HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) – Houston will host the first game MLK Unity Parade Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. will be honored on Monday, January 19, 2026 at 10 a.m
It will be free and open to the public.
The unified parade marks a departure from past years, where two separate events, the original MLK Parade and the Grand MLK Parade, were held to celebrate the civil rights icon.
“What you’ll see on January 19 will be something you’ll remember for the rest of your life. This has never been done before. We’ve also created a model that other cities are following as we speak because they’ve never seen anything like it before,” Charles Stamps said with the presentation.
Stamps previously worked with MLK Grande Parade, having founded it. This event dates back to 1995 and took place downtown.
The original MLK Parade, which preceded the MLK Grande Parade and was organized through the Black Heritage Association, was created even earlier in 1978 by civil rights activist Ovid Duncantel.
Former Mayor Sylvester Turner named the Duncantell event the official parade of Houston in 2018.
Now organizers from both sides are collaborating for the first time.
“It will be a historic day for the city of Houston,” Mayor Whitmer said when news of the unified bid was first announced in November. “I ran for mayor to unite our city, and this celebration of unity in January will be the perfect opportunity to honor the legacy and greatness of Dr. King. I can think of no better way to recognize his contributions than by hosting the best show ever.”
According to organizers, the marches unite as one “to deliver a powerful message of peace, purpose and progress in honor of Dr. King’s life and legacy.”
The top goalkeepers for 2026 are:
- Radio presenter Mad Hatta
- MLK Grande Parade Chairman Charles Stamps
- Houston Mayor John Whitmer
Special guests are expected to include the Rev. Dr. Derek King, nephew of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Jeffrey Peck, grandson of Webb Du Bois.
Deborah Nixon, RN, and retired Houston Fire Department firefighter Freddie Jackson are listed as senior observers.
The MLK Unity Parade will begin on San Jacinto Street in downtown Houston. It is expected to include college and high school marching bands, floats, community groups, cultural organizations and more.
You can get a larger view of the map here.
You can also use METRO to access the offer. The city says the rides will be free.
The three rail lines will take riders into the heart of downtown and the parade route. Trains are expected to run every few minutes.
Several local bus lines also connect directly to the downtown area. You can check routes and schedules on the METRO website.
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