LISTEN: GPB's Kristi York Wooten speaks with Dr. Bernice King, CEO of the King Center, and Dr. Patrice Turner from Ebenezer Baptist Church about upcoming events honoring Martin Luther King Jr. 

A statue of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. stands at the Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta.

A statue of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. stands at the Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta.

Credit: Associated Press

Celebrations honoring the life and birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King,Jr. are happening across the state this weekend through the federal holiday on Monday. The Atlanta-born civil rights leader would have turned 97 years old on his birthday, Jan. 15. Below are events to attend or watch virtually.
 

MLK Celebration of Service at the Georgia Capitol Jan. 16

John Hope Bryant, CEO of the nonprofit Operation HOPE, speaks at the annual Celebration of Service honoring the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Friday, Jan. 16 at 10 a.m. at the North Wing Steps of the Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta. The event is hosted by state Rep. Billy Mitchell (D-Stone Mountain), chair of the Georgia Martin Luther King Jr. Advisory Council.
 

Free admission day at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights Jan. 17

The National Center for Civil and Human Rights will honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with its Free Admission Day presented by FedEx on Saturday, Jan. 17, and ticketed MLK Day programming on Monday, Jan. 19, featuring family-friendly activities and "opportunities for reflection, learning, and engagement," a press release states.  

Tickets for Free Admission Day are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and advance reservations are strongly encouraged. Click here to register.

On Monday, Jan. 19, NCCHR will observe MLK Day at the Center with ticketed exhibitions and interactive, family-friendly programming. 
 

King Center CEO Bernice King announces Martin Luther King Jr. holiday events in Atlanta on Jan. 8, 2026.

King Center CEO Bernice King announces Martin Luther King Jr. holiday events in Atlanta on Jan. 8, 2026.

Credit: Kristi York Wooten / GPB News

The Beloved Community Awards Jan. 17

The King Center in Atlanta leads the nationwide observance of the national holiday commemorating the birth of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Its Beloved Community Awards recognize national and international individuals and organizations that exemplify excellence in leadership and pursue social justice. This year's star-studded event includes honorees Viola Davis and Billie Eilish, as well as a performance by Chance the Rapper and others. For tickets and more information, click here.

 

Hands On Atlanta's King Days of Service through Jan. 19

Thousands of Atlantans honor Martin Luther King Jr. through days of service. Volunteer for projects ranging from community cleanups to food distribution and more. Projects run from Jan. 12 to Jan. 19. Click here to find a project near you.

 

2026 MLK Jr. Beloved Community Commemorative Service Jan. 19

The official service honoring Martin Luther King Jr. takes place on Monday, Jan. 19, 2026 at 10 a.m. The event is free and open to the public at Ebenezer Baptist Church's New Horizon Sanctuary, in downtown Atlanta.
The service streams live on Fox 5 Atlanta and on the King Center’s social media platforms. 

King Center CEO Bernice King said the service continues last year's “Mission Possible” theme. 

"As our nation enters another year marked by social strain, economic uncertainty, global conflict, and moral confusion, the 2026 King Holiday observance is more critical than ever," she said at a Jan. 8 press conference. 

At the MLK event at Ebenezer Baptist Church on Jan. 20, 2025, members of Atlanta's consular corps took turns ringing a ceremonial bell in support of continuing Nobel Peace Prize winner's work.

At the MLK event at Ebenezer Baptist Church on Jan. 20, 2025, members of Atlanta's consular corps took turns ringing a ceremonial bell in support of continuing the Nobel Peace Prize winner's work.

Credit: Kristi York Wooten / GPB News

The King Celebration Concerts Jan. 19 and on-demand

The music of William Grant Still Jr., Dr. Uzee Brown, Jasmine Barnes and Adolphus Hailstork took center stage at this year’s King Celebration Concert, recorded live at Ebenezer Baptist Church on Jan. 10 and live-streamed by GPB. The collaboration between the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and the church was resurrected last year after a break and has quickly returned to being a premier showcase for Black composers. 

The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, in partnership with Ebenezer Baptist Church, presented the much-loved King Celebration concert on Jan. 10, 2026. Jonathan Taylor Rush conducted works by Uzee Brown, Jasmine Barnes, Adolphus Hailstork and William Grant Still, plus a tribute to late composer Richard Smallwood and other repertoire reflective of the Ebenezer worship experience. 

The 2026 concert features conductor Johnathan Taylor Rush and remarks from the church's senior pastor, Sen. Raphael Warnock, with soloists Tim Miller, Tamika Patton and others. Dr. Patrice Turner, director of Worship and the Arts at Ebenezer, said the music dovetails with King’s enduring message of peace and nonviolence.

"If we want to move the needle forward, if we want to embrace the theology and the framework that the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. laid out for us," she said, "then we have to center ourselves on the love that is within us."

GPB will also air an expanded 90-minute televised version of the 2025 King Celebration in partnership with American Public Television at 9 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 19. The special is a co-production between GPB and the ASO. GPB Radio will feature the 2025 event on its 22-statewide radio stations on Jan. 19 at 10 p.m. (and at 8 p.m. on GPB Classical).

Tags: Martin Luther King Day  Martin Luther King Jr  King Center  Ebenezer Baptist Church  Raphael Warnock  Atlanta Symphony Orchestra  music  concert  Atlanta  Georgia