New Orleans police figures show less violent crime in 2026 than in any recent year. NOPD counted 247 incidents of homicide, nonfatal shooting, carjacking and armed robbery in the first half of 2026, down from 816 in the first half of 2022. Those are citywide counts, so they cannot tell you how safe one street is.

As of 5 November 2026, the newest NOPD release we found covers the first half of 2026 (29 July 2026). We found no third quarter release.

Is there a travel advisory for New Orleans?

No. The State Department issues travel advisories for other countries, not for a US city. For New Orleans the useful official sources are the city's police, the agencies that have worked there, and the city's tourism office.

So for a US city, read the local police numbers, not an advisory level.

What do the NOPD crime numbers show by year?

NOPD posts quarterly crime releases on its news site. The first quarter 2026 release compares the same three months over four years.

First quarter (1 Jan to 31 Mar)2023202420252026
Murders and non-negligent homicides61402720
Fatal shooting incidents55351220
Nonfatal shooting incidents104614345
Armed robbery incidents152715954
Carjacking incidents63352221

Note: First quarter counts, 2023 to 2026, compiled by the NOPD Analytics Unit for incidents reported 1 January to 31 March. The 2025 murder figure of 27 does not include the victims of the 1 January 2025 Bourbon Street attack. The release gives no rape figures (NOPD release, 7 April 2026, read 5 Nov 2026)

Two things in those numbers are worth knowing. Fatal shootings in early 2026 were higher than in early 2025: 20 incidents against 12 incidents. Nonfatal shootings also rose slightly: 45 incidents against 43 incidents. Murders, armed robberies and carjackings fell.

So the long trend is down, but two shooting counts went up in early 2026.

How does the first half of 2026 compare with 2022?

NOPD's mid-year release compares January to June 2026 with the same months of 2022.

First half (Jan to Jun)20222026Change
Combined violent crime incidents816247Down 70%
Homicide victims15644Down 72%
Nonfatal shooting incidents23782Down 65%
Armed robbery incidents26988Down 67%
CarjackingsNot givenNot givenDown 79%

Note: First half of 2026 against the first half of 2022: combined violent crime fell from 816 reported incidents to 247 incidents, and fell 15% in the past year. Carjackings are down 79% since 2022 but "ticked up slightly" over the past year, with no counts given. The release defines violent crime as these four categories only (NOPD release, 29 July 2026, read 5 Nov 2026)

We did not find NOPD's own full-year 2025 release, so this page gives no 2025 full-year count.

What these numbers do not tell you:

  • They are counts for the whole city, not where crimes happened or who the victims were.

  • NOPD says its real-time data reflects first reports and may change.

  • We did not work out a rate per person, and we do not compare New Orleans with any other city.

So violent crime in early 2026 was well under a third of the 2022 level.

Is the French Quarter safe?

The only area figures we found are for the 8th Police District, which covers the French Quarter. They come from the Army's report on the National Guard mission there.

8th District, late Dec 2025 to 24 Aug 2026Same period, 2025During the missionChange
Homicides152Down 87%
Simple robberies139Down 31%
Armed robberies87Down 13%
Aggravated batteries1715Down 12%

Note: The Louisiana National Guard's Operation NOLA Safe began in late December 2025 with more than 350 soldiers, cut to about 120 in March. It ended on 24 August 2026 after 4,126 patrols, 31,162 patrol hours and 171 assisted arrests, mainly in the French Quarter. The 8th District figures in the table compare the mission period with the same period in 2025 (Army.mil, 24 Aug 2026, read 5 Nov 2026)

Note: For New Year's 2026, Louisiana State Police said troopers would support New Orleans law enforcement from 30 December 2025 to 2 January 2026. The notice described a French Quarter Enhanced Security Zone from Canal Street to St. Ann Street, between Royal and Dauphine Streets. It banned backpack coolers and ice chests and discouraged bags larger than a clutch handbag (Louisiana State Police notice dated 29 Dec 2025, read 16 Oct 2026)

The Guard is gone, and the Army counts are for the Guard months only. We found no official statement on what security replaced it. Check before a festival or holiday weekend, such as Mardi Gras 2027.

So the French Quarter's district had fewer homicides in 2026, but those figures cover the Guard months only.

Is New Orleans safe at night, for women or for solo travelers?

We found no official New Orleans source that splits crime by time of day, by sex or by traveling alone. NOPD's Special Victims Division publishes quarterly preliminary data, and its first quarter 2026 release is dated 20 April 2026. Its figures are images we could not read, so we give none.

The city's tourism office, New Orleans & Company, gives these tips on its visitor safety page (updated 1 October 2026):

  • Travel in groups, and avoid walking alone on unlit streets at night.

  • Keep your wallet in a front pocket and use a cross-body bag.

  • Do not leave your drink alone or take drinks from strangers.

  • After drinking, take a taxi or a ride app, and check the driver before you get in.

Note: Downtown Public Safety Rangers give free SafeWalk escorts inside the Downtown Development District, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week. Call or text 504-415-1730 at least 20 minutes ahead (New Orleans & Company visitor safety page, updated 1 Oct 2026, read 5 Nov 2026)

So for night walks, stay in groups on lit streets, or book a SafeWalk escort downtown.

Who do you call in New Orleans?

Note: Emergency: 911. Non-emergency and police reports: (504) 821-2222. City services: 311 or (504) 539-3266. NOPD headquarters office hours are Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., at 1615 Poydras St. (NOPD page, read 5 Nov 2026)

Note: The NOPD crime data page links to a community crime map of recent reports and 311 calls. It says the data "reflects initial reports" and may be corrected (read 5 Nov 2026)

So save 911 and (504) 821-2222 in your phone before you go.

Our own advice

This part is not from an official source. Ask your hotel about the streets near it. Check the NOPD crime map for your dates. Keep a copy of your ID and a card separate from your phone. For weather and hurricane season, read our best time guide.

So for a hotel near the French Quarter, check the crime map for the blocks you will walk.

What we checked and what can change

Read on 5 November 2026:

Read on 16 October 2026: the Louisiana State Police New Year's notice of 29 December 2025, and NOPD's Special Victims release of 20 April 2026 (text only).

Not confirmed: an FBI rate per 100,000 people (the Crime Data Explorer did not load for our reader), NOPD's own full-year 2025 release, a third quarter 2026 release, any figure by time of day, the Special Victims numbers, and what security is in the French Quarter now. We did not visit New Orleans for this page.

NOPD posts new releases each quarter. Check its news site before you travel.