UK Commemorative Ceremony
Each year we organise the UK Commemorative Ceremony for Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD). This is the focal point of HMD in the UK and brings together the civic, faith and political leadership of the country, alongside survivors of the Holocaust and more recent genocides.
The UK Commemorative Ceremony acts as a spotlight for all of the HMD activities in the UK. In addition, we help to ensure that key ceremonies take place in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
At the Ceremony, we honour survivors of the Holocaust, Nazi persecution of other groups, and more recent genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur. At a national level, we remember all those who were murdered and resolve to learn lessons from the past to create a safer, better future.
Holocaust Memorial Day 2024
Survivors of the Holocaust and genocides light candles at the Ceremony © HMDT / Sam Churchill
The UK Commemorative Ceremony for Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD) 2024 took place in the beautiful and historic Guildhall in London. It was attended by survivors of the Holocaust and more recent genocides and civic, faith and political leaders.
It featured music, poetry, testimony and films, as well as powerful speeches from The Right Hon Michael Gove MP and The Right Hon Angela Rayner MP.
Read more about the UK Commemorative Ceremony for HMD 2024.
A few days later, on Holocaust Memorial Day itself, curated moments from the HMD 2024 UK Commemorative Ceremony were watched by thousands of people across the UK.
Watch HMD 2024 UK Ceremony: Curated Moments
As well as the UK Ceremony for HMD, ceremonies also took place in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to mark HMD 2024.
Previous years
To find out more about the national ceremonies which have been held in previous years, click on the links below. You can also explore a gallery of images from previous years at the bottom of the page.
- HMD 2023: Ordinary People
- HMD 2022: One Day
- HMD 2021: Be the light in the darkness
- HMD 2020: Stand Together
- HMD 2019: Torn From Home
- HMD 2018: The Power of Words
- HMD 2017: How can life go on?
- HMD 2016: Don’t stand by
- HMD 2015: Keep the memory alive
- HMD 2014: Journeys
- HMD 2013: Communities together: build a bridge
- HMD 2012: Speak up, speak out
- HMD 2011: Untold stories
- HMD 2010: The legacy of hope
- HMD 2009: Stand up to hatred
- HMD 2008: Imagine…remember, reflect, react
- HMD 2007: The dignity of difference
- HMD 2006: One person can make a difference
- HMD 2005: Survivors, liberation and rebuilding lives
Top image: The HMD 2024 Commemorative Ceremony at Guildhall © HMDT / Sam Churchill