BLOOMINGTON – Following the Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration, the City has arranged an optional, free, community viewing opportunity at the Buskirk‑Chumley Theater (114 E. Kirkwood Ave). The watch party is available for attendees who choose to remain after the MLK program, as well as to other community members who wish to attend. The College Football National Championship will begin at 7:30 p.m.
The MLK Day Commemoration, organized by the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Celebration Commission, will take place earlier that evening and remains the primary program marking the holiday.
As previously announced, the MLK Day program will begin at 5:30 p.m. This adjusted start time reflects scheduling and availability considerations for program participants and community members related to the championship game. The added watch party is intended as an additional opportunity for community togetherness and does not replace or alter the MLK Day commemoration.
Both the MLK program and the game viewing are free and open to the public. Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis and cannot be reserved in advance. The theatre seats 600. Attendees of the MLK program may remain in their seats for the viewing if they choose. Concessions will be available for purchase in the theater lobby.
The 2026 MLK Day Commemoration will focus on the contributions of women in the civil rights movement and is themed Soul, Spirit & Sacrifice: Honoring the Legacy of Coretta Scott King and the Women Who Faced America to Save Us. The program will feature keynote speaker Dr. Traci Parker, musical performances, and the presentation of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Legacy Award.
Scheduled performer Marietta Simpson is no longer able to participate in the program due to travel commitments related to the game. In her place, three students from the African American Choral Ensemble (AACE) will perform “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”
Please note that the 400 and 500 blocks of E Kirkwood Ave will be marked with no parking all day Monday, January 19, as will the 100 blocks of N and S Dunn.
Additional information about the MLK Day Commemoration is available at bloomington.in.gov/mlk.
