Stephen Lawrence Day2026 · Date · History
The Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation states that the day takes place every year on 22 April, the anniversary of Stephen Lawrence’s death, and its timeline records that Prime Minister Theresa May announced the national day on 22 April 2018. Institutional reporting identifies 22 April 2019 as the first national Stephen Lawrence Day.
About Stephen Lawrence Day
Stephen Lawrence Day takes place every year on April 22 in the United Kingdom, on the anniversary of Stephen Lawrence’s death.
The Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation presents it as a national moment of remembrance and positive action, with resources for schools, workplaces and individuals.
Why Stephen Lawrence Day matters
The day remembers Stephen Lawrence, an 18-year-old who was murdered in an unprovoked racist attack in London on April 22, 1993, and focuses on his life, ambitions and legacy.
Participation can center fairness, respect, education and opportunity without graphic retelling of the murder or harassment of people connected to the case.
History of Stephen Lawrence Day
Stephen Lawrence was murdered on April 22, 1993 at age 18 in a racist attack in south-east London.
The Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation timeline records that Prime Minister Theresa May announced a national day on April 22, 2018 and said Stephen Lawrence Day would be celebrated every year on April 22.
De Montfort University described April 22, 2019 as the first national Stephen Lawrence Day.
The Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation now maintains the annual date and publishes participation resources for schools, workplaces and individuals.
How the observance developed
This timeline uses documented milestones from reviewed sources. Missing stages are left out rather than guessed.
Prime Minister Theresa May / United Kingdom government announcement
Public announcement by Prime Minister Theresa May on 22 April 2018
First documented observance
De Montfort University contemporaneously described 22 April 2019 as the first national Stephen Lawrence Day.
Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation
The Foundation currently maintains the annual date and publishes resources for schools, workplaces and individuals.
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.
3 fields not established in reviewed sources
How to Observe Stephen Lawrence Day
Use current Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation resources for age-appropriate classroom, workplace or community participation.
Learn about Stephen as a person—including his ambition to become an architect—rather than reducing his life to the circumstances of his death.
Choose respectful projects around fairness, inclusion, education, mentoring or opportunity that fit your school, workplace or community rules.
Avoid graphic material, harassment, doxxing or confrontational treatment of people connected to the case; remembrance should remain trauma-aware and dignified.
Stephen Lawrence Day Facts
Stephen Lawrence Day is held every year on April 22.
April 22 is the anniversary of Stephen Lawrence’s death in 1993.
The Foundation timeline records that Prime Minister Theresa May announced the national day on April 22, 2018.
For Stephen Lawrence Day, De Montfort University described April 22, 2019 as the first national Stephen Lawrence Day.
The Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation currently provides participation resources.
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.
De Montfort University — first national Stephen Lawrence Day (opens in a new tab)
Institutional Corroboration
Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation — current day page (opens in a new tab)
Official Foundation
Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation — timeline (opens in a new tab)
Official Foundation History
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 Stephen Lawrence Day?
22 April The documented recurrence rule is: 22 April.
Does Stephen Lawrence Day fall on the same date every year?
Yes. It uses a fixed annual date unless stronger evidence changes the pattern.
Is Stephen Lawrence Day an official public holiday?
The reviewed sources verify it within this scope: United Kingdom remembrance and anti-discrimination observance. 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 Stephen Lawrence Day?
The reviewed sources identify Prime Minister Theresa May / United Kingdom government announcement as the proclaiming or establishing body. Current facilitation or coordination is recorded as Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation.
Is Stephen Lawrence Day international or country-specific?
No single country is assigned to this observance. Its documented scope is: United Kingdom remembrance and anti-discrimination observance. 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 2026-09-29.
When is Stephen Lawrence Day?
It takes place every year on April 22.
Why is it on April 22?
The Foundation says the date is the anniversary of Stephen Lawrence’s death on April 22, 1993.
When was Stephen Lawrence Day announced?
The Foundation timeline records that Prime Minister Theresa May announced the national day on April 22, 2018.
When was the first national Stephen Lawrence Day?
De Montfort University described April 22, 2019 as the first national Stephen Lawrence Day.
Other observances on April 22
These observances are also listed on April 22, 2027.
Earth Day
EARTHDAY.ORG’s current 2026 page identifies Earth Day 2026 as Wednesday, 22 April.
International Girls In ICT Day
International Mother Earth Day
A/RES/63/278
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