Anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz2026 · Date · History
The Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum dates the liberation of Auschwitz to 27 January 1945 and continues to organize the annual liberation-anniversary commemoration on 27 January.
About Anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz
The Anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz is commemorated on 27 January, marking the liberation of the German Nazi concentration and extermination camp Auschwitz in 1945.
The Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum continues to organize annual January 27 commemorations; its 2026 programme marked the 81st anniversary.
Why Anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz matters
The commemoration centers on memory of the victims and survivors of Auschwitz and on the historical liberation of the camp complex.
January 27 is also used for the United Nations’ International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust, a related but distinct international designation.
History of Anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz
The Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum records that soldiers of the 60th Army of the First Ukrainian Front reached and liberated Auschwitz on 27 January 1945.
The Museum continues to mark the liberation anniversary annually at the Memorial.
On 27 January 2026, survivors and other participants gathered for the 81st anniversary commemoration.
In 2005 the United Nations designated January 27 as a separate annual international Holocaust remembrance day, using the Auschwitz liberation anniversary as the date anchor.
What the evidence establishes
Confirmed institutional roles and milestones are shown first. Details that could not be established from the reviewed sources are listed separately below.
7 fields not established in reviewed sources
Also known as
Auschwitz Liberation Day
How to Observe Anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz
Use the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum’s historical resources and survivor testimony for learning.
Observe the anniversary with respectful remembrance rather than celebratory language.
Visit recognized memorial or educational programmes where appropriate.
Learn the difference between the Auschwitz liberation anniversary and the broader UN international remembrance designation.
Avoid casual or promotional framing when discussing victims and survivors.
Anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz Facts
Auschwitz was liberated on 27 January 1945.
The Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum continues to hold annual liberation-anniversary commemorations.
The 2026 event marked the 81st anniversary.
January 27 is also the date of a separate United Nations Holocaust remembrance observance.
The reviewed sources do not establish one founder of the recurring Museum anniversary commemoration.
Topic and context
What this page does not assume
- Keep the source-defined country, community, organizer or institutional scope; do not silently broaden it.
- Do not treat the title alone as proof of government recognition or public-holiday status.
- Do not add a creator, founding story or origin claim unless the supporting evidence establishes it.
- Remembrance Civic Context Care.
Evidence & sources
Sources used across the guide are gathered here. Labels show how each source supports the page, and contextual references are kept separate from primary evidence.
Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum — 81st anniversary, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
Official Memorial
Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum — Day of liberation (opens in a new tab)
Official Memorial
United Nations (opens in a new tab)
Understand it, compare it, then explore further
Start with the most common factual questions, then compare closely related observances and explore useful connections.
Frequently asked questions
When is Anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz?
27 January The documented recurrence rule is: 27 January.
Does Anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz fall on the same date every year?
Yes. It uses a fixed annual date unless stronger evidence changes the pattern.
Is Anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz an official public holiday?
The reviewed sources verify it within this scope: Auschwitz-Birkenau / annual liberation-anniversary remembrance. That recognition does not by itself make it a statutory public holiday; the site only makes public-holiday claims when reliable evidence explicitly does so.
Who established or recognizes Anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz?
The documented basis is: The Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum dates the liberation of Auschwitz to 27 January 1945 and continues to organize the annual liberation-anniversary commemoration on 27 January.. Supporting evidence includes Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum — Day of liberation. The site does not infer a separate creator or founder unless reviewed evidence establishes one.
Is Anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz international or country-specific?
No single country is assigned to this observance. Its documented scope is: Auschwitz-Birkenau / annual liberation-anniversary remembrance. Use that scope rather than assuming worldwide or country-specific status.
How is this page verified?
The factual information is checked against reviewed sources, including the date pattern, scope and institutional history. This page was checked on 2026-10-01.
When is the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz?
It is commemorated on 27 January, the date Auschwitz was liberated in 1945.
Who liberated Auschwitz?
The Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum states that soldiers of the 60th Army of the First Ukrainian Front reached the camp on 27 January 1945.
Is this the same as the UN Holocaust remembrance day?
They share January 27 and are historically connected, but they are distinct identities: one is the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, while the UN observance is an international day of remembrance.
How should the anniversary be observed?
The Museum’s commemorations center on remembrance, survivor testimony, historical education and tribute to victims.
Other observances on January 27
These observances are also listed on January 27, 2027.
Holocaust Memorial Day
UK government material marks Holocaust Memorial Day annually on 27 January, the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau.
International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust
A/RES/60/7
Library Shelfie Day
The New York Public Library says Library Shelfie Day occurs every year on the fourth Wednesday of January and that the tradition started in 2014.
World Breast Pumping Day
Snugabell states that it created World Breast Pumping Day in 2017 and invites pumping parents to celebrate on January 27; independent 2018 coverage documents Snugabell as the creator and th…