King Center begins 11-day events for Martin Luther King Day 40th anniversary

The King Center in Atlanta opened an 11-day series of events marking the 40th observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day; Dr. Bernice King announced the theme as "Mission Possible 2: Building Community, Uniting a Nation the Non-Violent Way."

The King Center in Atlanta opened a series of events on Thursday to mark the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday. The program began at the Yolanda D. King Theatre and will run for 11 days through the federal holiday on Jan. 19. The 2026 observance is the 40th celebration of the holiday, first observed in 1986. Dr. Bernice King, the King Center's CEO and daughter of Martin Luther King Jr., framed this year's activities as a continuation of last year's theme. Key details: - The King Center began an 11-day schedule of events on Thursday, continuing through the federal holiday on Jan. 19. - 2026 marks the 40th observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, which was first observed on Jan. 20, 1986. - The kickoff event took place at the Yolanda D. King Theatre and was covered by Channel 2 reporter Steve Gehlbach. - Dr. Bernice King announced the theme as "Mission Possible 2: Building Community, Uniting a Nation the Non-Violent Way," a continuation of the 2025 theme "Mission Possible." - King referenced her father's legacy of nonviolence and cited recent violence in Minnesota when discussing why the King Center's programs matter now. Summary: The events highlight the King Center's renewed focus on nonviolence and community building as Atlanta marks the 40th observance of the holiday. Programming will continue over the 11-day schedule and conclude on the federal holiday, Jan. 19.