Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is a federal holiday celebrated on the third Monday in January. That means on January 19, 2026. Banks, schools, and most government offices nationwide are closed. Department of Motor Vehicles branches and the U.S. Post Office are also closed.
Unlike holidays like July 4th or Memorial Day BBQ, Martin Luther King Jr. Day isn’t associated with BBQs or big public celebrations. Instead, it’s a day when many people choose to honor the slain civil rights leader by participating in acts of community service.
If you have the day off from work, you might spend part of it volunteering, or you might use the day to run errands or go shopping.
If that’s your plan, you want to know: What stores are open on MLK Day? Most major retailers — think Walmart, Macy’s, JCPenney, Kohl’s, Nordstrom, Dillard’s, TJ Maxx, Sephora, and Costco — are open on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, according to company policies.
Most restaurants, including fast food restaurants, are also open and grocery stores also tend to stay open for regular hours on this federal holiday, though some locations may adjust hours.
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Which stores are typically open on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Below is a list of the biggest grocery stores that typically stay open on federal holidays, including Martin Luther King, Jr. Day:
- Albertson’s
- Aldi
- Baker’s
- City Market
- Costco
- Dillons
- Food 4 Less
- Foods Co
- Fred Meyer
- Fry’s
- Gerbes
- Jay C Food Store
- King Soopers
- Kroger
- Mariano’s
- Metro Market
- Pay-Less Super Markets
- Pick’n Save
- Publix
- QFC
- Ralphs
- Ruler
- Safeway
- Smith’s Food and Drug
- Target
- Trader Joe’s
- Walmart
MLK events around the U.S.
If you’re not in the mood to shop, for groceries or anything else on MLK, you may be looking for a way to honor Martin Luther King, Jr. day. Here are the ways some communities are celebrating:
- Seattle Parks and Recreation will host a tribute to King that features a youth-led march and performances from artists and musicians.
- New York has events all over the city on Monday, January 19, and you can find a few of them listed by the New York Amsterdam News.
- Los Angeles has events all over town, including a musical tribute by the Inner City Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles.
- Atlanta’s MLK Day celebration, Hands on Atlanta, brings together residents for a day of service.
- Memphis, the city where King was assassinated, will open the doors to the National Civil Rights Museum for free on January 19, 2026.
- Chicago’s Chaos or Community is a day of art and music at the Hyde Park Art Center.
- Washington, DC, celebrates MLK Day with the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday DC Parade.