The New York State Office of General Services (OGS) has announced the date for the annual celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy. The event will take place on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, at the Empire State Plaza in Albany. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m., with a welcoming reception at the base of the newly renovated Egg Performing Arts Center. The official program will commence at 6:30 p.m. at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center.
The celebration will feature performances by gospel singer Melvin Crispell, III, and other artists such as singer Taína Asili and violinist Gwen Laster. Special guest speakers, including Dr. John B. King Jr., Chancellor of the State University of New York (SUNY), will also be part of the event. The program will begin with an invocation by Rabbi Deborah K. Bravo and Imam Mansoor Rafiq Umar, and conclude with a benediction by Reverend Michael-Aaron Poindexter and Pandit Srinivasa Sharma Vavilala.
Earlier in the day, the “Be a King Volunteer Fair” will take place at 10 a.m. on the Empire State Plaza Concourse, where civic and community organizations will offer ways for attendees to get involved and give back to their communities. Attendees are encouraged to bring donations for the MLK Food Drive or Book Drive. Free parking will be available in the V-Lot starting at 4 p.m., and light refreshments will be served during the event…