Holocaust Memorial Day commemorates the millions of people who died during the Holocaust, under Nazi persecution, and in the genocides that followed in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur.

It is held every year on 27 January, the anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp.

• Visit the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust to find out more about the commemoration.

2024 commemoration events

On Sunday 28 January we marked Holocaust Memorial Day with a small candle-lighting event in the Cambridge Corn Exchange.

The audience was addressed by the mayor, councillors and council staff, including Eva Clarke, who recounted her moving family story of surviving the Nazi Holocaust.

The audience heard about the Nazi’s Aktion T4 campaign, the importance of challenging hate speech and discrimination of people based on their identity, a poem written by a member of the English Romany community, and a reminder that this year is 30 years since the genocide in Rwanda.

Forthcoming events

A public commemoration event takes place each summer, also marking Refugee Week.

The event involves Cambridge schools, community groups and choirs performing songs, readings, poetry, dance and drama.

There will be some filmed artworks and exhibitions in the foyer, inspired and interspersed by moving words from refugee experiences and genocide survivor testimonies.

This year’s event will be held at the Corn Exchange on Sunday 30 June. Find out more on our Refugee Week page.