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, which is the anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp.
- Visit the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust to find out more about the commemoration.
A public commemoration event takes place in Cambridge each summer, also marking Refugee Week. It involves local schools, community groups and choirs performing songs, readings, poetry, dance and drama.
2026 commemoration
On the eve of Holocaust Memorial Day, Monday 26 January, the council held a commemoration candle-lighting ceremony to remember the Jewish people murdered in the Holocaust, those persecuted by the Nazis, and those affected by the genocides in Bosnia, Cambodia, Rwanda and Darfur.
The ceremony was led by Professor Helen Weinstein, with speeches from representatives of interfaith and civic leaders. Accompanying the ceremony were songs performed by Malva Voice for Ukraine, the Cambridge Ukrainian Women’s Choir, and two songs of mourning performed by Kol Echad, the Cambridge Jewish Choir.
In addition, poems by Michael Rosen, reflecting his family’s experience of the Holocaust, were read aloud by participants.
Students from Chesterton Community College also shared their heartfelt poems in empathy with victims of genocide.
Civic event in June
To mark Refugee Week, a civic event will take place on Sunday 28 June.
The event will involve Cambridge schools, community groups and choirs. They will perform songs, readings, poetry, dance and drama, inspired and interspersed by new poetry by Michael Rosen.
The Refugee Week event is a culmination of the local Holocaust education project that works in local schools. This is provided by Professor Helen Weinstein from HistoryWorks and Michael Rosen.
