U.S. federal holiday
Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2026 is Monday, January 19. It is a U.S. federal holiday observed on the third Monday in January. The official federal schedule lists it as Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
The holiday already falls on a Monday in 2026, so there is no separate observed weekday. Check the sections below when planning banks, mail, markets, offices, schools, or workplace schedules.
On the January 2026 calendar, Martin Luther King Jr. Day falls on Monday, January 19. It is the second U.S. federal holiday of the month, after New Year's Day on Thursday, January 1.
For schedules that observe the federal holiday, January 19 joins Saturday, January 17 and Sunday, January 18 to form a three-day weekend. The next U.S. federal holiday is Washington's Birthday on Monday, February 16.
| Calendar point | 2026 date | Planning context |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Thursday, January 1 | Earlier January federal holiday |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Monday, January 19 | Current holiday and the third Monday in January |
| Washington's Birthday | Monday, February 16 | Next U.S. federal holiday |
Open the full January 2026 U.S. federal holiday calendar when you need the national calendar context.
Yes. MLK Day is a U.S. federal holiday. Federal law lists the holiday as the Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., and the 2026 federal schedule observes it on Monday, January 19.
Federal holiday status sets the schedule for federal agencies and most federal employees. Nonessential federal offices are generally closed, while essential operations may continue. It does not automatically require every state or local office, school, private employer, or retailer to close; those schedules can follow separate laws or policies.
Use the schedule below to decide whether a bank visit, payment, mail delivery, federal appointment, market order, school day, or work shift needs different planning for Monday, January 19, 2026.
Federal Reserve Banks are closed. Many bank and credit-union branches also close, although each institution controls its branch hours. ATMs, card networks, and digital banking can remain available, while ACH transfers, settlements, checks, and other business-day processing may wait for the next processing window. Confirm cutoffs before the holiday when access to funds is time-sensitive, and use the 2026 bank holiday calendar for wider closure planning.
Post Office locations are closed, and regular mail delivery and retail services resume Tuesday, January 20. Priority Mail Express is the USPS service that may deliver on the holiday, and some self-service kiosks can remain accessible. Private carriers publish separate schedules. Check collection or acceptance times before mailing anything with a deadline, then compare other dates in the 2026 post office holiday calendar.
Nonessential federal offices are generally closed, while essential safety, security, medical, and other continuous operations can continue. Verify the responsible agency before traveling to an appointment or in-person service. State courts, city offices, public transit, and local services may publish their own closure or reduced-hour notices.
NYSE and Nasdaq U.S. equities and options markets are closed on January 19. Futures, bond, international-market, and broker-specific schedules can differ, so use the schedule for the market handling the transaction. The 2026 market holiday calendar helps compare other exchange closures and special sessions.
School closures depend on the state, district, college, or institution. Private employers and retailers may close, shorten hours, or operate normally. The Fair Labor Standards Act generally does not require private employers to provide paid holiday leave or premium holiday pay. Check the policy that controls your school or workplace, and use the school holidays directory for education-calendar context.
Martin Luther King Jr. was born on January 15, 1929, but the federal holiday is not fixed to his calendar birthday. Federal law places the Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. on the third Monday in January. This rule means the holiday can fall from January 15 through January 21.
In 2026, the Mondays in January are January 5, 12, 19, and 26. The third Monday is January 19, making that date both the federal holiday date and the weekday used for the 2026 federal schedule. No substitute weekday is needed.
MLK Day honors the life, leadership, and public service of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a leading figure in the twentieth-century struggle for civil rights. The holiday commemorates his leadership in nonviolent action against racial segregation and his work toward equal rights, voting rights, dignity, and justice.
The observance is more than a remembrance of Dr. King's birthday. It also connects his legacy with civic participation and community service. MLK Day service projects commonly address local needs while advancing opportunity, education, economic security, and equality.
Use the single-date ICS file to add Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2026 as one all-day event on Monday, January 19. The file works with Google Calendar, Apple Calendar, Outlook, and other calendar apps that support ICS imports.
What's included: The file contains Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2026 only. It does not add the complete U.S. federal holiday calendar, bank hours, USPS service exceptions, school closures, local events, or MLK Day service projects.
Browse all 11 recurring U.S. federal holidays in 2026. Select a holiday to check its date, federal status, calendar placement, and planning details.
President Ronald Reagan signed the law establishing the federal holiday on November 2, 1983. The law took effect in January 1986, and the first federal observance was Monday, January 20, 1986. The holiday has since followed the third Monday in January rule.
The legal public holiday list in 5 U.S.C. 6103 uses the formal name Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. and assigns it to the third Monday in January. MLK Day and Martin Luther King Jr. Day are the common public names for the same federal holiday.
Yes. The King Holiday and Service Act of 1994 designated the federal holiday as a National Day of Service. AmeriCorps leads the federal service initiative, while participation in local volunteer projects remains voluntary.
These official sources support the 2026 federal holiday date, legal status, banking and postal schedules, stock-market closures, private-employment guidance, holiday history, civil rights context, and National Day of Service information.
Confirms Monday, January 19, 2026 in the federal holiday schedule.
Confirms the official name and third Monday in January rule.
Supports Federal Reserve closure and payment-processing guidance.
Supports Post Office closure and regular mail planning.
Supports the Nasdaq market closure on the federal holiday.
Explains private-employer holiday leave and pay boundaries.
Supports the civil rights, nonviolent action, equality, and public-service context.
Supports the MLK Day of Service federal initiative.
Check the responsible organization: Federal dates are set by law, but bank branches, schools, employers, carriers, agencies, and local events may follow separate schedules. Check the organization responsible when a closure or operating time affects your plans.
