Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
PR · 2026
About Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a federal holiday in the United States observed on the third Monday of January each year, honoring the civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., born on January 15, 1929. King was a Baptist minister and activist who played a pivotal role in the American civil rights movement.
King's advocacy for racial equality, his leadership of the Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1955, and his iconic 'I Have a Dream' speech at the 1963 March on Washington made him a towering figure in American history. He was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee on April 4, 1968.
The holiday was first proposed in 1968 shortly after King's assassination. After years of advocacy — including a famous campaign by musician Stevie Wonder — it was signed into law by President Ronald Reagan in 1983 and first observed as a federal holiday in 1986.
Quick Facts
- Date 2026
- January 19, 2026
- Day
- Monday
- Type
- Public
- Scope
- National
- Fixed Date
- No — date changes each year
- Local Name
- Natalicio de Martin Luther King, Jr.
- Traditions
- Community service · Civil rights speeches · Educational programs · Marches and rallies
When is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day?
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | January 20, 2025 | Monday |
| 2026This year | January 19, 2026 | Monday |
| 2027 | January 18, 2027 | Monday |
3-Day Long Weekend
Because Martin Luther King, Jr. Day falls on a Monday, it creates a 3-day long weekend from Saturday, January 17 to Monday, January 19.
How is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebrated?
Martin Luther King Jr. Day is observed as a day of service, with many Americans volunteering in their communities as a tribute to King's legacy of civic engagement. Schools, government offices, and many businesses close for the holiday.
Commemoration events include speeches, community service projects, prayer services, and educational programs focusing on civil rights history. The King Center in Atlanta organizes major national observances, and many cities hold marches and rallies in honor of Dr. King.
Did You Know?
- •MLK Day is one of only three federal holidays in the US honoring an individual (the others are Washington's Birthday and Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples' Day).
- •South Carolina was the last state to recognize MLK Day as a paid holiday, doing so in 2000.
- •Dr. King was the youngest person to receive the Nobel Peace Prize at age 35 in 1964.
- •The 'I Have a Dream' speech was delivered before approximately 250,000 people at the 1963 March on Washington.
- •MLK Day is sometimes called a 'day on, not a day off' to emphasize community service.
Other Holidays in PR 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
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