2026 MLK Unity Parade brings together 2 Martin Luther King Jr. parades for 1st time in 30 years

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- The City of Houston hosted the first MLK Unity Parade honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday.

The unified parade marks a departure from past years, where two separate events, the Original MLK Parade and the MLK Grande Parade, were held to celebrate the civil rights icon.

Over 300 participants joined the combined festivities, according to the Mayor's Office.

ABC13's Chaz Miller spoke to paradegoers, who said they were glad everyone finally came together as one.

"It's awesome because now we don't have to juggle. We're trying to go to this one, then turn around and try to go to that one, or miss one and go to the other one," one person said. "Now that it's together, I think it's bigger and better."

"It's all about unity, and really, you can't have two parades and say you're unified," said Kelvin Hampton with the MLK Unity Parade.

The event was free and open to the public.

Prior to the parade, Charles Stamps, a longtime organizer said, "What you're going to see on January 19 is going to be something that you'll remember for the rest of your life. It's never happened before. We've also created a template that other cities are following as we speak because they've never seen anything like it before."

Stamps previously worked with the MLK Grande Parade, having founded it. That event dated back to 1995 and happened in Midtown.

The Original MLK Parade, which preceded the MLK Grande Parade and was organized through the Black Heritage Society, was created even earlier in 1978 by civil rights activist Ovide Duncantell.

Former Mayor Sylvester Turner named Duncantell's event the official parade for Houston in 2018.

Now, the organizers of both sides have collaborated for the first time.

"It will be a historic day in the City of Houston," said Mayor Whitmire when news of the united parade was first announced in November. "I ran for mayor to unite our city, and this celebration of unity in January will be a perfect opportunity to honor Dr. King's legacy and greatness. I can't think of a better way to acknowledge his contributions than by hosting the best parade ever."

According to organizers, the parades united as one "to present a powerful message of peace, purpose, and progress in honor of Dr. King's life and legacy."

The 2026 grand marshals were:

• Radio personality Madd Hatta

• MLK Grande Parade President Charles Stamps

• Houston Mayor John Whitmire

Special guests included Rev. Dr. Derek King, a nephew of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Jeffrey Peck, the great-grandson of W.E.B Du Bois.

Debora Nixon, RN, and retired Houston Fire Department firefighter Freddie Jackson were also listed as co - grand marshals.

Rolling through downtown Houston, the parade included college and high school marching bands, floats, community groups, cultural organizations, and more.

"I think the fact that our city is celebrating together and combining both parades and families are getting together to celebrate is amazing and something that should continue," said Destiny, one of the paradegoers.

"It's just history," said paradegoer Felicia Campbell. "MLK is a very special day and we celebrate and honor it and we're here to celebrate our people."