MLK Day 2027 — How Many Days Until MLK Day?

About MLK Day

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a US federal holiday observed on the third Monday of January, honouring the life and legacy of the Reverend Dr Martin Luther King Jr. — the most prominent leader of the American civil rights movement. King led the Montgomery Bus Boycott, delivered the iconic "I Have a Dream" speech at the March on Washington in 1963, and championed non-violent resistance to racial segregation and discrimination. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 and was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee, on 4 April 1968.

Coretta Scott King and other civil rights leaders campaigned for fifteen years to establish the federal holiday. Congress passed the bill in 1983, signed by President Ronald Reagan, and it was first observed in January 1986. The final state to officially observe it — Mississippi — did so only in 2000.

MLK Day is designated as a National Day of Service, encouraging Americans to volunteer in their communities. Schools teach about the civil rights movement, and many churches, civic organisations, and government bodies hold memorial events. The King Center in Atlanta, Georgia — founded by Coretta Scott King — serves as the official memorial site.

MLK Day falls on the third Monday of January each year
It was signed into law by President Reagan in 1983 and first observed in 1986
Mississippi was the last state to officially observe MLK Day — in 2000
MLK Day is one of only three federal holidays honouring individual people (alongside Washington's Birthday and Columbus Day)
The holiday is designated a National Day of Service

Frequently Asked Questions

When is MLK Day?

Martin Luther King Jr. Day falls on the third Monday of January every year. In 2026 that is 19 January.

Is MLK Day a public holiday?

Yes — it is a US federal public holiday. Government offices, banks, and post offices close. Most schools are closed; some businesses remain open.

What is the significance of MLK Day?

MLK Day honours Dr King's leadership of the civil rights movement, his advocacy for racial equality and non-violent protest, and his vision of a nation where people are judged by character, not colour.