When is Martin Luther King Jr. Day?
MLK Day is observed on the third Monday of January, close to Dr. King's January 15 birthday. In 2026 it falls on Monday, January 19, 2026, and in 2027 it's on Monday, January 18, 2027. When this page was last updated, on October 12, 2026, there were 98 days to go, which is about 14 weeks and 0 days. The counter at the top keeps ticking down in real time on your device, so it's always current.
| Year | Date | Day of the week |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | January 19 | Monday |
| 2027 | January 18 | Monday |
A little history
Martin Luther King Jr. Day honors the civil rights leader who championed nonviolent protest and equal rights. It was signed into law in 1983 and first observed nationally in 1986, although it took until 2000 for every US state to officially recognize the holiday under that name.
How people celebrate
The day is often called a 'day on, not a day off.' Millions of Americans take part in volunteer service projects, community clean-ups and educational events. Many schools teach lessons about the civil rights movement, and cities hold marches, readings of the 'I Have a Dream' speech and church services.
Closures and practical notes
Federal offices, banks, post offices and many schools close, and the US stock markets are closed as well. Many private employers stay open, so check with your workplace about time off.
Planning tips
It's an official US federal holiday, so plan around closures: banks, post offices and government offices shut, and mail doesn't go out. If you need to send a package or sort out paperwork, do it a couple of days before.
Long weekends mean busy roads. If you're driving, leaving early in the morning or late at night beats sitting in holiday traffic, and booking hotels two or three weeks out usually gets better prices.
How the countdown works
We count full calendar days from today's date to the holiday, using the clock on your own phone or computer, so it matches your local time zone. On the day itself the counter switches to the next year's date. Want to count to a birthday or deadline instead? Our days until any date page does that in one tap.
Frequently asked questions
When is Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2027?
Monday, January 18, 2027.
What day of the week is Martin Luther King Jr. Day in 2027?
It's a Monday (January 18, 2027).
Why is MLK Day on a Monday?
The Uniform Monday Holiday approach places it on the third Monday of January to create a long weekend near Dr. King's birthday, January 15.