Did you know Monday, January 19, 2026 marks the 40th anniversary of Martin Luther King Day?
Also known as MLK Day, the US national holiday held the third Monday of January honors the work and legacy of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Special events, programs, concerts, celebrations, and marches are happening throughout the country and beyond.
Here are a few of the MLK events on January 19, 2026 I found in southeast Michigan.
Wayne State University Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Tribute
This year’s theme Women of the Movement: Then and Now honors the lives of three women who lost their husbands to assassinations during the Civil Rights Movement: Coretta Scott King, Betty Shabazz, and Merle Evers-Williams.
The event features a keynote address from Dr. Keisha N. Blain, professor of Africana studies and history at Brown University as well as performance by jessica Care moore, Detroit poet laureate and Wayne State alumna.
While the event is free, registration is requested.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Canton Community Celebration
Canton Township and Plymouth-Canton Community Schools (P-CCS) host a special celebration honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. through art, spoken word, and more.
The free event, no registration required, takes place at the Village Arts Factory, 50755 Cherry Hill Road, Canton, Michigan 48188 from 6:30PM to 8:30PM Eastern Time.
The program includes:
- Welcome by Canton Township Supervisor Anne Marie Graham-Hudak
- Remarks by P-CCS Superintendent Dr. Monica Merritt
- Student performances
- Art gallery exhibition
- Light refreshments
22nd Annual Detroit MLK Day Rally and March
Hosted by MLK Day Detroit, the 22nd Annual Detroit MLK Day Rally and March will be held at noon Eastern Time.
Participants are invited to gather by noon at St. Matthew’s & St. Joseph’s Episcopal Church, 8850 Woodward Ave., Detroit, MI.
A community meal follows the rally and march.
Fourth Annual Livonia MLK Day Legacy Breakfast
This year’s breakfast, Bending the Arc Toward Justice, features historian, author, and civil rights advocate Sharon Sexton.
Held at Madonna University Welcome Center, 36700 Schoolcraft Road, Livonia, Michigan 48150, the breakfast is 8AM to 10AM.
Registration and advance ticket purchase ($10-$30/ticket) is required.
University of Michigan Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Symposium
Hosted by the University of Michigan, this year’s free MLK Keynote Memorial Lecture is Unbowed and Unbroken: The Enduring Struggle for Justice featuring Donzaleigh Abernathy and Derrick Johnson. .
Held at Hill Auditorium in Ann Arbor, the free lecture is 10AM to 11:30AM and open to the public.
No registration required; livestream available the day of the event.
