Martin Luther King Jr. Day in New York 2026

Martin Luther King Jr. Day in New York falls annually on the third Monday of January, around Dr King’s birthday on January 15th. In 2026, Martin Luther King Jr. Day will be on January 19th. It is considered the day of equality and celebrating the life and works of Dr. King: an important civil rights activist and leader of the movement that fought to end racial segregation. He is also widely renowned for his ‘I Have a Dream’ speech.

What is Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Martin Luther King Jr. Day honours the life and achievements of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and celebrates his legacy. A leader in the African-American civil rights movement, Dr King was known for his campaigns against racial segregation on public transport in addition to his fight for racial equality in the United States.

What can you expect during Martin Luther King Jr. Day?

For all Americans, regardless of background, Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a day to be celebrated. It is a relatively new holiday; schools and government buildings are closed. On Martin Luther King Jr. Day shops and restaurants are open as usual; some shops even offer special discounts.

What to do on Martin Luther King Jr. Day in New York?

As schools are closed on the Monday of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, it’s a long weekend for families with children. Therefore, there are many activities for children in the city during the MLK Weekend. As this is an educational holiday, most events organised in New York focus on information and learning about the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. Places like the Brooklyn Children’s Museum organise activities to celebrate this holiday.

Why is it called Martin Luther King Jr. Day?

An advocate of nonviolent activism, Dr. King became the youngest man to ever receive the Nobel Peace Prize. His life came to an abrupt and untimely end when he was assassinated in 1968 in Tennessee. Soon afterwards, a campaign was launched to honour Dr King’s works and memory with the aim of making his birthday a federal holiday. In conclusion, the first Martin Luther King Jr. Day was in 1986.