NEW ORLEANS – Gian Durand, Captain of the Krewe of Oshun, recently announced the Grand Marshals and Royal Court who will lead the organization’s 2026 Mardi Gras parade that rolls along the Uptown New Orleans parade route on Feb. 6.
Descendants of the late Dorothy Mae Taylor will serve as Grand Marshals and ride aboard the Grand Marshal Float. The children and grandchildren of Taylor will honor her legacy of being the first African American woman elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives and the New Orleans City Council. In 1997, she introduced the landmark ordinance that prohibited discrimination in Carnival organizations, transforming Mardi Gras forever.
The Krewe of Oshun also names Cedric Richmond and Joe Giarrusso as a 2026 Grand Marshal. A New Orleans native, Richmond is an attorney and longtime politician who has served as a Special Advisor to the President of the United States. Giarrusso is former New Orleans City Councilmember for District A and current Chief Administrative Officer for the City of New Orleans.
“Each Grand Marshal was selected with intention,” said Durand. “Their leadership, service, and legacy reflect the values Oshun was founded upon and the future we continue to build.”
The 2026 King and Queen of Oshun are acclaimed New Orleans artist Terrance Osborne and his wife, Stephanie Osborne. The Krewe of Oshun parade will kick off on Friday, Feb. 6, at 5pm and includes The Marine Corps Reserve Band, the Southern University Human Jukebox Marching Band and St. Augustine Marching 100.