Things to Do for Martin Luther King Jr. Day in Atlanta
Last Updated January 16, 2026
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January is the month when Atlanta celebrates the life and accomplishments of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Of course, Atlanta is proud of the civil rights leader and his deep association with our city every day. While we all try to live by his principles, January is when the world focuses its attention on his legacy. Here in Atlanta there are several ways to honor him, including a visit to The King Center and many civil rights landmarks along Auburn Avenue. Here are more things to do.
The King Center
Each year, the King Holiday Observance honors the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. As the living memorial to Dr. King, The King Center leads this global charge, offering education and training in Nonviolence365™ and creating space for people everywhere to engage, learn and unite.
This year, The King Center will honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. under the theme: Mission Possible II: Building Community, Uniting a Nation the Nonviolent Way. This theme is a blueprint for action, guiding the center’s programming and outreach, and anchoring the commitment to building the Beloved Community — a world where injustice ends, violence is replaced by compassion and love becomes the prevailing force.
Through events leading up to the King Holiday on Jan. 19, The King Center will spotlight both Dr. King’s groundbreaking work and Coretta Scott King’s leadership in institutionalizing his legacy. Among the events are:
Jan 8 — Press Conference
Jan. 12 — Kickoff and Nonviolent 365 training
Jan. 14 — Beloved Community Global Youth Summit/Book Reading/Teach In
Jan. 15 and 16 — Beloved Community Global Summit
Jan. 17 — MLK Jr. Beloved Community Awards
Jan. 19 — Community Service and Beloved Community Service Project
Ebenezer Baptist Church
On Jan. 19, Ebenezer Baptist Church plans the Martin Luther King Jr. Beloved Community Commemorative Service.
Ebenezer Baptist Church and Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (ASO), in partnership with Ebenezer Baptist Church, will perform the 2026 King Celebration concert on Jan. 10 at 8 p.m. The concert will be live streamed at GPB.org, aso.org and ebenezeratl.org, and will be available on demand through the King National Holiday.
The orchestra has been invited by the Rev. Raphael G. Warnock and Patrice E. Turner of Ebenezer Baptist Church, to perform for an invited audience in the church’s sanctuary with the Ebenezer Band and a combined choir of members from the Ebenezer Baptist Church Choir and the ASO Chorus.
Jonathan Taylor Rush will conduct works by Uzee Brown, Jasmine Barnes, Adolphus Hailstork and William Grant Still, plus gospel songs and other repertoire reflective of the Ebenezer worship experience.
Georgia Public Broadcasting plans to air an expanded 90-minute televised version of the 2025 King Celebration in partnership with American Public Television at 9 p.m. on Jan. 19, 2026. GPB-FM will also feature the 2025 event on its 22-statewide radio stations on Jan. 19 at 10 p.m. (8 p.m. on GPB Classical).
WABE-FM radio will air an encore performance of the 2025 concert on Jan. 19 at 8 p.m. The encore performance will also be distributed nationally on American Public Media on the King National Holiday.
Morehouse College 2026 King Commemoration
Morehouse College will honor Dr. King Jan. 19-31. The commemoration is designed to educate the world on Dr. King’s historical and contemporary impact while engaging local and global communities in celebration of his legacy. This year’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration experience includes activities that blend the past, present and the future with events designed to engage students, alumni, faculty, staff and supporters. The celebration will feature a number of talks, film screenings and community service opportunities. All events are free and open to the public with registration.
Atlanta History Center
Atlanta History Center will honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Jan. 19 from 10 am. until 4 p.m. with a free family-friendly event. The program, I Influence the Dream, invites visitors to trace the arc of Atlanta’s role in the Civil Rights Movement over the course of generations. There will be exhibits, talks with area experts and interactive experiences.
National Center for Civil and Human Rights
Admission to the National Center for Civil and Human Rights will be free on Jan. 17 in honor of MLK Weekend, thanks to support from FedEx. In addition to exploring the galleries, visitors can enjoy family-friendly activations throughout the day, including scavenger hunts, book readings, button making and a challenge wheel. These activities offer engaging ways for visitors of all ages to connect with the stories and themes explored at the Center. The center notes that this opportunity is a time to reflect on civil and human rights stories and prepare for MLK Day on Monday.
Children’s Museum of Atlanta
Children’s Museum of Atlanta will celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday Jan. 17-19. Things to do include: hear Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech delivered by actor Markell Williams each day at 1 p.m.; join a Happy Birthday parade and dance party; paint portraits inspired by a portrait of Dr. King; see photos of protesters crossing a famous bridge then build a bridge; and, in partnership with Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, write thank you notes to be delivered to local healthcare workers commemorating Dr. King’s desire for all of us to volunteer and serve our communities.
APEX Museum
In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the APEX Museum invites the public to an open house on Jan. 19 from noon until 4 p.m. It will be an afternoon of reflection, learning and community. Visitors are welcome to explore the museum, engage with history and honor the ongoing struggle for civil and human rights.
Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks play the Milwaukee Bucks Jan. 19 at 1 p.m. at State Farm Arena. The game will honor MLK Day.
During warm-ups, Hawks players and staff will join teams throughout the league in wearing special MLK shooting shirts that feature a quote from Dr. King. Before tip-off, the Hawks will host a pregame volunteer packing event where Hawks and Georgia Power employee volunteers will assemble 300 career send-off kits to support graduating seniors at Clark Atlanta University.
Spirit and Truth Church will sing the Hawks’ player introductions along with the national anthem. At halftime, America’s Got Talent semi-finalists, Birmingham Youth & Young Adult Fellowship Choir, will perform. The Hawks ATL Dancers will join Mahagony N Motion, the official dance auxiliary of the Morehouse College of Funk Marching band comprised of students from Spelman College, for a special dance performance. In addition, Martin Luther King III and his wife, Andrea, will be recognized for their work with the Realize the Dream Foundation.
Colony Square
See Dr. Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream Speech” on the big screen at Colony Square on Jan. 19. The speech will be shown every hour, starting at the top of the hour, from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Guests are invited to enjoy Colony Square’s Winter Squares while viewing the speech. Visit the concierge for assistance with the firepits.
Clayton County Celebrates
On Jan. 19, Clayton County plans a free, family-friendly day focused on unity, service and reflection in College Park. The celebration kicks off with a parade from 10 a.m. until noon, running from Phoenix Boulevard to West Fayetteville Road. After the parade there will be a celebration at the Tracey Wyatt Recreation Center that will include live performances on the lawn, community speakers, a vendor fair, kids’ zone and more that highlight Dr. Martin Luther King’s enduring message of equality and justice.
Hands On Atlanta Honors MLK Day at Zonolite Park
Hands On Atlanta volunteers working at Zonolite Park on MLK Day will remove English ivy, mulch the gardens and work on trails. Sign up to volunteer by visiting the Hands On Atlanta website.
Trees Atlanta Plans Several Events
Trees Atlanta will host tree plantings and events in several locations on MLK Day: Cook Park, Lowery Trail, Dunwoody Nature Center, Oakland Cemetery, Connally Family Cemetery and Lake Claire Park.
Runners Honor Dr. King
Runners will honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Jan. 17 during the MLK Freedom Run on the South Peachtree Creek Trail. There will be a 5K and a 10K. Race organizers note that the event is about more than fitness, saying it’s a celebration of community, a call to action for social change and a reminder of the work still to be done. They urge participants to run with purpose and passion.
Hunter Hills Neighborhood Plans an Event
Hunter Hills neighborhood in Atlanta plans a MLK Day of Service on Jan. 19.
Observance at Georgia Tech
Georgia Tech will close on Jan. 19 in observance of the MLK Jr. National Holiday
To learn more about Dr. King and the Civil Rights Movement, visit the National Center for Civil and Human Rights in Atlanta. Admittance to the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park is always free. Note that the Visitor Center at the MLK, Jr. National Historical Park is temporarily located at the nearby historic Fire Station No. 6 while renovations are made at the permanent visitor center. The fire station is located at 39 Boulevard NE. Find out more about Atlanta’s civil rights history.
Carol Carter was a founding staff member of Atlanta Business Chronicle where she later served as editor. She served as editor of seven magazines including a 150-year business history of Atlanta. She worked as a reporter for WXIA TV’s Noonday Show, has written for the New York Times and is a graduate of the University of Missouri School of Journalism. Carol is author of “Junior Dragster Dreams: How Sam Found His Own Ride,” a children’s book.
Originally Published December 3, 2025
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