Signature Annual Events
From January to November and lots in between, join the Muhammad Ali Center for some of our signature celebrations.
PREMIERE EVENTS
Check out the headlines from our robust slate of annual celebrations.
Ali Festival
Honoring the passing of the Greatest, join us during the first week of June for a packed slate of community events.
Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Awards
Our largest fundraiser of the year, where humanitarians around the world are honored for their work towards a more just and compassionate world.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and Muhammad Ali’s Birthday: A Community Celebration
Each year, the Muhammad Ali Center is proud to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Muhammad Ali’s birthday (January 17, 1942) with an annual Community Free Day! This special program is designed to honor the legacy of Dr. King and promote his message of equality, justice, and peace.
On this day, we offer free admission to our museum so that everyone in the community can experience the inspiring exhibits and learn more about Muhammad Ali and his impact on the world. In addition, we are proud to present hourly screenings of Dr. King’s historic “I Have a Dream” speech, so visitors can be reminded of his powerful words and continue to draw inspiration from his message.
Our Community Free Day includes “Continuing the Dream, Continuing the Legacy,” a youth leadership panel discussion featuring our Muhammad Ali Center Council of Students. During this panel, our young leaders share their ideas and insights on how we can collectively make a difference in the world. We believe that empowering and supporting the next generation of leaders is essential to creating positive change in our society.
We invite you to join us on this special day as we come together to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. King, and to renew our commitment to creating a more just and equitable world.
Juneteenth Celebration and Professional Development
At the Muhammad Ali Center, we believe in the power of education to inspire change and create a more inclusive society. Each year, our annual Juneteenth Celebration aims to empower educators with the necessary tools, knowledge, and resources to foster an environment that embraces diversity and promotes the teaching of Black history in the classroom. Each year, participants will hear from renowned experts and thought leaders in the field of Black history and anti-racist education. These sessions are designed to provide educators with valuable insights, innovative teaching strategies, and practical resources that can be integrated seamlessly into their lesson plans.
The Muhammad Ali Center has strategically partnered with the Association of Teaching Black History in Kentucky and the Collaborative for Anti-Racist Teaching to ensure that Black stories authentically receive their place in American history.
We recognize and celebrate the significance of Juneteenth, the commemoration of the emancipation of enslaved Black Americans in the United States. This pivotal moment in history serves as a powerful starting point to explore the legacy of slavery, the contributions of Black Americans to society, and the ongoing struggle for racial justice.
Without Black history, there is no American history.
For more information, email our Education team.
Athletes and Social Change
The Muhammad Ali Center Athletes and Social Change Forum is an annual program that convenes athletes, scholars, practitioners, policymakers and advocates who are all working to advance the realm of sport and social change through the practice of Muhammad Ali’s Six Core Principles: Respect, Confidence, Conviction, Dedication, Spirituality and Giving. The Muhammad Ali Center Athletes and Social Change Forum is organized in collaboration Dr. Mary Hums of the University of Louisville, and Dr. Yannick Kluch.
Athletes and Social Change was co-founded by our dear friend, Eli Wolff (1978-2023) of the Power of Sport Lab. We commit to honor his legacy through our advocacy and actions.