January 16, 2026
Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a federal holiday observed on the third Monday of January (January 19th, 2026) in honor of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., an African-American pastor and major leader in the civil rights movement until his assassination in 1968. He believed in using the power of words and nonviolent community action to advocate for justice and equality in America, principles that are more important than ever today. We celebrate MLK Jr. Day around the country as a day to honor his life and legacy.
Source: National Geographic
Pennsylvania
There will be several events to commemorate Martin Luther King, Jr. on January 19th in Southwestern PA. The Kelly Strayhorn Theater in East Liberty will host The Beloved Community, a day of celebrating MLK Jr.’s ideals of unity and justice through art and community. From 1-4pm, attendees can enjoy community partners activities, such as the “After the Dream” portrait exhibit and performances by Hill Academy Dance Theater, the Lemington Gospel Chorale, and many more. There will also be a Youth Performance Program from 2-3pm, and admission for all events is “pay what moves you”. The 19th annual Let Freedom Sing concert will take place at 7:30pm in the same venue with tickets starting at $2.
On January 19th from 10am-3pm the Westmoreland Museum of American Art will host a Martin Luther King Jr. Day Open House featuring an interactive drum circle, a unity candle-lighting ceremony, and several performances honoring Dr. King, including a musical tribute from Rodman Street Missionary Baptist Church. The event is free for all with fun and educational activities for all ages!
The First Presbyterian Church in New Castle, PA will be holding a service in honor of MLK on Sunday, January 18th at 4pm. For more events in and around southwestern PA commemorating MLK Jr. Day, click this link!
Excerpt from MLK’s “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” speech.
In central Pennsylvania, Penn State University will be hosting events throughout the week across its campuses, including an MLK Jr. Memorial March in State College on Tuesday, January 20th at 3:30pm, followed by a panel at 4:45pm in the HUB-Robeson Center’s Freeman Auditorium. The panel will have several keynote speakers and focus on how Dr. King’s legacy endures in the contemporary socio-political landscape. On January 21st the campus will also host an MLK Jr. Poetry and Performance night from 6-8pm and a viewing of “Razing Liberty Square” at 9pm. To view events and registration links for all PSU campuses, click here.
West Virginia
On January 19th a prayer and unity service will be held at Mt Zion Baptist Church in Clarksburg, WV, with the reception beginning at 5pm and the service beginning at 6pm, honoring Dr. King’s work as a pastor as well as a civil rights leader. NFL linebacker JT Thomas will be the keynote speaker for the event.
Also on January 19th, the West Virginia University Center for Black Culture will host its annual Unity Breakfast, featuring keynote speaker Jack Monell, musical performances from university students and the presentation of the 2026 Martin Luther King Jr. Achievement Award. The Community Coalition for Social Justice in Morgantown will host its own annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Commemoration at 2pm via Zoom and will focus on voting-related rights and issues, with speakers from the League of Women Voters-Morgantown/Monongalia County and the Morgantown – Kingwood Branch of the NAACP. There will also be performances from local musicians Chris Haddox and the Osage Soul & Gospel Choir. The event is free but prior registration is required to receive the Zoom link.
Lewisburg, WV will host a Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration on January 19th beginning with its annual march from the Courthouse at 11am, followed by a community free lunch and a church service which begins at 12:30pm. The event will feature several keynote speakers and musical performances, including the Resurrection Praise Community Choir.
Source: Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration Committee, 2018
Kentucky
The annual Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Celebration in Lexington, KY will begin with the Freedom March at 1pm followed by the commemorative program at 2pm at the Central Bank Center. The program will feature keynote speaker Rev. Devon Jerome Crawford as well as a photo exhibit titled “Witness to History: The Photography of Moneta Sleet, Jr.” which will include photographs of the civil rights movement and Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
The Paducah-McCracken County NAACP will host the 36th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Celebration on January 19th from 10am-3pm in Paducah, KY. Guest speaker Dr. Clarissa Myrick-Harris White will give a presentation on civil rights activist Dr. Stuart Nelson and his impact on the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Individual tickets cost $35 and lunch at the event site is included.
Louisville will host many events in honor of MLK Jr. Day, starting the weekend before the holiday. On Sunday, January 18th St. Stephen’s Baptist Church will hold two morning services (7:45am and 10am) with guest speakers from the NAACP to speak on King and the organization’s ongoing work to foster justice and civic engagement across the country. Also on Sunday will be the Kentucky Performing Arts “Keepers of the Dream: Beyond the Dream” event at the Kentucky Center. There will be a community festival from 3-5pm in the lobby featuring local vendors, live performances, and visual art displays, followed by a performance of the short play Beyond the Dream from 5-7pm. Admission to the event is free and all ages are welcome!
On January 19th, the Muhammad Ali Center will offer free admission in honor of the holiday from 9am to 5pm, and Dr. King’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech will be played every hour. The Center will also hold its annual youth leadership panel at noon. For more information about MLK Jr. Day events in Louisville, click this link!
Ohio
The annual silent march kicks off MLK Day celebrations in Athens, OH, starting at 9:30am at the Helen Mauck Galbreath Memorial Chapel on Ohio University’s Athens campus. At 1pm, the Racial Equity Coalition, Athens and NAACP Athens County will host the screening of “Ain’t No Back to a Merry-Go-Round” a documentary that tells the story of one of the first interracial civil rights protests in American history. The movie is shown at the Athena Cinema, 20 Court St. in Athens, and is followed by a panel discussion. Tickets are free but registration is required.
In Columbus, OH, the Ohio History Center will partner with King Arts Complex to host their annual MLK Day Open House from 12-4pm, where all are welcome to learn about and celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. King through visual arts and live performances. Capital University will also host their educational Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Learning from 9am-4pm, featuring several workshops celebrating faith, justice, and unity along with gospel music and dance. Admission to this family-friendly event is free with an RSVP!
The annual City of Columbus MLK Day March & Program is also free and open to the public. The event begins at 3pm with attendees gathering at St. Paul AME Church, from where they will march through the city to the historic Lincoln Theatre, which will host the commemorative program on the theme “One Dream: Many Voices” beginning at 4:30pm. This event is a great opportunity for attendees to reflect on the life and vision of Dr. King together with their community. More information on MLK Jr. Day events in Columbus can be found here.