SHREVEPORT-BOSSIER, La. — The 318 MLK DreamFest will return Jan. 15–24, 2026, with a 10-day, two-weekend series of events celebrating the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. through culture, history, and community engagement, Visit Shreveport-Bossier announced.
The festival, organized in partnership with local community groups, will feature parades, concerts, worship services, and educational programs designed to promote unity and service.
The celebration begins Jan. 15 with the Krewe of Sobek Float Loading Party at the Sobek Den and continues with the Voices of the Dream Choir Competition and Krewe of Sobek Grande Bal XXIII on Jan. 16 at the Shreveport Convention Center.
Weekend highlights include the Krewe of Sobek Parade on Jan. 17 at the Louisiana State Fairgrounds, followed by an after-party at the Sobek Den. On Jan. 18, the Dream Keeper Alliance will host a worship celebration at Morning Star Baptist Church recognizing local civil rights leaders and community organizations.
On Jan. 19, the Krewe of Harambee will host multiple events including the Hopes & Dreams Scholarship Breakfast, the annual MLK Parade in downtown Shreveport, and the inaugural Dreamfest at Caddo Common Park. Sheriff Henry Whitehorn will serve as grand marshal of the parade, which will feature the Alcorn State University “Sounds of Dyn-O-Mite” Marching Band.
Additional programs throughout the week include Centenary College’s Dream Week, LSUS’s Celebration of Justice program, and the Shreveport-Bossier African American Chamber of Commerce’s Historic Black Business Bus Tours on Jan. 23. The North Louisiana Civil Rights Coalition will close the festival with the 3rd Annual Bridge Builders Breakfast on Jan. 24 at the Shreveport Convention Center.
Events also include a community resource fair, radio broadcast, and other opportunities for service and reflection.
Full event details and updates are available at VisitShreveportBossier.org/mlk.