When is Martin Luther King Jr. Day?
Third Monday in January. Here is the date, the background and what to know before you make plans.
Next Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Monday, January 18, 2027Martin Luther King Jr. Day dates, 2026–2031
Rule: Third Monday in January. When it falls on a weekend, federal offices observe it on the Friday before (Saturday) or the Monday after (Sunday).
What’s open on MLK Day
| Service | Typical status |
|---|---|
| Banks | Closed |
| Post Office / Mail delivery | Closed |
| Stock market (NYSE, Nasdaq) | Closed |
| Federal & most state government offices | Closed |
| Public schools | Varies Many closed; some hold classes or use the day for community service projects |
Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a federal holiday, so banks, the stock market, the post office and most government offices close, though school schedules vary more than on other federal holidays. Individual banks, school districts and employers can still make their own call, so confirm directly if a closure affects an important errand or appointment. Check any date with the holiday status checker.
The story behind MLK Day
Martin Luther King Jr. Day honors the civil rights leader’s life and legacy. Congressman John Conyers first introduced a bill for the holiday just days after King’s assassination in 1968, but it took 15 years of advocacy, including a petition with six million signatures and a hit song by Stevie Wonder, before President Ronald Reagan signed it into law in 1983.
The holiday was first observed in 1986, but it took until 2000 for all 50 states to officially recognize it by that name; some Southern states had combined it with observances of Confederate figures for years before dropping that pairing entirely.
How it’s celebrated
The federal government designated MLK Day as a national day of service in 1994, and it remains the only U.S. federal holiday observed this way. Many communities organize volunteer projects, school and workplace service events, marches, and readings of King’s speeches, particularly “I Have a Dream,” delivered at the March on Washington in 1963.
MLK Day is always observed on the third Monday of January, deliberately placed near King’s actual birthday of January 15.
Planning around the day
Because it always falls on Monday, federal offices close for a three-day weekend. Schools, transit agencies and private workplaces may use different schedules or combine closure with service activities.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day planning checklist
- Before the date: Finish federal, postal or banking errands before the holiday weekend.
- Check locally: Check school and child-care calendars.
- For travel: Register early for community service projects that require advance signup.
- Final check: Confirm transit and event schedules before traveling.
Frequently asked questions
When is Martin Luther King Jr. Day?
It is observed on the third Monday in January.
Is MLK Day a federal holiday?
Yes. Federal offices close on the observed Monday.
When was it first observed federally?
The first federal observance was in 1986.
Are schools closed?
Many districts close, while others schedule programs; check the district calendar.
When is MLK Day in 2027?
It is Monday, January 18, 2027.
Sources and how we check
Federal holiday dates and observed-day rules follow the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. Market dates follow the NYSE holiday calendar; bank dates follow the Federal Reserve. Read our editorial policy or report a correction.