Jan 19, 2026
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2026
This annual Doodle honors Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2026, featuring the parades that celebrate his enduring legacy across the country.
This Doodle’s Key Themes
A Note from the Doodle Artist, Kyndacee
On the third Monday in January in the United States, we celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Today’s Doodle pays tribute to the vibrant, energetic parades that take place in cities and communities across the country: It’s based on a large-scale painting I created and shows a young boy in his marching band uniform being helped by his father — a pause for preparation before joining the loud, collective energy of the celebration.
The Doodle includes symbols reflecting Dr. King’s life and my experience. The imagery of the dove and olive branch represents Dr. King’s vision of peace and non-violence and the cheerleader uniforms are a personal "easter egg," modeled after the uniform I wore while marching in the parade as a young girl.
While the piece is inspired specifically by my personal memories of the MLK Day — or Kingdom Day — Parade in Los Angeles, the goal was to represent the experience across Black communities nationwide on this day. It’s a celebratory homage to community groups, marching bands, dance troupes and colorful floats coming together.
Where this Doodle appeared
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