The new National Day announced today is a victory for a years-long campaign by those impacted by terror and The Mirror's own demand for a day of remembrance
00:01, 24 Nov 2025
Victims and survivors of heinous acts of terroism including the Manchester Arena bombing will be honoured with a new annual National Day, the government has announced.
It is a victory for a years-long campaign by those impacted by terror and The Mirror's own demand for a day of remembrance. The Home Office said the new National Day will be held each year on August 21 to bring together the nation together with those "who have endured the worst".
The first will take place in 2026 and will be held in a different location of the UK each year. The Mirror's A Place to Remember campaign called on ministers to follow through with victims' calls for a National Remembrance Day. We are also calling on the government to erect a monument to all those impacted by terror attacks in the UK for loved ones and survivors to visit and pay their respects.
Figen and Stuart Murray, parents of 29-year-old Martyn Hett who was one of 22 people killed in the May 2017 Manchester Arena bombing, welcomed the government announcement. They said: "It is an important step that formally recognises the profound and enduring loss experienced by victims.
"This day will honour the lives lost and ensure their memory will never fade but it also acknowledges the immense courage of survivors. Their resilience remains a source of national unity.”
Travis Frain OBE, a survivor of the March 2017 Westminster Bridge attack, said: "Britain has a long history with terrorism and counterterrorism and it is important that as a society we commemorate and remember those affected - for the impacts are often lifelong. A National Day of recognition in dedication to those affected by terrorism would provide an opportunity to remember those we have lost, to pay tribute to the bravery and resilience of those who have survived these heinous acts, and for us to look forward to the future to educate the next generation."
He added: “Together, we can, and will, make a positive difference towards ensuring that victims of terrorism are afforded greater support going forward." The date selected - August 21 - aligns with the UN International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism.
Jo Berry CBE, the daughter of MP Sir Anthony Berry who was killed in the IRA Brighton hotel bombing where the Conservative Party conference was being held in 1984, added: “What we remember as a nation matters. It sends a signal about what we value. For too long survivors of terror attacks and those who have been killed in them have been a footnote of history, survivors have felt ignored and forgotten."
'Together, we honour every life affected by terrorism'
By Dan Jarvis, Security Minister
In the UK, we are fortunate to live in a society where most of us can go about our daily lives freely. We can get up and go to work, go out in the evenings with our friends or family and share special moments with loved ones. And perhaps at times we can take these moments for granted and do not always appreciate how precious they are.
But sadly, this isn’t the case for us all. For some, these every day moments have been shattered by acts of terrorism, due to the actions of sickening individuals seeking to divide us.
Last month, we were reminded of the devastating impacts of terrorism when two people were tragically killed and three others injured during an attack on the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue. In these horrendous moments, families are shattered, friendship groups devastated and those impacted face long-lasting challenges that shape their lives in ways we cannot always see.
As Security Minister, I have sat with people who have lost loved ones in these devastating circumstances. I have listened to victims and survivors describe the long road back from trauma. Their courage is humbling. Their strength extraordinary. And while it can be painful to look back, it is essential that we never forget what happened, or the people who continue to live with its impact.
That is why the government will deliver on its promise to honour victims and survivors of terrorism and bring the nation together to remember and pay tribute to them as part of a new National Day. An inaugural event will take place on 21 August next year, marking the beginning of an annual event to honour and remember all those who have ever been affected by terrorism.
Each year, the day’s event will take place in rotating locations across the UK, in recognition of the widespread impact of these incidents. We will come together to stand alongside our fellow citizens and recognise the lives that have been changed by terrorism. It will be a moment to signpost any victims and survivors to the help available to them and ensure the voices of victims and survivors are heard.
I want to pay my own personal tribute to all the victims and survivors whose tireless campaigning has brought us to this pivotal moment. Their strength and determination have driven this process and we will continue to work with victims and survivors to shape the commemorations for the national day.
National security is about more than just preventing attacks. It is about standing together with those who have endured the worst and reiterating our support. Together, we honour every life affected by terrorism. It shall never defeat us.