Atlanta, GA., Nov. 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change (The King Center) proudly announces the 41st official King Holiday Observance (KHO) event schedule, culminating in the celebration of the Martin Luther King, Jr. federal holiday on January 19th, 2026. This year marks what would have been Dr. King’s 97th birthday. The 2026 Official King Holiday theme, Mission Possible 2: Building Community, Uniting a Nation the Nonviolent Way, is more than a tribute, it’s a challenge. It dares us to believe that unity is not a distant dream, but a deliberate act of courage, compassion, and collective will. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. didn’t just preach nonviolence; he wielded it as a radical tool for transformation, proving that love in action could dismantle systems of hate. This theme calls us to pick up that mantle, not with nostalgia, but with urgency. In a time fractured by division, it reminds us that building community is not passive…it is revolutionary, and the mission is still possible if we choose to walk it together!
Beginning January 12th, The King Center will present a dynamic lineup of events in celebration of the 2026 King Holiday. Highlights include Nonviolence365® training for adults, a Beloved Community Children’s Book Reading, the Beloved Community Global Adult and Youth Summits, and the prestigious MLK Jr. Beloved Community Awards. On Monday, January 19th, the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Beloved Community Commemorative Service will be held at Historic Ebenezer Baptist Church. The service will feature gospel singers, Lady Tramaine Hawkins and Pastor Shirley Ceaser; American Idol winner, Jamal Roberts; and keynote speaker Rev. A.R Bernard. The King Holiday Observance Week will culminate with the Beloved Community Service Project, honoring Dr. King’s legacy of service and inspiring continued action toward justice and unity.
- We are thrilled to announce the confirmed 2026 MLK, Jr. Beloved Community Award recipients: Billie Eilish, Grammy-winning American Singer-songwriter and Musician;
Viola Davis, EGOT Award-winning Actress, Philanthropist, and CEO/Co-founder Of Juvee Productions & JVL Media; Robert Smith, Chairman and CEO of Vista Equity Partners (Vista) and a Committed Philanthropist, Businessman and Investor; Dushun Scarbrough, Executive Director of Arkansas Martin Luther King Jr. Advisory Commission; Dr. Dorothy Jean Tillman, Award-winning Child Prodigy, Tech and Arts Enthusiast, and Community Leader; Lebron James Family Foundation, accepted by Gloria James, mother of Lebron James; Sesame Workshop, accepted by Valerie Mitchell Johnston, Executive Vice President and General Counsel; Cisco Technologies, accepted by Brian Tippens, Chief Social Impact and Inclusion Officer; and a host of other laudable recipients and performers.
- January 8th– KHO Press Conference (Invitation Only)
- January 12th– 2025 KHO Kickoff Reception (In-Person and open to the public)
- January 12th– Nonviolence365® Training-Day (In-Person)*
- January 14th– Beloved Community Children’s Book Reading (In-Person and open for students K-5th) *
- January 14th– Beloved Community Global Youth Summit (In-Person) (Invitation Only) *
- January 14th– Beloved Community Teach-In (Downloadable lesson plans available for K-12 educators) *
- January 15th– Beloved Community Global Adult Summit- Day 1 (Hybrid and open to the public) *
- January 16th– Beloved Community Global Adult Summit- Day 2 (Hybrid and open to the public) *
- January 16th– MLK Advisory Council Event (Private Event)
- January 17th– MLK, Jr. Beloved Community Awards (In-Person and open to the public) (Event Ticket Required)
- January 19th – Martin Luther King, Jr. Beloved Community Commemorative Service at Historic Ebenezer Baptist Church (In-person and open to the public, will be broadcast and streamed)
- January 19th – Beloved Community Service Project (In-Person and open to the public) (Registration required)*
For more information, registration, ticket purchase, and up-to-date details about KHO 2026, please visit King Holiday 2026 – The King Center
(*) Requires Registration
About The King Center
The Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change (The King Center) is a 501(c)(3) organization established in 1968 by Mrs. Coretta Scott King. The King Center is the official living memorial and programmatic nonprofit organization committed to educating the world on the life, legacy, and teachings of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The King Center serves to inspire new generations to carry forward his unfinished work, strengthen causes and empower change-makers who are continuing his efforts today. The King Center’s premiere educational initiative, Nonviolence365®, is based on Dr. King’s nonviolent philosophy and methodology. His teachings engage participants from various sectors of society, including emerging and next generation leaders, in modules and exercises that enhance communication, leadership, interpersonal and conflict reconciliation skills. For more information, please visit www.thekingcenter.org.
- 2026 KHO Save the Dates
- Beloved Community Awards