Colleges and universities across the nation are observing Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday with extensive service projects and discussions on racial equity, as the federal holiday marks its 31st year as a National Day of Service.
Temple University in Philadelphia is serving as the regional volunteer hub for the Greater Philadelphia Martin Luther King Day of Service for the first time in more than 15 years. The event, founded in Philadelphia in 1996, is the oldest and largest of its kind in the nation, with more than 2.6 million volunteers participating over three decades.
This year's Greater Philadelphia theme centers on advancing civil rights through equity and education. Temple will host a jobs fair, health and wellness fair, civic engagement workshops, a kids carnival, and a noon rally for peace and justice. Volunteers will also assemble book arks to provide free books to underserved communities and create hygiene kits for people experiencing homelessness.
"Dr. King's message for justice and civil rights is as important today as it was in 1963, and at Temple, we will always be deeply committed to living out the lessons of that message," said Temple President John Fry.
The Philadelphia Orchestra will conclude the day with its annual MLK Day tribute concert at 3 p.m. at the Kimmel Center's Marian Anderson Hall, with free tickets available online. The Kimmel Center will simultaneously host a food drive in partnership with Philabundance.
Eastern Michigan University is hosting a week-long celebration that includes a women's basketball game against the University of Toledo at 6:30 p.m. on Monday. On Wednesday, Courtney Smith, founder and executive chief officer of the Detroit Phoenix Center, will speak at the university's annual Justice Speaker Series. EMU Student Government is also hosting a community networking event on Friday with Ypsilanti Mayor Nicole Brown.
Morehouse College in Atlanta, King's alma mater, is hosting its annual celebration featuring keynote speakers, panel discussions, musical tributes, and service activities. The event brings together students, alumni, community leaders, and guests from across the nation.
Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, Ohio, is hosting a community celebration with the theme "The Lantern Keepers: Preserving the Flame of Justice." Dr. Sierra Austin-King, an assistant professor of Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and Black Studies, will deliver the keynote address. The event includes a brunch beginning at 10 a.m., with individual tickets priced at $35.
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro will hold its annual MLK Service Award and commemorations on Thursday, Jan. 22, featuring speakers, student performances, and music focused on unity and service.
Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City is participating in the annual MLK OKC Coalition celebrations downtown. Led by Professor Steven Collins and the Black Student Association, the campus community will gather at St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral at 11:30 a.m. before departing at 1 p.m. to join the downtown parade, which begins at 2 p.m.
"This day is about bringing people together from all backgrounds to honor Dr. King and what he stood for," Collins said.
Most institutions have confirmed class cancellations for MLK Day 2026, treating it as an official university holiday. The National Association of Student Personnel Administrators estimates that more than 1,200 colleges and universities will host formal MLK Day programs this year.
Community service remains the most common activity, with participation in campus MLK events increasing 15% since 2020, following the racial justice protests that summer, according to the organization.
The federal holiday, observed on the third Monday of January, was established in 1986. The MLK Day of Service was created through federal legislation co-authored by U.S. Rep. John Lewis and Pennsylvania U.S. Sen. Harris Wofford.
King was assassinated in Memphis on April 4, 1968, while supporting striking sanitation workers. His birthday is Jan. 15, 1929.
