MLK Day at the Center 2026

Join us at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights on MLK Day for a meaningful day of reflection, learning, and connection, honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 

Guided by this year’s theme, “The Time Is Right to Do What’s Right,” MLK Day at the Center invites visitors to move beyond remembrance and toward action. Often described as a day on, not a day off, MLK Day is a call to reflect on Dr. King’s vision and consider how his work continues to shape today’s ongoing struggle for civil and human rights. 

Throughout the day, visitors of all ages are invited to engage with the Center’s galleries and participate in hands-on, family-friendly activities designed to inspire learning, creativity, and changemaking. Activities include a Dr. King scavenger hunt through the Civil Rights and King galleries (available at the lobby activity table), a DIY King button-making station, and a collaborative mural inspired by images from Dr. King’s life, the civil rights movement, and his words. 

Featured Program:
At 11 AM in The Glenn, join us for a powerful performance by the young artists of the Palefsky Collision Project, who return each year on MLK Day to reimagine their summer work through the lens of Dr. King’s legacy. This year’s performance revisits Blaze, an original piece inspired by Octavia E. Butler’s Parable of the Sower, directed by Sam Provenzano with creative collaboration from Maya Lawrence (Playwright), Rodney L. Williams (Director of Artistic Mentorship), and David Koté (Music Director).
Free with museum admission.

Whether you are visiting for the first time or returning, MLK Day at the Center offers an opportunity to honor Dr. King’s legacy and to affirm that the time is right to do what’s right.