Everybody can be great…because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.— Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Every January, I’m reminded that MLK Day isn’t just a holiday—it’s a call to action. MLK Day is a National holiday that honors and celebrates the legacy and life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Sharing a birthday month with one of history’s most iconic civil rights leaders, I’ve always felt drawn to honoring Dr. King through service, reflection, and community. In Chicago, this day offers countless ways to celebrate his legacy, from hands-on volunteer opportunities to inspiring cultural experiences.
Whether you want to volunteer, explore local museums, or join in neighborhood events, this guide highlights the best ways to honor Dr. King’s vision in Chicago in 2026.
MLK Day Events and Activities 2026
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration
Time & Date: Thursday, January 15, 2026 | 4:30 p.m.
Location: Catholic Theological Union, 5416 S Cornell Ave.
Price: Free admission, sign-up is required
Join the Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago as they explore this year’s theme: “What Now?” This reflective event features a praise service, student readings, a panel discussion, and a reception. Together, attendees will discuss how to heed Dr. King’s advice to “keep moving forward” and respond to community challenges with action and hope.
Celebrate MLK Day with the Chicago Public Library
Time & Date: Saturday, January 17 and Tuesday, January 20, 2026 | Time Varies
Location: Brainerd and Uptown Branches
Price: Free admission, sign-up is required
The Chicago Public Library hosts neighborhood events for all ages, from literacy-focused crafts at Brainerd Branch to a unique session at Uptown Branch exploring library archives through the lens of protest art and R&B music. It’s a hands-on, interactive way to reflect on Dr. King’s legacy.
Forest Preserves of Cook County MLK Day of Service
Time & Date: Saturday, January 17 – Monday, January 19, 2026 | Various Times
Location: Various Forest Preserves around Cook County
Price: Free admission, sign-up is required
Celebrate Dr. King through action in Chicago’s natural spaces. Volunteer for ecological restoration, litter clean-ups, or join family-friendly winter nature crafts and educational walks. It’s a reflective way to honor Dr. King while giving back to the environment.
Courage to Participate: MLK Day 2026
Time & Date: Saturday, January 17, 2026 | 10:00 AM – 1:00 p.m.
Location: Grace & Peace Church, 1856 N Leclaire Ave, Chicago, IL 60639
Price: Free RSVP
Join the Institute for Nonviolence Chicago for its 10th anniversary as they honor Dr. King’s legacy with special guests Ernest Crim III and Trymaine Lee. This celebration features a screening of the short film “Choose Peace,” an interactive “Letters of Courage” service experience, and a community lunch. Together, attendees will explore the Kingian principle that nonviolence is an active, courageous way of life and celebrate a decade of transforming Chicago neighborhoods.
PUSH for Excellence’s 2026 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration Weekend: Building a Beloved Community
Time & Date: Saturday, January 17 – Monday, January 19, 2026
Location: Multiple locations across Chicago
Price: Free and ticketed events (registration required for select events)
PUSH for Excellence honors Dr. King’s legacy with a weekend of reflection, service, and celebration. Highlights include a Day of Service at PUSH Headquarters, an interfaith worship service, an evening reflection, and the annual Dr. King Breakfast at the Fairmont Chicago with journalist Don Lemon and performances by the Leo High School Boys’ Choir.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Bus Tour with Chicago Historian Dilla
Time & Date: Monday, January 19, 2026 | 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Location: Pick-up outside Douglass Park Field House, 1401 S. Sacramento Dr.
Price: Ticketed event
This guided bus tour traces Dr. King’s Chicago Freedom Movement work through the West Side. Led by Emmy Award–winning historian Dilla, the experience includes storytelling, photo stops, and historical context tied to housing justice and civil rights organizing in Chicago.
Visit a Chicago Museum on MLK Day
Time & Date: Monday, January 19, 2026 | Time Varies by Location
Location: Various Museums in Chicago
Price: Cost Varies by Location
These Chicago Museums make it easy to enjoy MLK Day in Chicago with family-friendly activities and events:
- DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center: Free MLK Day of Service with community activities and a winter donation drive.
- Art Institute of Chicago: Free admission for Illinois residents and kids under 14.
- Museum of Science and Industry: Explore the Black Creativity and Crafting Character: The Costumes of Paul Tazewell exhibitions, both premiering January 19, 2026, and included with general admission.
- Chicago History Museum: Free museum day for Illinois residents featuring hands-on activities and civic engagement opportunities.
- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day at Chicago Children’s Museum: Celebrate MLK Day at the Chicago Children’s Museum through hands-on activities, artmaking, storytelling, and the MLK Day Story Lounge featuring books and guided conversations for young learners.
The Fierce Urgency of Now: Opening Reception
Time & Date: Monday, January 19, 2026 | 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Location: Inner-City Muslim Action Network (IMAN)
Price: Free (RSVP required)
Celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Chicago Freedom Movement through a collaborative art exhibition focused on justice, accountability, and collective responsibility. Includes a panel discussion with participating artists.
OPEN HEART: Chicago Sinfonietta’s Annual MLK Tribute Concert
Time & Date: Monday, January 19, 2026 | 4:00 p.m.
Location: Auditorium Theatre, 50 E Ida B Wells Dr
Price: $30 – $85
Join the Chicago Sinfonietta for their annual MLK Tribute Concert. This year’s theme is “Open Heart,” honoring the legacy of pioneering Black surgeon Dr. Daniel Hale Williams, a founder of the first Black-owned hospital in America. This year, Maestra Mei-Ann Chen leads a program world premiere of Kathryn Bostic’s The Supremes at Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat, adapted from the Hulu film and novel, and Joel Thompson’s moving elegy forBreonna Taylor. The performance concludes with Dvořák’s iconic “From the New World” Symphony, celebrating medical miracles and social missions through music.
Volunteer with City Year Chicago: MLK Day of Service
Time & Date: Monday, January 19, 2026 | 9:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Location: Morgan Park High School, 1744 W Pryor Ave.
Price: Free (Registration deadline Jan 9)
Looking for an MLK Day volunteer opportunity? Join City Year Chicago for a “day ON, not a day off” dedicated to honoring Dr. King’s legacy through action and unity. Volunteers will work alongside AmeriCorps members and community partners to transform the learning environment at Morgan Park High School by painting murals and completing various school beautification projects.
The University of Chicago: 36th Annual MLK Commemoration Celebration
Time & Date: Wednesday, January 28, 2026 | 6:00 p.m. (Doors open at 5:00 p.m.)
Location: Rockefeller Memorial Chapel, 5850 S. Woodlawn Ave.
Price: Free (registration recommended)
Mark MLK season with an evening of reflection, music, and community at Rockefeller Memorial Chapel, the site of one of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s first major speeches in Chicago. The 2026 keynote speaker is Professor Jacqueline Stewart, a renowned film scholar, founder of the South Side Home Movie Project at the University of Chicago. Musical performances will be provided by Uniting Voices Chicago, a youth choir organization founded in 1956 and inspired by the Civil Rights Movement.
Conclusion: How to Volunteer in Chicago Beyond the MLK Day of Service
Dr. King’s legacy lives on through service every day. Here are ways to continue your impact in Chicago:
My challenge to you: Pick one organization from the list below and commit to a follow-up volunteer shift in February or March. Let’s make the “Beloved Community” a year-round reality, not just a weekend theme.
- Chicago Cares: Engage in diverse volunteer activities like food distribution, literacy programs, and neighborhood revitalization.
- Volunteer Match: Browse a wide range of service opportunities that match your skills and interests.
No matter how you choose to serve, your contribution helps honor Dr. King’s vision and strengthens the bonds that tie us all together.
What will your contribution be this year? Leave a comment below!
3 responses to “MLK Day 2026: Events and Community Activities in Chicago”
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[…] Jr. and is also known as a National Day of Service. Social distancing may have us celebrating a bit differently this year; regardless we can still honor Dr. King’s legacy by commemorating this momentous day through […]
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[…] Martin Luther King, Jr. The day is a federal holiday marking the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr., a celebration also known as MLK Day. While most people take the day off—others take the day to commemorate and honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with community-oriented events, celebrations, and service actives. Join other Chicagoans as you experience events and activities for all ages during MLK Day in Chicago… […]
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