Freedom Center announces 21st annual King Legacy Celebration

CINCINNATI – The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center will honor the legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with the 21st annual King Legacy Celebration on Monday, January 19, 2026.

“For us, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is not a ‘day off,’ but a ‘day on’ for service and activism,” said Woodrow Keown, Jr., President and COO of the Freedom Center. “We are grateful for Kroger’s support of our King Legacy Celebration, which is a launchpad for a day — and year — of meaningful community engagement.”

For over two decades, the King Legacy Celebration has brought together civic leaders, business professionals, activists and community members for an inspirational program that connects Dr. King’s enduring message — that freedom is a universal and fundamental human right — to actions that everyday citizens can take today.

For the fourth consecutive year, The Kroger Company is supporting the event as the Presenting Sponsor.

“Kroger is honored to support the King Legacy Celebration, a powerful reminder that real progress happens when we come together,” said Tim Massa, executive vice president and chief associate experience officer for Kroger. “Dr. King’s vision of equality, justice and opportunity for all continues to inspire our work at Kroger every day, and we’re proud to stand alongside the Freedom Center in advancing this mission.”

Keynote Speaker & Performances

Kahlil Greene

This year, the Freedom Center is proud to welcome the Gen Z Historian Kahlil Greene to the stage as keynote speaker. A Peabody Awards Winner and TIME100 Creator, Greene is now a widely recognized digital educator and journalist who shares insights on history & culture across multiple platforms to inform and inspire young audiences.

Fisk Jubilee Singers

In addition to an invigorating talk from Greene, attendees will be wowed by a performance from the Fisk Jubilee Singers^®, the Grammy-Award winning world-renowned ensemble group comprised of students from Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee. Their visit coincides with the opening of the Freedom Center’s new special exhibit, Jubilation! Ambassadors on a Sacred Journey, which explores the founding and early history of the group that introduced African American spirituals to the world. Fisk Jubilee Singers fans can also catch the group live in concert on Sunday, January 18 at 4 p.m. in the Harriet Tubman Theater. Tickets are now available.

The Fisk Jubilee singers will perform at the 2026 King Legacy Celebration on January 19, 2026.

About this year's theme

United in Purpose

2026 marks 40 years of official observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, but the fight for justice has transcended generations, communities and racial, ethnic and socioeconomic barriers. The Freedom Center’s King Legacy Celebration brings together our civic leaders, the business community, and activists for a morning of inspiration and the opportunity to co-create our future. We gather united in our purpose, across generations and other intersecting identities and lived experiences, to learn from one another and build resilience in our communities.

“The King Legacy Celebration is a powerful opportunity to align values with action,” said Keown. “Whether attendees join the MLK Coalition’s Commemorative March, stay for the opening of Jubilation!, or engage with our Fifth Third Community Day programming throughout the day, the Freedom Center provides the perfect backdrop for reflection and inspiration.”

The King Legacy Celebration includes a continental breakfast and time for fellowship before the program begins. Doors open at 7:30 a.m., with performances and the keynote presentation starting at 8:30 a.m.

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About the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center
The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center opened in August 2004 on the banks of the Ohio River in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio. Since then, more than 1.3 million people have visited its permanent and changing exhibits and public programs, inspiring everyone to take courageous steps for freedom. Two million people have utilized educational resources online at freedomcenter.org, working to connect the lessons of the Underground Railroad to inform and inspire today’s global and local fight for freedom. Partnerships include Historians Against Slavery, Polaris Project, Free the Slaves, US Department of State and International Justice Mission. In 2014, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center launched a new online resource in the fight against modern slavery, endslaverynow.org.

Credit: Some photos in the above graphic are sourced from the Bob Fitch Photography Archive, Department of Special Collections, Stanford University Library.