MLK Day is Monday, Jan. 18, 2027. Lexington's free Freedom March ran at 1 p.m. last year, then a 2 p.m. program at Central Bank Center. What is known for 2027.

Last checked Nov. 11, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. Facts come from the University of Kentucky’s announcements of the celebration, the city calendar, the Lexington Public Library and Lextran.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is Monday, Jan. 18, 2027. Lexington marks it with the Freedom March through downtown and a commemorative program at Central Bank Center, one of the oldest MLK Day observances in the country. The organizers had not announced the 2027 times, theme or speaker as of Nov. 11. Last year they were announced on Dec. 10, so expect details in December; this page will be updated.

MLK Day in Lexington at a glance

  • Holiday: Monday, Jan. 18, 2027
  • Freedom March: 1 p.m. in 2026; 2027 time not yet announced
  • Commemorative program: 2 p.m. in 2026, Central Bank Center, 430 W. Vine St.
  • Cost: free and open to the public
  • Closed: city offices, all library branches, Fayette County Public Schools

Is it on this year?

Almost certainly, but the 2027 details are not out yet. The celebration has run every year since 1973, when it was founded at the University of Kentucky, 13 years before the federal holiday, according to UKNow. An MLK Holiday Celebration committee, which includes the director of UK’s Martin Luther King Center, plans it each year. In 2026 UK announced the date, times and keynote speaker on Dec. 10, 2025.

What happened in 2026

From UK’s announcements on Dec. 10, 2025 and Jan. 16, 2026:

  • When: Monday, Jan. 19, 2026. The Freedom March began at 1 p.m. and the commemorative program followed at 2 p.m. at Central Bank Center.
  • Theme: “The Right to Live, The Right to Choose: Health, Ballots & The Beloved Community.”
  • Keynote: the Rev. Devon Jerome Crawford, senior pastor of Historic Third Baptist Church of San Francisco.
  • Exhibit: “Witness to History: The Photography of Moneta Sleet, Jr.,” a show of work by the Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer from Owensboro, Kentucky. It was at Central Bank Center during the program, then at the Lyric Theater and Cultural Arts Center from Jan. 20-30.
  • Crowd: UK said thousands were expected for the march.

The march and program were free. People who want to support the celebration can give through the MLK Holiday Committee fund that UK links to.

Buses, parking and getting downtown

In 2026 Lextran ran its regular schedule on MLK Day, and most routes through downtown detoured from 12:30 p.m. while the march was on the street. Lextran had not posted 2027 plans as of Nov. 11. Downtown parking options are on our parking page, and current road work is on road construction and closures.

What is closed on MLK Day

What this means for you

  • City offices: Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government is closed Monday, Jan. 18, 2027.
  • Library: all Lexington Public Library locations are closed Jan. 18.
  • Schools: Fayette County Public Schools and district offices are closed Jan. 18, according to the district’s 2026-27 calendar. See schools.
  • Trash: the city has not posted its 2027 holiday collection schedule. In 2026 there was no Monday collection on MLK Day, and Monday routes were picked up Wednesday, Jan. 21. Check trash and recycling closer to the day.

More in January

For the rest of the month’s events, see things to do this month, which is updated each week. Holiday closings at the end of December are on the New Year’s Eve page.

Send us your event

Holding an MLK Day service project, worship service or program in Lexington? Send the date, time, place and a link to your own page through our contact page and we will add it.

Frequently asked questions

When is MLK Day 2027?

Monday, Jan. 18, 2027. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is the third Monday in January and a federal holiday.

What time is the Lexington MLK Freedom March?

In 2026 the Freedom March started at 1 p.m. on the holiday and was followed by the commemorative program at 2 p.m. at Central Bank Center, according to the University of Kentucky. The 2027 times had not been announced as of Nov. 11, 2026.

Is the Lexington MLK Day celebration free?

Yes. The organizers say the MLK Holiday Observance, the march and the program, is free and open to the public.

Are Lexington city offices and libraries closed on MLK Day?

Yes. Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government offices and every Lexington Public Library location are closed Monday, Jan. 18, 2027. Fayette County Public Schools and district offices are closed too.

How long has Lexington held an MLK Day march?

The Lexington celebration was founded at the University of Kentucky in 1973, 13 years before the federal holiday, and is one of the longest-running MLK Day observances in the country, according to UK.