The King Coalition was established in the fall of 1985 as a community group to plan the official City of Madison and Dane County observance of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. The planning of this holiday celebration takes on special significance as people from all walks of life gather in the spirit of true brotherhood and sisterhood to commemorate the life and accomplishments of this renowned leader of the Civil Rights movement.
The 41st annual Madison-Dane County MLK Day Observance will take place on Monday, January 19 at the Overture Center for the Arts in downtown Madison. There will be a freedom song sing-in from 5:15-5:45 PM and the program will run from 6:00-7:30 PM.
The King Coalition is excited welcome Marc Lamont Hill as the keynote speaker. Marc Lamont Hill is a nationally recognized scholar, author, and media commentator whose work champions racial justice, education, and global solidarity. He 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 annual observance also includes presentation of the MLK Humanitarian Award by City of Madison Mayor, Satya Rhodes-Conway and Dane County Executive Melissa Agard. Noted musician Leotha Stanley will again lead the MLK Community Choir.
Other King Coalition Events include: The MLK Free Community Dinner on Friday, January 16, MLK Ecumenical Service on Sunday, January 18 and the MLK Youth Call to Service on Monday, January 19.
Your donation will help to fund this and other MLK Day observances. We will also be directing half of all proceeds to critical community service and racial justice needs by donating several organizations.