Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebrations

Here are some Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2026 celebrations and events in Houston that you can attend to honor his legacy:

Major Public Celebration

Monday, January 19, 2026 — **MLK Grande Parade Midtown Houston

2026 MLK Unity Parade — Houston’s first unified MLK Day parade after more than 30 years of separate events, brought together by city leadership and community organizers as a symbol of peace, unity, and progress.
Time: 10:00 AM – ~1:00 PM
Where: Downtown Houston — starts on San Jacinto Street & Pease Street and proceeds through central streets.
Details: The parade is free and open to the public, featuring marching bands, floats, cultural and civic groups from across the region and nation.
Theme: “Embracing the Oneness in Humanity” — reflecting Dr. King’s vision of justice, equality, and unity.

Children’s MLK Day Celebration: Hosted by Children’s Museum Houston (family-friendly celebration, with music, messages of unity, and a peace march inside the museum) — great for kids and families wanting an educational way to honor Dr. King.

Some organizations and communities will have programs throughout the week of MLK Day, often involving service, reflection, and arts:

University of Houston hosts a series of events — e.g., MLK fellowship lunch, slam poetry night, film screening, game night, and a Day of Service near the end of January. (These are more oriented toward students and local campus/academic audiences.)

Transit: The city often partners with METRO to offer complimentary transportation to and from the parade/Downtown area on MLK Day.
Plan Ahead: Major streets downtown may be closed or rerouted for the parade, so arrive early and consider public transit to avoid traffic.