Iconic UK Landmarks Illuminated for Light the Darkness
Light the Darkness was marked across the UK - and beyond - for Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD) on 27 January. From 8pm, iconic landmarks were lit up in purple as part of the collective commemoration.
The annual moment is a nationwide initiative to honour the six million Jews murdered during the Holocaust, alongside the millions of others who lost their lives under Nazi persecution and in more recent genocides recognised by the UK government. This year’s campaign held particular significance as it marked the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi death camp.
Familiar sights included the Houses of Parliament in London, the Senedd building in Cardiff, the Parliament Buildings at Stormont in Belfast and Edinburgh Castle. Many towns and cities illuminated buildings and monuments in unity while individuals lit their homes and gardens, and placed candles in their windows.
An international tribute to Holocaust remembrance
St George’s Hall, Liverpool, lit in purple to commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day. © Stratus Imagery
Lights shone as far and wide as Lerwick Town Hall in the Shetland Islands to Bodmin Keep in Cornwall, and Derry City and Strabane District Council Offices in Northern Ireland to Southend University Hospital in Essex. Light the Darkness was even marked internationally in Thailand, Norway, Latvia, Lithuania, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Austria, Argentina, and both Washington DC and Texas in the USA.
The lights symbolised solidarity in remembering the Holocaust as well as the genocides recognised by the UK government in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia, and against the Yazidis as well as the genocide in Darfur.
Awareness through outdoor advertising
The Light the Darkness initiative was also supported by a powerful creative campaign developed by St. Luke’s, an independent creative agency. This year’s campaign centred on the HMD 2025 theme Remembering the Past for a Better Future with the visual focus on an intimate photograph of a grandfather and granddaughter holding a candle together. The hero image was a symbol of remembrance, peace and the intergenerational responsibility to preserve the memories of past atrocities.
Renowned portrait photographer James Day captured the image pro bono, emphasising the lasting impact of sharing survivor testimonies, particularly as the number of Holocaust survivors dwindles. The photograph was designed to remind viewers of the importance of passing on these memories to future generations.
The British Embassy in Thailand lit in purple for Light the Darkness 2025. © ukinthailand / X
Major outdoor advertising partners, Ocean Outdoor and JCDecaux, helped bring the campaign to an audience of over 3.8 million. The campaign was shown at high-profile sites such as Piccadilly Circus and digital billboards at locations, including Liverpool Street Station on the evening of 27 January.
The featured messages invited viewers to join in the national moment of remembrance at 8pm by lighting a candle and placing it in their window. The campaign aimed to unite the country in a simple but powerful gesture while reinforcing the urgency of remembering the atrocities of the past to prevent hatred and prejudice from taking root in the present. While it is a simple image, it was a striking contrast to the usual bright lights by showing a single, flickering flame surrounded by darkness.
The BBC also contributed to this national moment by broadcasting the Light the Darkness moment, showcasing some of the iconic landmarks illuminated in purple after their coverage of the Holocaust Memorial Day ceremony at the Guildhall on BBC One.
Banner image: Digital billboards in Piccadilly Circus highlight the Light the Darkness campaign. © Ocean Outdoor/Holocaust Memorial Day Trust
