Are schools open on Martin Luther King Jr. Day?
Schools · Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Closed
Almost certainly not — nearly every district closes for MLK Day.
The third Monday in January is a federal holiday and one of the most reliable school closures on the calendar. Districts that hold class are rare enough that it tends to be local news, and some that close still bring students in for service projects or an assembly by choice rather than as a school day.
Because it always lands on a Monday, MLK Day makes a three-day weekend, and some districts attach a staff development day to the Tuesday — school closed to students for a reason that isn't the holiday at all. Whether your break is one day or two is a calendar question, not a national one.
| Holiday | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Monday, January 19, 2026 | Closed Nearly all districts close for MLK Day. |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Monday, January 18, 2027 | Closed Nearly all districts close for MLK Day. |
What else on Martin Luther King Jr. Day?
| Who | Status |
|---|---|
| Banks | Closed No — banks are closed on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. |
| Mail & the Post Office | Closed No — there's no mail delivery on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. |
| The Stock Market | Closed No — the stock market is closed on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. |
| UPS | Closed No — UPS doesn't pick up or deliver on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. |
| FedEx | Varies Yes — FedEx delivers on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, but pickups run on a modified schedule. |
| Federal Offices | Closed No — federal offices are closed on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. |
| Trash Pickup | Varies Probably — most cities run normal routes on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, though a fair number observe it, so it's worth a look at your city's sanitation page. |
Questions people ask
Are district offices open on MLK Day?
Usually not. Central offices generally follow the same holiday closings as the schools, though some keep a skeleton staff on the phones. If you need records or enrollment, call before you drive over.
Checked against your school district's calendar, verified August 2026. When a schedule for a new year has not been published yet, this page says so — it never guesses.