West Ham United and London Stadium will mark Holocaust Memorial Day this evening by lighting up the stadium as part of the nationwide ‘Light the Darkness’ moment of remembrance
at 8pm. Observed annually on 27 January, Holocaust Memorial Day commemorates the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration and death camp and honours the memory of the six million Jewish men, women and children murdered during the Holocaust. It also remembers the hundreds of thousands of people from other targeted groups who were persecuted and killed by the Nazi regime, as well as victims of more recent genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur.
Holocaust Memorial Day serves as a powerful reminder of the devastating consequences of hatred, prejudice and discrimination. It calls on society to remain vigilant and to challenge injustice wherever it exists, including in the UK. At a time when the world can feel increasingly divided, the day encourages reflection, empathy and collective responsibility.
The theme for Holocaust Memorial Day 2026, “Bridging Generations,” focuses on the importance of passing remembrance from one generation to the next. As the number of Holocaust survivors continues to decline, the responsibility of preserving their stories and lessons increasingly rests with younger generations and the wider community.
Bridging Generations highlights the vital role of intergenerational dialogue — listening to those who lived through atrocity, honouring their experiences and ensuring their stories are shared with future generations. In doing so, remembrance becomes an active process, linking history with hope and helping shape a more compassionate future.
The theme also recognises that genocide affects people of all ages. Infants, children, adults and the elderly have all suffered unimaginable loss, with entire families and communities erased. Many victims left no relatives to carry their legacy, making education, testimony, literature, film and collective memory all the more crucial.
To mark the occasion, London Stadium will be illuminated this evening, joining landmarks across the country in the national ‘Light the Darkness’ moment at 8pm. Supporters and members of the public are encouraged to take part by lighting a candle in their window at 8pm on 27 January — a simple but powerful act to remember the victims, reflect on the past, stand in solidarity and help build a better future. Photo by Ted Eytan, Wikimedia commons.