MLK Day Events Calendar Madison
Welcoming Marc Lamont Hill, Noted Scholar, Author, and Commentator
MLK DAY – Mon, Jan. 19 | Overture Center Capitol Theater
5:15 PM Freedom Songs, 6:00 PM Observance
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Coalition of Madison & Dane County is honored to announce plans for a series of Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday observances that will culminate with the 41st Annual Madison & Dane County MLK Day Observance.
The King Coalition is excited to welcome 2026 MLK Day Keynote Speaker Marc Lamont Hill, a nationally recognized scholar, author, and media commentator whose work champions racial justice, education, and global solidarity. Hill serves as Presidential Professor at the CUNY Graduate Center and founded The People’s Education Center and Uncle Bobbie’s Coffee & Books, blending academic insight with grassroots activism. He has hosted programs on BET and HuffPost Live, contributed to CNN and MSNBC, authored eight influential books, and has been named one of Ebony’s 100 most influential Black leaders.
Hill’s connection to Dr. King’s legacy runs deep. He has delivered keynote addresses for MLK commemorations at institutions such as Milton Academy and the University of Michigan and spoken at events like Princeton Theological Seminary’s “The Power of Protest: From Civil Rights to Black Lives Matter.” In recent years, Hill has urged audiences to honor King through radical action and resistance, emphasizing that true tribute means continuing the fight for justice. His layered engagement with MLK’s legacy ensures an inspiring and highly relevant 2026 MLK Day celebration.
The observance will also feature the presentation of the MLK Humanitarian Award by City of Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway and Dane County Executive Melissa Agard. The program will also feature the MLK Community Choir led by Leotha and Tamera Stanley and a call to action.
There is no cost to attend. Tickets are not required.
Other opportunities to observe the King Holiday include:
· January 13 & 17: MLK Community Choir rehearsals
· January 16: Free Community Dinner, hosted by the King Coalition
· January 17: I Have A Dream Ball, hosted by Women in Focus
· January 18: MLK Youth Recognition Breakfast, hosted by Urban League
· January 18: MLK Ecumenical Service, hosted by the King Coalition
· January 19: MLK Youth Call to Service, co-hosted by King Coalition and others
· January 19: City-County Observance, hosted by King Coalition
Wisconsin Bail Out the People Movement 
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