The short answer
MLK Day 2027 is Monday, January 18, 2027. Martin Luther King Jr. Day always falls on the third Monday in January, and it is a federal holiday, so federal offices, the Postal Service, Federal Reserve Banks and the stock market all close.
- Date: Monday, Jan. 18, 2027 (King was born Jan. 15, 1929)
- Federal holiday: Yes, listed by OPM as Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
- Closed: Federal offices, USPS, Federal Reserve Banks, NYSE
- Day of service: Congress made it a national day of service in 1994
- National parks: MLK Day was not a fee-free day in 2026; the 2027 list is not out yet
Jan. 18
MLK Day 2027 (Monday)
1983
Year the holiday was signed into law
1986
First federal observance
98th
King birthday anniversary in 2027
In this article
Martin Luther King Jr. Day, often shortened to MLK Day, is the federal holiday that honors the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the Baptist minister who led the nonviolent civil rights movement in the 1950s and 1960s. Because the date moves every year, people start searching for MLK Day 2027 long before the new year. So here is everything in one place: the official date, what is open and closed, how the holiday came to be, and how to spend it.
Every date below comes from primary sources, including the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM, the federal agency that publishes the official holiday calendar), the Federal Reserve and the New York Stock Exchange.
When is MLK Day 2027?
MLK Day 2027 is Monday, January 18, 2027. OPM lists the holiday for that date under its legal name, Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., and the NYSE holiday calendar shows the same date.
In addition, the date creates a three-day weekend for most federal workers and many students, running from Saturday, Jan. 16, through Monday, Jan. 18. It also comes just two and a half weeks after New Year’s Day, which falls on Friday, Jan. 1, 2027, so January 2027 has two long weekends.
Is MLK Day on his actual birthday?
Usually not. King was born on January 15, 1929, according to the Congressional Research Service (CRS, the nonpartisan research arm of Congress). However, the holiday is set to the third Monday in January, so it can land anywhere from Jan. 15 to Jan. 21. In 2027, his birthday is Friday, Jan. 15, and the holiday follows three days later. That year would have been his 98th birthday.
Why is MLK Day always on a Monday?
The 1983 law that created the holiday fixed it to the third Monday in January rather than a set date, as the CRS fact sheet on the holiday explains. As a result, it always produces a three-day weekend, much like Presidents Day and Memorial Day. It also means the holiday never falls on a weekend, so there is never an observed date to worry about.
Is Martin Luther King Day a federal holiday?
Yes. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is one of the 11 federal holidays on the OPM calendar, so federal employees get a paid day off. Ronald Reagan signed it into law on November 2, 1983, and the first federal observance was in January 1986.
That said, a federal holiday only governs federal workers and federal offices. Private employers decide for themselves whether to close or offer holiday pay. Likewise, state and local governments, school districts and colleges set their own calendars, although all 50 states had made it a state holiday by 2000, according to the National Constitution Center.
Is MLK Day still a federal holiday in 2027?
Yes. MLK Day 2027 is on OPM’s official 2027 list, and the holiday is written into federal law, so only Congress could change it. The confusion online comes from a separate change: the National Park Service dropped MLK Day from its free-entry days for 2026. That affected park fees only, not the holiday itself.
Do you get paid for MLK Day?
Federal employees do, because it is a paid federal holiday. For everyone else, it depends on the employer. Federal law does not require private companies to give the day off or to pay extra for working it, so check your employee handbook or ask HR before you make plans.
What is open and closed on MLK Day 2027?
On MLK Day 2027, federal offices, post offices, Federal Reserve Banks and the stock market close. Meanwhile, most stores, restaurants and malls stay open, because the holiday is not a major retail closing day.
| Service | Monday, Jan. 18, 2027 | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Federal government offices | Closed | OPM |
| U.S. Postal Service (post offices, regular mail) | Closed; postal holiday | USPS holiday list |
| Federal Reserve Banks | Closed | Federal Reserve |
| Banks and credit unions | Many close; check your bank | Fed schedule |
| New York Stock Exchange | Closed | NYSE calendar |
| Public schools and colleges | Set locally; many close | District calendars |
| Most stores and restaurants | Usually open | Store hours vary |
| State and city offices, trash pickup | Varies by state and city | Local government |
Is mail delivered on MLK Day?
No. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is on the USPS list of postal holidays, so post offices close and regular mail is not delivered. The current USPS page lists the 2026 dates, including Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, and the holiday appears on the list every year. Therefore, plan on no regular mail on Jan. 18, 2027.
Are banks closed on MLK Day 2027?
The Federal Reserve holiday schedule shows Federal Reserve Banks closed on Jan. 18, 2027. Since most banks and credit unions follow that schedule, branches often close too, and transfers or direct deposits may not settle that day. Still, policies vary, so check with your bank, especially if a payment is due. Online banking and ATMs usually keep working.
Is the stock market open on MLK Day?
No. The NYSE lists Martin Luther King, Jr. Day as a full market holiday, so stocks do not trade on Monday, Jan. 18, 2027. Trading resumes on Tuesday, Jan. 19. For 2028, the market holiday falls on Monday, Jan. 17.
Pro tip. If a bill or rent payment is due on Jan. 18, 2027, send it by Friday, Jan. 15. Bank transfers that would settle on a Fed holiday usually move to the next business day.
How did MLK Day become a federal holiday?
It took 15 years of campaigning. Four days after King was assassinated in April 1968, Rep. John Conyers of Michigan introduced the first bill for a King holiday, according to the National Constitution Center. Even so, the idea stalled for years, and a 1979 House vote fell five votes short of the two-thirds it needed.
After that defeat, supporters built public pressure. Stevie Wonder released the song Happy Birthday in 1981 to promote the holiday. Then Coretta Scott King, King’s widow, and Wonder presented a petition with about 6 million signatures to House Speaker Tip O’Neill.
Finally, Congress passed H.R. 3706, sponsored by Rep. Katie Hall of Indiana, in 1983. According to the Reagan Library at the National Archives, Reagan signed it in the White House Rose Garden on November 2, 1983, with King’s family beside him.
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1929 | King is born in Atlanta on Jan. 15 |
| 1968 | King is killed on April 4; Rep. John Conyers introduces a holiday bill four days later |
| 1979 | House vote falls five votes short of the two-thirds needed |
| 1981 | Stevie Wonder releases Happy Birthday to support the holiday |
| 1983 | Reagan signs P.L. 98-144 on Nov. 2, setting the third Monday in January |
| 1984 | Congress creates the Martin Luther King, Jr. Federal Holiday Commission |
| 1986 | First federal observance on Monday, Jan. 20 |
| 1990 | Arizona voters reject a state King holiday; the NFL later moves the 1993 Super Bowl |
| 1994 | King Holiday and Service Act (P.L. 103-304) makes it a day of service |
| 2000 | All 50 states recognize the holiday, with South Carolina among the last |
Why was Arizona late to recognize MLK Day?
In November 1990, Arizona voters rejected a state King holiday in a referendum. As a result, the NFL moved the 1993 Super Bowl away from Tempe, a loss the National Constitution Center puts at about $500 million for the state. Two years later, voters approved the holiday.
What is the MLK Day of Service?
The MLK Day of Service is the push to spend the holiday volunteering, often summed up as a day on, not a day off. In 1994, President Bill Clinton signed the King Holiday and Service Act, which charged the federal holiday commission with promoting the day as a day of community service, according to CRS.
Today, AmeriCorps, the federal agency for national service, leads that effort. In addition, it funds nonprofits through MLK Day of Service grants. Its 2026 grant notice says projects should mobilize Americans to serve on the holiday and encourage a long-term commitment to community service.
How can you find MLK Day volunteer opportunities near you?
- Start local: food banks, shelters, libraries and schools often post one-day MLK projects in early January.
- Check AmeriCorps: AmeriCorps-funded groups run MLK Day projects, and its site links to volunteer listings.
- Ask your employer or school: many organize group service days on the holiday.
- Make it ongoing: pick a cause you can return to, which is exactly what AmeriCorps asks its grantees to encourage.
Even without a formal project, small acts count. For example, you could donate blood, deliver meals to a neighbor or help clean up a local park.
Are national parks free on MLK Day 2027?
Probably not, although the 2027 list is not out yet. The National Park Service did not include MLK Day among its 2026 fee-free days, and as of Oct. 23, 2026, its fee-free days page shows no 2027 dates.
Previously, MLK Day had been an entrance-free day at fee-charging parks. However, the Department of the Interior released a new 2026 list in November 2025 that dropped MLK Day and Juneteenth and added dates such as Flag Day and Theodore Roosevelt’s birthday, as NBC News reported. The 2026 free days also apply only to U.S. citizens and residents.
Watch out. Old articles still list MLK Day as a free national park day. Check the NPS fee-free page before you drive to a park expecting free entry on Jan. 18, 2027.
On the other hand, many King-related sites never charge. The Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park in Atlanta has no entrance fee, and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial in Washington, D.C., is open 24 hours a day, according to the NPS.
How can you observe MLK Day 2027?
The best way to observe MLK Day 2027 is to combine reflection with action: learn about King’s work, then do something useful for your community. Here are practical ideas for families, students and travelers.
Visit a King historic site
In Atlanta, the national historical park includes King’s birth home, Historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, where the King family worshipped, and the tomb of Dr. and Mrs. King. Birth home tours are small, with 15 visitors per tour, so arrive early on a holiday weekend. In Washington, D.C., the King memorial stands along Independence Avenue near the Lincoln Memorial, and its centerpiece is the Stone of Hope sculpture.
Watch the MLK Day NBA games
The NBA has already set its MLK Day 2027 slate. According to NBA.com, four games are scheduled for Monday, Jan. 18, 2027:
| Tip-off (ET) | Game | Where to watch |
|---|---|---|
| 12 p.m. | Detroit Pistons at Cleveland Cavaliers | NBC/Peacock |
| 2:30 p.m. | Philadelphia 76ers at Atlanta Hawks | NBC/Peacock |
| 5 p.m. | Minnesota Timberwolves at New York Knicks | NBC/Peacock |
| 7:30 p.m. | Houston Rockets at Memphis Grizzlies | Peacock exclusive |
Learn and teach at home
- Read his words: Letter from Birmingham Jail and the I Have a Dream speech are short enough for one sitting.
- Talk with kids: ask what fairness means at school, then connect it to the civil rights movement.
- Attend a local event: many cities hold parades, church services and community breakfasts on the holiday weekend.
- Plan the year: if you are setting goals for 2027, add one service commitment.
If you are mapping out the rest of the year, our 2027 calendar with every federal holiday shows the next long weekend, Presidents Day on Feb. 15. For more goal ideas, see our New Year’s resolution ideas.
When is MLK Day in future years?
MLK Day moves every year, but it always lands on the third Monday in January. Here are the official dates through 2030 from OPM and the Federal Reserve, plus 2031 calculated by the same rule.
| Year | MLK Day | King birthday (Jan. 15) falls on |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Monday, Jan. 19 | Thursday |
| 2027 | Monday, Jan. 18 | Friday |
| 2028 | Monday, Jan. 17 | Saturday |
| 2029 | Monday, Jan. 15 | Monday (same day) |
| 2030 | Monday, Jan. 21 | Tuesday |
| 2031 | Monday, Jan. 20 | Wednesday |
Notably, in 2029 the holiday falls exactly on King’s birthday, Jan. 15. That happens only when Jan. 15 is itself a Monday.
Our verdict
MLK Day 2027 is Monday, Jan. 18, and it remains a full federal holiday. Expect post offices, Federal Reserve Banks and the stock market to close, while most shops stay open. So, handle banking and mail by Friday, Jan. 15.
Beyond the logistics, the holiday is meant to be a day on, not a day off. Pick a service project, visit a King site, or simply read his words with your family. Just do not count on free national park entry unless the NPS adds the date for 2027.
Frequently asked questions
What day is Martin Luther King Day 2027?
Martin Luther King Day 2027 is Monday, January 18, 2027. The holiday always falls on the third Monday in January, so it creates a three-day weekend from Saturday, January 16, through Monday, January 18. OPM, the Federal Reserve and the New York Stock Exchange all list January 18 as the 2027 holiday date.
Is MLK Day a federal holiday in 2027?
Yes. MLK Day is one of the 11 federal holidays on the 2027 OPM calendar, listed as Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. Federal offices close and federal employees get a paid day off. Private employers, however, decide on their own whether to close or offer holiday pay, so check with your workplace.
Is there mail on MLK Day 2027?
No. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a postal holiday, so post offices close and the U.S. Postal Service does not deliver regular mail on Monday, January 18, 2027. Service resumes on Tuesday. Private carriers set their own schedules, so check UPS or FedEx directly if you are expecting a package.
Are banks open on MLK Day?
Federal Reserve Banks close on MLK Day, and many banks and credit unions follow the same schedule, so branches often close and transfers may not settle until the next business day. ATMs and online banking usually still work. Because policies vary, confirm hours with your own bank before January 18, 2027.
Is the stock market closed on MLK Day 2027?
Yes. The New York Stock Exchange lists Martin Luther King, Jr. Day as a full market holiday, so there is no stock trading on Monday, January 18, 2027. Regular trading resumes on Tuesday, January 19. In 2028, the market closes for the holiday on Monday, January 17.
Are national parks free on MLK Day 2027?
Not as of October 2026. The National Park Service removed MLK Day from its fee-free days for 2026, and it has not published its 2027 list yet. Some King sites never charge, including the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park in Atlanta. Check the NPS fee-free page before your trip.
