DaysUntilNowHow Many Days Until Martin Luther King Jr. Day?
MLK Day falls on the third Monday in January
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When exactly is Martin Luther King Jr. Day?
Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a US federal holiday on the third Monday in January, placed near King’s birthday of 15 January. The campaign to create it ran for 15 years after his assassination in 1968; the bill was signed in 1983 and first observed in 1986.
It was not fully adopted straight away — the last state to observe it under that name did so in 2000. It is designated a national day of service, so many people mark it with volunteer work rather than a day off.
Upcoming dates
| Year | Date | Day of week |
|---|---|---|
| 2027 | January 18, 2027 | Monday |
| 2028 | January 17, 2028 | Monday |
| 2029 | January 15, 2029 | Monday |
| 2030 | January 21, 2030 | Monday |
| 2031 | January 20, 2031 | Monday |
Frequently asked questions
When is Martin Luther King Jr. Day?
MLK Day falls on the third Monday in January.
Why is the holiday not on his actual birthday?
The Uniform Monday Holiday Act of 1968 moved several federal holidays to Mondays to create long weekends. King was born on 15 January, and the third Monday in January always falls between the 15th and the 21st — so it lands on or just after the birthday.