Are government offices open on Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2026?
- - Are government offices open on Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2026?
Mike Snider, USA TODAYJanuary 17, 2026 at 4:01 AM
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Government offices will be closed on Monday, Jan. 19, in observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday.
The federal holiday is designated as a national day of service to remember the life of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and to encourage all Americans to volunteer and improve their communities, according to the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
President Ronald Reagan signed the King Holiday Bill into law on Nov. 2, 1983, thus designating the third Monday in January a federal holiday in observance of the civil rights leader. "America is a more democratic nation, a more just nation, a more peaceful nation because Martin Luther King, Jr., became her preeminent nonviolent commander," Reagan said in his remarks, according to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum.
The U.S. Postal Service, banks, and stock markets will also be closed on Jan. 19. Most restaurants, grocery stores, and retail stores will remain open.
What about national parks on Martin Luther King Jr. Day?
National parks will be open on Jan. 19, but entry will not be free. In the past, the National Park Service's free-entry days included MLK Day, but the Trump administration removed MLK Day and Juneteenth from the free-entry day list for 2026.
More news: Can national park visitors get in for free on MLK Day? See 2026 changes.
2026 federal holiday schedule
According to the Office of Personnel Management, here are the dates for all remaining federal holidays in 2025:
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day: Monday, Jan. 19
George Washington's Birthday/Presidents Day: Monday, Feb. 16
Memorial Day: Monday, May 25
Juneteenth: Friday, June 19
Independence Day: Friday, July 3 (observed)
Labor Day: Monday, Sept. 7
Columbus Day: Monday, Oct. 12
Veterans Day: Wednesday, Nov. 11
Thanksgiving: Thursday, Nov. 26
Christmas: Friday, Dec. 25
Contributing: Kinsey Crowley and Gabe Hauari
Mike Snider is a national trending news reporter for USA TODAY. You can follow him on Threads, Bluesky, X and email him at mikegsnider & @mikegsnider.bsky.social & @mikesnider & [email protected].
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Are government offices open or closed on MLK Day 2026? What to know
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