Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service 2026

In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Coretta Scott King, the Gardner Museum opens its doors on this free day so that all may engage with the legacy of these and other civil rights leaders—and revel in the final opportunity to view our exhibition Allan Rohan Crite: Urban Glory, a vibrant retrospective of a Black Boston artist who dedicated himself to glorifying his multicultural community.

Artists and thought-leaders will share reflections on social justice, equity, and empowerment, and we invite visitors to partake in storytelling, conversation, and art-making. By offering a shared space of music, refuge, and meditation, we hope to encourage visitors to enjoy Martin Luther King, Jr. day not only as a time in which to strive for justice, but to reclaim rest as an inherent right that sustains activism, community, and life itself. 

Image Credit: Allan Rohan Crite (American, 1910–2007), The Choir Singer, 1941. Oil on canvas, 101.6 x 88.3 cm (40 x 34 3/4 in.) Church of St. Augustine and St. Martin, Boston. Courtesy of the Allan Rohan Crite Research Institute and Library

Advance registration is encouraged for free timed entry tickets for Museum general admission.

Registration opens two weeks before the event for the general public and four weeks in advance for members. Reserve your tickets online by clicking the button above.

Limited tickets may be available in-person at the Museum’s main entrance the day of the event. Please note that day-of tickets are not guaranteed.

To request accessible or wheelchair seating please call the box office at 617 278 5156.