MLK Day is Monday, Jan. 18, 2027. Durham's march gathers at NC Mutual Tower at 10:30 a.m. for a noon rally; 2027 times are not out yet. County offices close.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is Monday, Jan. 18, 2027. In Durham the day centers on the community march from the NC Mutual Tower to First Presbyterian Church, followed by a rally and an evening service. Duke holds its commemoration in Duke Chapel the day before. Most county offices close on the holiday.

Last checked Nov. 10, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. No organizer had published 2027 Durham MLK Day times when we checked, so the details below describe 2026, from Durham County’s MLK Day notice and Duke Chapel. We will update it when the 2027 details are out.

Who to call

  • Durham County public information office: publicinformationoffice@dconc.gov
  • County trash and recycling convenience sites: 919-560-0433
  • Durham One Call (city services): 919-560-1200
  • Duke Chapel: 919-681-9488

The march and rally

On Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, the Durham Community Martin Luther King Jr. Steering Committee held its annual March and Rally, according to the county manager’s MLK Day notice:

  • 10:30 a.m.: marchers gather at the NC Mutual Tower, 411 W. Chapel Hill St.
  • The march goes east through downtown to First Presbyterian Church, 305 E. Main St.
  • Noon: rally at First Presbyterian Church
  • 6 p.m.: the committee’s annual religious service at Orange Grove Missionary Baptist Church, 505 East End Ave.

Is it on in 2027? The committee holds the march every year on the holiday, but no 2027 times had been posted on Nov. 10, 2026. Expect them in early January; we will add them here.

Other MLK events in and around Durham

All from the county’s 2026 notice unless linked:

  • Duke MLK Commemoration: 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026, in Duke Chapel, 401 Chapel Drive, free and open to the public. CNN anchor Abby Phillip was the keynote guest, in conversation with Duke political science professor Candis Watts Smith, according to Duke Chapel.
  • Triangle Interfaith Prayer Breakfast: the 46th breakfast started at 7:15 a.m. on MLK Day 2026 at the Sheraton Imperial Hotel in Durham, run by the Triangle Martin Luther King Jr. Committee.
  • Book Harvest’s Dream Big Book Drive: 1 to 4 p.m. on MLK Day 2026 at Boxyard RTP, a book drive, volunteer event and family festival.
  • Days of service: North Carolina Central University and Duke both held MLK days of service in 2026.
  • Durham City-County MLK Observance: the 21st observance was 11 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026, at First Presbyterian Church, free and open to the public, with NCCU Chancellor Karrie G. Dixon as keynote speaker, according to the county’s announcement.

What is open and closed

  • Durham County offices: most closed. In 2026 the county closed most offices on MLK Day and reopened Tuesday, according to its 2026 holiday notice.
  • County convenience sites: all three trash and recycling convenience sites closed on MLK Day 2026 and reopened the next day.
  • County roadside recycling (unincorporated Durham County): ran on schedule MLK week in 2026.
  • Durham County Department of Public Health: closed on the holiday in 2026.
  • City of Durham trash pickup: the city had not published its 2027 holiday collection notice when we checked. Check the Durham Rollout app or our trash and recycling page, which we update when it is out.
  • Durham Public Schools: MLK Day is a holiday on the district’s 2026-27 calendar; see our schools page.

Getting downtown

The march starts on West Chapel Hill Street and ends on East Main Street, so expect downtown streets to be busy late in the morning. Parking decks and transit are on our getting around guide; check road construction and closures before you set off.

What this means for you

  • Hold Monday, Jan. 18, for the march and rally until the 2027 times are out.
  • Duke’s commemoration has been on the Sunday before the holiday; watch Duke Chapel’s calendar for the 2027 speaker.
  • Plan county errands for another day; most county offices and convenience sites close.
  • Organizing a 2027 MLK Day service project, breakfast or march in Durham? Send us the details and we will list it here.

Related: history and landmarks, things to do this month and free things to do.

Frequently asked questions

When is MLK Day 2027?

Monday, Jan. 18, 2027, the third Monday in January. Durham County government closes most offices for the holiday each year.

Is there an MLK Day march in Durham?

Yes, every year. In 2026 the Durham Community Martin Luther King Jr. Steering Committee gathered marchers at 10:30 a.m. at the NC Mutual Tower, 411 W. Chapel Hill St., for a march to First Presbyterian Church, 305 E. Main St., with a rally at noon, according to Durham County. The 2027 times had not been announced on Nov. 10, 2026.

When is Duke’s MLK commemoration?

In 2026 Duke held its annual MLK Commemoration at 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 18, in Duke Chapel, free and open to the public, with CNN anchor Abby Phillip as the keynote guest. Duke had not announced its 2027 speaker on Nov. 10, 2026.

Are Durham County offices open on MLK Day?

Most are closed. In 2026 the county closed most offices, its three trash and recycling convenience sites and the Department of Public Health on MLK Day, and reopened them the next day. County roadside recycling ran as normal that week.