The Band Leads the Way celebrates the marching bands that form the backbone of Mardi Gras parade traditions, providing the unforgettable soundtrack to Carnival season. Created as part of the 2025 Super Bowl Beautification Project, the mural transformed the deteriorating plywood façade at 121 Royal Street into a vibrant public artwork.

Through a dynamic depiction of a parading marching band led by a spirited baton twirler and surrounded by swirling confetti, the mural captures the joy and movement that define New Orleans’ cultural landscape.

Produced in partnership with Arts New Orleans, the Downtown Development District, and GNO Inc.