Annual Ceremony Honors Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Wisconsin’s 46th Annual Ceremony honors Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a tribute event at the Capitol Rotunda on January 19. This ceremony serves as the state’s official celebration and holds the distinction of being the oldest official Martin Luther King Jr. Day tribute in the United States.

Details of the Annual Tribute and Ceremony

The event is produced and hosted by Dr. Jonathan Øverby, who is known for his work with WPR’s Saturday show “The Road to Higher Ground with Jonathan Øverby.” This year’s theme, “The Power of Unity,” emphasizes the importance of coming together.

Featured Speakers and Performers

• Special Guest Speaker: Ahmed Baba, News Analyst
• Featured Performers:
  • Chicago’s Victory Travelers Gospel Group
  • Violinist Dr. Brianna Ware-Boggs
• Memorial Honor Guard: Participating in the ceremony
• Awards Presentation: 2026 MLK Heritage Awards

How to Participate

Viewers can tune in to the ceremony at noon either through the website wpr.org or on PBS Wisconsin’s The Wisconsin Channel.