Holocaust Memorial Day 27/1

What is Holocaust Memorial Day?

Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD) takes place every year on 27 January, the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi death camp. It is an international day to remember the six million Jews murdered during the Holocaust, alongside the millions of other people killed under Nazi persecution of other groups and in genocides that followed in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur. It is an occasion for everyone to come together to learn, remember and reflect.

Every year, a theme is selected for HMD, and this year it is Ordinary People.

Local Activities

Thousands of local activities and HMD commemorations take place all over the UK each year. To see what is taking place near you, search the HMD Map: hmd.org.uk/map.

Holocaust Memorial Day Trust

Holocaust Memorial Day Trust (HMDT) is a registered charity, funded by the UK Government, to promote and support HMD. They provide resources and support for thousands of HMD activities annually in workplaces, youth groups, museums, prisons, schools, colleges and universities, places of worship, and more.

To learn more about HMD and this year’s theme, or to access free resources, visit hmd.org.uk.

The UK Ceremony

Each year HMDT organises the UK Commemorative Ceremony for HMD. This is the focal point of HMD in the UK and brings together the civic, faith and political leadership of the country alongside survivors of the Holocaust and more recent genocides. In more recent years, the Ceremony has been streamed online.

To find out more about the next UK ceremony for Holocaust Memorial Day, go to hmd.org.uk/ukhmd.

The National Moment – Light the Darkness

On 27 January at 4 pm, everyone is invited to light a candle and safely place it in their window to:

remember those who were murdered for who they were

stand against prejudice and hatred today

We are all lighting the darkness on #HolocaustMemorialDay.