Holocaust Memorial Day

What is Holocaust Memorial Day?

Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD) takes place every year on 27 January, the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi death camp. It is an international day to remember the six million Jews murdered during the Holocaust, alongside the millions of other people killed under Nazi persecution of other groups and in the more recent genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur. It is an occasion for everyone to come together to learn, remember and reflect.

Every year, the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust (HMDT) selects a theme for HMD and this year it is Fragility of Freedom. This reflects on how genocide victims has their freedoms curtailed during persecution, and how we need to value the freedoms we have in western democracies while recognising how many people around the world still face restrictions to their freedoms.

A message from the Tees Valley Mayor

Living in the UK in 2025, it’s essential we never forget the six million Jews murdered during the Holocaust, alongside others killed in more modern genocides such as Bosnia, Darfur, Cambodia and Rwanda. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp complex and the 30th anniversary of the genocide in Bosnia. Even more  ignored or forgotten.

The Holocaust Memorial Day Trust wants this year to be an opportunity for us to coming together, learning both from and about the past to take action for a better future. Freedom is precious and open to abuse, through Holocaust distortion, denial and trivialisation alongside dehumanisation, propaganda and “othering”. Regardless of politics, Holocaust Memorial Day is a time to unite in collective remembrance for the millions persecuted and killed for who they were. It’s a time to stand up to bigotry and hatred and recognise our common humanity, learning lessons from the past to build a better future together.

There are a number of events taking place across Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool to help us come together and commit to making a better future for us all. If you cannot make any of the events, please join us in lighting the darkness by placing a candle in your window at 8pm on Monday, 27 January.

Ben Houchen
Tees Valley Mayor

Local Activities

Thousands of local activities and HMD commemorations take place all over the UK, each year. To see what is taking place near you, search the HMD Map: hmd.org.uk/map

Teesworks will be lit in purple to Light the Darkness and raise awareness of Holocaust Memorial Day, and our constituent Local Authorities also have plans of their own.

In Middlesbrough, Teesside University will be lighting the darkness at its Middlesbrough tower from 5pm. Friends of Linthorpe Cemetery and Nature Reserve will be holding a short history talk in the Hebrew Prayer House and brief commemorative event at our 2022 Auschwitz Poem Silver Birch tree. Click here for more.

In Stockton-on-Tees, on 23 January at 5.30pm, Stockton Library will host Suzie Kaufman, speaking about her three refugee parents, who fled Nazi suppression. On Monday 27 January a number of structures will be lit purple to light the darkness, including Newport Bridge and Stockton Town Centre.

The event is ticketed but free and has limited places – visit www.stockton.gov.uk/book-library-event to book.

The National Moment – Light the Darkness

On 27 January at 8pm everyone is invited to light a candle and safely place it in their window to remember those who were murdered for who they were and stand against prejudice and hatred today

We are all lighting the darkness on #HolocaustMemorialDay.

About the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust

The Holocaust Memorial Day Trust (HMDT) is a registered charity, funded by the UK Government, to promote and support HMD. They provide resources and support for thousands of HMD activities every year in workplaces, youth groups, museums, prisons, schools, colleges and universities, places of worship, and more.

To learn more about HMD and this year’s theme, or to access free resources, visit hmd.org.uk

The UK Ceremony

Each year HMDT organises an invitation only UK Commemorative Ceremony for 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.  On HMD curated moments from the UK ceremony will be broadcast ending with our national moment ‘Light the Darkness’ at 8pm.

To be notified on when to register for access to the ceremony moments and to stay informed regarding ‘Light the Darkness’ please sign up to the HMDT newsletter at hmd.org.uk/newsletter

To find out more about the next UK ceremony for Holocaust Memorial Day, go to hmd.org.uk

To contact HMDT, please email [email protected] or call 020 7785 7029.