When is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in United States?

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in United States falls on Monday, January 19, 2026.

Is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day a public holiday in United States?

Yes, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is an official public holiday in United States.

Is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day a paid day off in United States?

Public holidays in United States are generally paid days off for employees. However, specific entitlements for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day may depend on your employment contract and local labor regulations.

What day of the week is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in 2026?

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day falls on a Monday in United States in 2026.

Is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day a fixed or floating holiday?

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is a floating holiday, meaning its date changes each year (often based on the lunar calendar or a specific calculation rule).

Does Martin Luther King, Jr. Day create a long weekend in United States?

Yes! Since Martin Luther King, Jr. Day falls on a Monday, it creates a 3-day weekend (Saturday through Monday).

Is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day celebrated nationwide in United States?

Yes, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is observed nationwide throughout United States.

What is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day about?

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is a recognized holiday in United States. It is classified as a Public holiday.

When is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in 2027?

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in United States falls on Monday, January 18, 2027 in 2027.

Is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day always on the same date?

No, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is a floating holiday whose date changes each year. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day may be calculated based on the lunar calendar, the day of the week, or other rules — so the date shifts from year to year.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Name: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day 2026
Start: 2026-01-19
End: 2026-01-19
Location: United States

United States · 2026

58 days ago

Date

January 19, 2026

Day

Monday

Type

Public

Scope

National

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
Traditions: Community service · Civil rights speeches · Educational programs · Marches and rallies

When is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day?

Year	Date	Day	Long Weekend?
2025	January 20, 2025	Monday	Yes — 3-day weekend
2026This year	January 19, 2026	Monday	Yes — 3-day weekend
2027	January 18, 2027	Monday	Yes — 3-day weekend

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.