Martin Luther King Jr. Day History
A comprehensive look at the hard-fought campaign to establish Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a federal holiday and its transformation into a national day of service.
Government offices will be closed on Monday, January 19th in observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday.
The federal holiday is designated as a National Day of Service to remember the life of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and encourage all Americans to volunteer and improve their communities, according to the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
President Ronald Reagan signed the Royal Holiday Act on November 2, 1983, designating the third Monday in January as a federal holiday in honor of the civil rights leader. According to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum, President Reagan said in his speech that “Martin Luther King, Jr. was the preeminent nonviolent commander that made America a more democratic nation, a more just nation, and a more peaceful nation.”
The U.S. Postal Service, banks, and stock markets will also be closed on January 19th. Most restaurants, grocery stores, and retail stores will remain open.
What about national parks on Martin Luther King Jr. Day?
The national park will open on January 19th, but admission will not be free. Previously, the National Park Service’s free admission days included MLK Day, but the Trump administration has removed MLK Day and Juneteenth from the list of free admission days for 2026.
2026 Federal Holiday Schedule
According to the Office of Personnel Management, the dates for all remaining federal holidays in 2025 are:
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day: Monday, January 19th
- George Washington’s Birthday/President’s Day: Monday, February 16th
- Memorial Day: Monday, May 25th
- juneteenth: Friday June 19th
- independence day: Friday, July 3rd (observation day)
- labor day: Monday, September 7th
- Columbus Day: Monday, October 12th
- Veterans Day: Wednesday, November 11th
- Thanksgiving: Thursday, November 26th
- Christmas: Friday, December 25th
Contributors: Kinsey Crowley and Gabe Hauari
Mike Snyder is a national trends news reporter for USA TODAY. You can follow him on Threads, Bluesky, and X, and email him at: mike snyder & @mikegsnider.bsky.social & @mikesnider & msnider@usatoday.com.
