Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD, 27 January) is a national commemoration day in the United Kingdom, dedicated to the remembrance of the victims of the Holocaust, the genocide of European Jews by Nazi Germany during World War II. 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. The current chair is Sajid Javid. 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.
Every year since 2001, there has been an annual national memorial to the victims of the Holocaust. The UK event has been hosted in:
London (2001) – Theme: Remembering Genocides: Lessons for the Future
Manchester (2002) – Theme: Britain and the Holocaust
Edinburgh (2003) – Theme: Children and the Holocaust
Belfast (2004) – Theme: From the Holocaust to Rwanda: Lessons Learned, Lessons Still to Learn
London (2005) – Theme: Survivors, Liberation and Rebuilding Lives, for the sixtieth anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz
Cardiff (2006) – Theme: One Person Can Make a Difference
Newcastle (2007) – Theme: The Dignity of Difference
Liverpool (2008) – Theme: Imagine...Remember, Reflect, React
Coventry (2009) – Theme: Stand Up to Hatred
London (2010) – Theme: The Legacy of Hope
London (2011) – Theme: Untold Stories
London (2012) – Theme: Speak Up, Speak Out