small handheld umbrella if rain is forecasted. In the event of severe weather on event day, all attendees will be permitted to leave and re-enter the festival later.

As a reminder, re-entry will NOT be permitted in good weather conditions.

As stated in our Terms & Conditions upon purchase, all sales are final and non-refundable.