Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Name: Martin Luther King Jr. Day (United States)
Start: 2027-01-18
End: 2027-01-18
Location: United States

Nationwide public holiday in United States

Next Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Monday, 18 January 2027

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Dates

Year	Date	Weekday	Notes
2026	19 January	Monday	Nationwide
2027	18 January	Monday	Nationwide

Where it applies

Everywhere in United States.

Is it a day off?

Yes. It is an official public holiday, so most employees have the day off. Government offices, schools and many businesses are usually closed; shops, restaurants and public transport may keep reduced hours. Check local announcements for opening times.

Make it longer

Sat 16 Jan – Mon 18 Jan is a 3-day weekend with no leave needed.

Plan more breaks with the leave planner.

Typical weather in Washington, D.C. around 18 January: high 4°C (39°F), low -4°C (25°F), rain on 26% of days.

Averages for 2015–2024, 3 days either side of the date, for the area around Washington, D.C.. Past averages, not a forecast.

About Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Martin Luther King Jr. Day honors the Baptist minister and civil rights leader who campaigned for racial equality through nonviolent protest and was assassinated in 1968. It falls on the third Monday of January, close to his birthday on 15 January. The federal holiday was signed into law in 1983 and first observed in 1986.

Traditions

Many Americans treat the day as a national day of service, volunteering in their communities. Schools, churches and civic groups hold readings of King's speeches, marches and commemorative events, and the day is often used to reflect on civil rights history.

Editorial summary by Public Holidays World. Dates on this page come from the data source; customs vary by region and family.

Coming up next in United States

Washington's Birthday

Monday, 15 February 2027