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What is Holocaust Memorial Day?

Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD) takes place each year on 27 January.

What is Holocaust Memorial Day?

Holocaust Memorial Day Trust (HMDT) encourages remembrance in a world scarred by genocide. We promote and support Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD) – the international day on 27 January to remember the 6 million Jews murdered during the Holocaust, alongside the millions of people murdered under Nazi persecution of other groups and during more recent genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur.

27 January marks the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi death camp.

The Holocaust threatened the fabric of civilisation, and genocide must still be resisted every day. Our world often feels fragile and vulnerable and we cannot be complacent. Even in the UK, prejudice and the language of hatred must be challenged by us all.

HMD is for everyone. Each year across the UK, thousands of people come together to learn more about the past and take action to create a safer future. We know they learn more, empathise more and do more.

Together we bear witness for those who endured genocide, and honour the survivors and all those whose lives were changed beyond recognition.

Read more about the work of Holocaust Memorial Day Trust here. 

HMD 2024 theme

HMD 2024 theme

Explore the theme for Holocaust Memorial Day 2024: Fragility of Freedom. Click here to read our theme vision, which outlines the different ways the theme can be explored.

Light the darkness

Light the darkness

Each year people across the UK take part in a national moment for HMD. They light a candle in their window to remember those murdered and to stand against hatred today.

Interactive website

Interactive website

Explore the innovative Ordinary Objects Extraordinary Journeys website that we developed in partnership with The National Holocaust Centre and Museum and the Jewish Museum of Greece.

Memorial Pages

Memorial Pages

Our Memorial Pages are a unique digital space where you can learn about lives cut short by genocide, and create a lasting personalised tribute for someone who was murdered during genocide.

Generations exhibition

Generations exhibition

See the digital exhibition, previously on display at IWM London and UNESCO, featuring over 50 portraits from 13 esteemed photographers, including HRH The Duchess of Cambridge.

75 Memorial Flames

75 Memorial Flames

To mark the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auscwhitz we ran a creative project that organisations and community groups all over the UK took part in.