Mardi Gras, a free daily festival held under the Stadshal on Emile Braunplein square during the Ghent Festival (a large annual street festival in the Belgian city of Ghent), is celebrating its 10th edition this year. Inspired by the New Orleans carnival of the same name, the event combines live bands, drag shows, burlesque, and dance, and was conceived exclusively for the Ghent Festival with no plans to expand to other cities. Organiser Hannes De Wit describes it as "a celebration of ultimate freedom" where visitors and performers alike are welcome regardless of identity, and for the anniversary edition has invited back a selection of international acts from previous years.