2026 Days of Remembrance Commemoration

During the national commemoration of the Holocaust at the US Capitol on April 14, we remembered the six million Jews who were murdered and the millions of other victims of Nazi persecution. The Congressional Gold Medal was presented posthumously to Benjamin Ferencz, in recognition of his service to the United States and international community during the post-World War II Nuremberg trials and for his lifelong advocacy for international criminal justice and rule of law.

The ceremony also featured remarks from Holocaust survivors, members of Congress, and other dignitaries. The 3d US Infantry Regiment (“The Old Guard”) presented the colors and the flags of World War II liberating divisions, and the US Army Band performed. In addition to a memorial candle-lighting, attendees paid tribute to the victims.

Marking America’s 250th anniversary in 2026, we honored Americans who rescued European Jews, US soldiers who defeated Nazi Germany during World War II, and Holocaust survivors who cherished the freedom they experienced after immigrating to the United States.

Congress created the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum as a permanent living memorial to the victims of the Holocaust and established annual Days of Remembrance to be held each spring. This year’s observance was especially important, given the continuing surge in violent antisemitism and relentless Holocaust denial and distortion.