Quick Answer
MLK Day 2026 falls on Monday, January 19, 2026. The date moves because MLK Day is set to the third Monday of January rather than a fixed calendar date. This page at https://practicalwebtools.com/other/time/when-is/mlk-day-2026 also shows the weekday, the rule in one sentence, and a five-year table around 2026. MLK Day is one of the 11 federal holidays in 2026.
How It Works
Read the exact date and weekday for the year you searched
Check the one-sentence rule that explains why the date moves or holds still
Scan the five-year table for the two years before and after
Follow the federal-holidays year page or the days-until countdown for the next step
Key Facts
- MLK Day 2026 is Monday, January 19, 2026
- The rule: The King holiday is set by law to the third Monday of January, so the date slides to keep the Monday (it lands between January 15 and 21).
- One of the 11 federal holidays in 2026, observed on the statutory date itself
- Five-year window: 2024 through 2028 dates and weekdays in the table above
- Listed with all 11 dates on the Federal Holidays 2026 page
- The when-is matrix covers 16 holidays for every year from 2026 to 2030
- Date computed from the holiday’s rule, not typed by hand
Frequently Asked Questions
When is MLK Day in 2026?
MLK Day 2026 falls on Monday, January 19, 2026. That is the statutory date set by 5 U.S.C. 6103 for 2026.
Why does the date of MLK Day change every year?
The King holiday is set by law to the third Monday of January, so the date slides to keep the Monday (it lands between January 15 and 21). The rule pins the holiday to a weekday pattern (or, for Easter, to a lunar rule), so the calendar date slides while the pattern stays constant.
Is MLK Day a federal holiday?
Yes. Its statutory name is Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., and it is one of the 11 federal holidays, which means federal offices, post offices, and Federal Reserve banks close.
What is the difference between this page and the days-until countdown?
This page answers the reference question: the exact 2026 date for MLK Day, the rule behind it, and the years around it. The days-until family counts down live from today to the next occurrence of a fixed set of holidays, and MLK Day is not in that set.
When is MLK Day in other years?
Around 2026: 2024 on Monday, January 15; 2025 on Monday, January 20; 2026 on Monday, January 19; 2027 on Monday, January 18; 2028 on Monday, January 17. Dates for every year from 2026 to 2030 have their own page in the when-is matrix.