UK Commemorative Ceremony
Each year we organise the UK Commemorative Ceremony for Holocaust Memorial Day. This is the focal point of Holocaust Memorial Day in the UK and brings together the civic, faith and political leadership of the country, alongside survivors of the Holocaust and survivors from Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur.
Holocaust Memorial Day 2026
The UK National Ceremony to mark Holocaust Memorial Day 2026 took place at Sinfonia Smith Square in Westminster, London and was hosted by broadcaster and BBC journalist Clive Myrie. The welcome speech was delivered by Sir Sajid Javid, Chair of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust.
Rt Hon Steve Reed OBE MP, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government; Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis KBE; Rabbi Daniel Walker, Rabbi of Heaton Park Synagogue; The Most Revd and Rt Hon Dame Sarah Mullally DBE PC, The Archbishop of Canterbury; and actors Matt Lucas, Louisa Clein and Leonie Elliott also contributed to the ceremony. Read more and watch our key moments film from 2026.
Previous years
Our National Ceremony in January 2025 marked the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp and we were delighted to welcome Their Royal Highnesses The Prince and Princess of Wales and Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer MP. The event was broadcast by the BBC, achieving two million viewers. Read more and watch our short highlights film from 2025.
To find out more about the national ceremonies which have been held in previous years, click on the links below.