Houston will host a unified Martin Luther King Jr. Day parade starting in 2026 after years of separate events.
HOUSTON — After more than three decades of holding separate Martin Luther King Jr. Day parades, Houston will host one unified event beginning in 2026.
Mayor John Whitmire announced the historic agreement Tuesday, calling it a major milestone for the city and a moment of unity long in the making.
“I knew it could be done, and I knew it had to be done for safety, for cost, and most importantly, to properly honor Dr. King,” Whitmire said. “For 32 years, many have tried and been told it couldn’t happen. But two proud organizations came together, and we made it happen.”
The decision follows weeks of meetings led by the mayor’s office, At-Large Council Member Willie Davis, and leaders from the two parade organizations: Teresa Brewer, president of the Black Heritage Society, and Charles Stamps, chairman and CEO of the MLK Grande Parade.
The two groups agreed to come together for one Unity Parade, which will take place on Monday, Jan. 19, 2026.
More details about the parade route, programming, and community participation will be announced in the coming weeks.
The mayor is encouraging all Houstonians to get involved, whether by marching, riding floats or cheering from the sidelines.
“I ran to unite this city,” Whitmire added. “And this is one of the clearest examples of what that looks like.”