Birmingham’s annual civic commemoration of Holocaust Memorial Day will take place at the Council House, Banqueting Suite, on Monday 25 January 2027 at 11:00am.
Doors open at 10:30am, when visitors will be invited to light a candle of remembrance before the ceremony begins.
The event, organised by Birmingham City Council Events Team and the Holocaust Memorial Day steering group, is free to attend and will run until 12:30pm.
The ceremony will be led by The Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Councillor Zaker Choudhry, and will feature a candle-lighting ceremony, as well as music, poetry, and readings. Together, these contributions will reflect on the impact of the Holocaust and more recent genocides.
This years theme, ‘No Place for Prejudice’, invites us to reflect on how prejudice against Jewish people (antisemitism) was normalised and embedded in cultural, legal, social and educational places in the lead-up to the Holocaust. It alerts us to where prejudice can be seen today. It challenges us to stop excusing prejudice as ‘inevitable’ and instead creates space for thoughtful, informed dialogue on how we can build a society with no place for hate.
We gather to honour the millions of lives lost, to reflect on the lessons of humanity, tolerance, and resilience, and to reaffirm our commitment to combating hatred and discrimination in all its forms. Thank you for joining us in this vital observance. Together, let us ensure that the memories of the past guide us toward a brighter, more compassionate future.
