Martin Luther King Jr. Day each year falls on the third Monday in January, creating the first three-day weekend of 2026. The day honors the life of the slain civil rights leader and is the second federal holiday of the year.
Whether you plan to stay home or enjoy a weekend away, Americans need to know what is open and closed for the upcoming holiday weekend. Here’s more on closures so you can plan ahead:
When is Martin Luther King Jr. Day in 2026?
This year, the holiday is observed on Monday, Jan. 19.
Who has the day off work, school?
All federal, state, and municipal offices will be closed in observance of the holiday on Jan. 19. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is one of 11 federal holidays, according to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management.
Most federal workers and private sector workers are entitled to paid holiday time off. Public schools are also closed on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, however there are some exceptions with private schools.
Is the stock market closed on MLK Day?
The New York Stock Exchange, Nasdaq and bond markets will all be closed on Jan. 19. Those markets are typically open Monday through Friday, aside from select holidays.
Are banks open on MLK Day?
Banks generally close on the same days as the Federal Reserve, which follows the federal holiday schedule above in 2026 Online bank transactions also aren’t typically processed on federal holidays.
However, ATMs are often available for those who need to deposit or withdraw money on federal holidays.
Is mail delivered on MLK Day? Is the Post Office open?
The United States Post Office is also closed on all federal holidays in 2026 and does not deliver regular mail on those days.
The Post Office does still deliver items sent through Priority Mail Express on federal holidays, however. And customers can still “order stamps, print shipping labels, order boxes and other mail supplies, and request package pickups” on USPS.com during federal holidays, according to AARP.
Will FedEx and UPS have deliveries and pickups on MLK Day?
FedEx will operate on a modified schedule for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, according to its website.
No UPS pickup or delivery service is offered on Jan. 19. However, UPS Express Critical service will be available that day, according to its website.
Are libraries and DMV offices open on MLK Day?
Public libraries will be closed on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The state Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) branches across the Empire State are also closed for the federal holiday.
Will stores be open on MLK Day?
Most grocery stores remain open on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, including Wegmans, Tops, Costco, Aldi, as well as Target and Walmart. If you’re unsure whether a store is open, you can call or check online to confirm before heading to the store.
Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy
The civil rights icon is the only non-president honored by a federal holiday. The federal government closes on the day, and U.S. residents are given the opportunity to reflect on King’s legacy. King rose as a civil rights leader in 1955 during the Montgomery bus boycott in Alabama.
Two years later, he founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. In 1963, he led the March on Washington, delivering the famed “I Have a Dream” speech on the National Mall.
King was 39 when was assassinated on April 4, 1968 while standing on a second-floor balcony outside his room at the Lorraine Hotel in Memphis, Tennessee. James Earl Ray confessed to King’s shooting death and was sentenced to 99 years in prison.
King earned the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 for his work to end segregation and combat racism in America.
When are federal holidays in 2026?
After Martin Luther King Jr. Day, there are nine more days throughout 2026 designated as federal holidays. Here’s a rundown of each one and when it is:
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: What’s open and closed on Martin Luther King Jr. Day? Banks, mail, stores
Reporting by Victoria E. Freile, New York Connect Team / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
