Martin Luther King Jr. Day / Idaho Human Rights Day2026 · Date · History
Idaho Code § 73-108 and Idaho judicial/state holiday calendars place Martin Luther King, Jr. – Idaho Human Rights Day on the third Monday in January; Idaho government history records the combined legal holiday from 1990.
About Martin Luther King Jr. Day / Idaho Human Rights Day
Martin Luther King Jr. Day / Idaho Human Rights Day is an Idaho state holiday observed on the third Monday in January.
Idaho uses the combined legal holiday name alongside the federal Martin Luther King Jr. Day observance; this guide is specifically about the Idaho state-holiday identity.
Why Martin Luther King Jr. Day / Idaho Human Rights Day matters
The Idaho observance links the national commemoration of Martin Luther King Jr. with the state’s explicit Human Rights Day designation.
Because the federal and Idaho names overlap but are not identical legal identities, date and naming claims should be scoped to the jurisdiction that issued them.
History of Martin Luther King Jr. Day / Idaho Human Rights Day
Federal law established the third Monday in January as the Martin Luther King Jr. federal holiday beginning in 1986.
Idaho government history records that the Idaho Legislature established the combined Martin Luther King, Jr. – Idaho Human Rights Day legal holiday in 1990.
Current Idaho law and state judicial calendars continue to place the holiday on the third Monday in January.
What the evidence establishes
Confirmed institutional roles and milestones are shown first. Details that could not be established from the reviewed sources are listed separately below.
6 fields not established in reviewed sources
Also known as
Idaho Human Rights Day
How to Observe Martin Luther King Jr. Day / Idaho Human Rights Day
Learn about Martin Luther King Jr.’s civil-rights work and about Idaho organizations and institutions working on human rights.
Check Idaho state or local schedules when the practical question is whether an office, court or service closes for the holiday.
Keep federal and Idaho legal terminology separate when writing about the holiday’s official name.
Use primary historical or legal records for claims about enactment rather than relying on generic holiday calendars.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day / Idaho Human Rights Day Facts
In Idaho, the holiday is observed on the third Monday in January.
The current Idaho legal name combines Martin Luther King Jr. Day with Idaho Human Rights Day.
Idaho’s combined holiday history dates to state legislation enacted in 1990.
The Idaho observance shares its calendar rule with the federal Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.
This Idaho state-holiday identity should not be used to rename the federal holiday nationwide.
Topic and context
What this page does not assume
- Keep the source-defined country, community, organizer or institutional scope; do not silently broaden it.
- Do not treat the title alone as proof of government recognition or public-holiday status.
- Do not add a creator, founding story or origin claim unless the supporting evidence establishes it.
- Legal Financial Information Boundary.
Evidence & sources
Sources used across the guide are gathered here. Labels show how each source supports the page, and contextual references are kept separate from primary evidence.
Governor of Idaho — Executive Order 99-08 historical holiday account (opens in a new tab)
Official State Archive
Idaho Legislature / current Idaho Code § 73-108 — holidays (opens in a new tab)
Current State Code Mirror
Idaho State Treasurer — State Holidays for 2026 (opens in a new tab)
State Government Calendar
Idaho Supreme Court — nonjudicial days / holiday rule (opens in a new tab)
State Judiciary Rule
Understand it, compare it, then explore further
Start with the most common factual questions, then compare closely related observances and explore useful connections.
Frequently asked questions
When is Martin Luther King Jr. Day / Idaho Human Rights Day?
Third Monday in January; 19 January 2026 The documented recurrence rule is: Third Monday in January.
Does Martin Luther King Jr. Day / Idaho Human Rights Day fall on the same date every year?
It follows a recurring calendar rule, so the Gregorian date can change from year to year.
Is Martin Luther King Jr. Day / Idaho Human Rights Day an official public holiday?
Within the reviewed scope, it is identified as Idaho, United States / state statutory holiday observed with Martin Luther King Jr. Day. That status is not automatically extended to other countries or jurisdictions.
Who established or recognizes Martin Luther King Jr. Day / Idaho Human Rights Day?
The reviewed sources identify Idaho Legislature as the proclaiming or establishing body.
Is Martin Luther King Jr. Day / Idaho Human Rights Day international or country-specific?
This observance is specific to United States. Its fuller verified scope is: Idaho, United States / state statutory holiday observed with Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
How is this page verified?
The factual information is checked against reviewed sources, including the date pattern, scope and institutional history. This page was checked on 2026-09-18.
When is Idaho Human Rights Day?
It is observed on the third Monday in January, together with Martin Luther King Jr. Day in Idaho.
What is the official Idaho holiday called?
Idaho law and state calendars use a combined Martin Luther King Jr. Day / Idaho Human Rights Day name.
Is Idaho Human Rights Day the same legal holiday as the federal holiday?
They share the same third-Monday date, but Idaho’s combined state designation is a state-law identity and should not be treated as the federal holiday’s nationwide legal name.
When did Idaho adopt the combined holiday?
Idaho government history records the combined legal state holiday as enacted in 1990.
Other observances on January 18
These observances are also listed on January 18, 2027.
Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
5 U.S.C. §6103 lists the Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. on the third Monday in January as a legal public holiday.
Brew Monday
Samaritans identifies Brew Monday as its third-Monday-in-January campaign encouraging people to connect over a cuppa, with 19 January for 2026.
Martin Luther King Jr. / Civil Rights Day
Arizona’s official 2026 holiday calendar lists Martin Luther King Jr. / Civil Rights Day on Monday, 19 January.
National Michigan Day
National Day Calendar lists National Michigan Day on 18 January. The U.S. Senate records Michigan’s admission/statehood date as 26 January 1837. The two dates are deliberately kept separate…