Holocaust Memorial Day (UK)

Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD, 27 January) is a national commemoration day in the United Kingdom dedicated to the remembrance of the Jews and others who suffered in the Holocaust, under Nazi persecution. It was first held in January 2001 and has been on the same date every year since. The chosen date is the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz concentration camp by the Soviet Union in 1945, the date also chosen for the International Holocaust Remembrance Day and some other national Holocaust Memorial Days.

In addition to the national event, there are numerous smaller memorial events around the country organised by many different organisations, groups and individuals.

Since 2005, Holocaust Memorial Day has been supported by the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, a charity set up and funded by the UK Government. In 2026 the CEO was Olivia Marks-Woldman OBE. The theme for Holocaust Memorial Day 2024 was "Fragility of Freedom".

Since 7 October 2023, participation by UK schools in Holocaust Memorial Day has dropped sharply, with the number of schools taking part falling by more than half compared with previous years. Figures cited by the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust show a decline from over 2,000 participating schools in 2023 to fewer than 900 in 2025, with many schools opting out amid heightened tensions and concerns about controversy in the classroom. Reporting has also noted that some educators feel increasingly cautious about addressing sensitive historical topics in the current political climate, contributing to the reduced level of commemoration. Jewish community leaders and education figures have warned that the decline risks weakening Holocaust education and normalising antisemitism, with some expressing concern that it may further marginalise Jewish pupils and contribute to a more hostile environment for discussions about Jewish history and Israel.