Mark Their Memory
On the Last Monday in May, let's pause to remember and mark the memory of the people who made us who we are today.
#MarkTheirMemory
Countdown
The
big
toast
Any drink. Any age. Anywhere.
Who will you raise a glass to?
At 7pm on the last Monday in May, we invite everyone, everywhere to raise a glass, cup or mug to the people who shaped them.
About
Celebration Day is a non-profit initiative built on a simple idea: to pause on the last Monday in May to remember and mark the memory of the people who made us who we are today.
They may be loved ones we have lost or figures in history, but they are the people who have inspired us and helped shape our lives, in many ways, they are our everyday heroes.
It is not commercial, political or a fundraiser; it is a day that belongs to us all.
#MarkTheirMemory for Celebration Day 2026.
Watch: the Celebration Day film 01:14
What is mark their memory all about?
At the heart of Celebration Day 2026 is #MarkTheirMemory — an invitation to acknowledge the people who shaped us, in whatever way feels right to you.
Memories are deeply personal; they may be remembered and honoured quietly or together, through a gesture, a story, a gathering, or simply a moment of pause.
Our partners
We’re proud to have three charity partners whose work reflects the heart of Celebration Day: creating meaningful moments and strengthening connections at pivotal points in life.



Get social
We’d love you to join us and #MarkTheirMemory.
Whether you’re taking part in the The Big Toast and raising a glass together at 7pm or celebrating in your own way, why not share with us on social media? For a little inspiration, follow along and see how others – including some familiar faces – are getting involved.
Finding the words
Essential resources for school and home
A toolkit to help children and young people talk openly about loss, legacy and remembrance.
Latest News

The Times
22 May 2025
A third of Britons feel guilty talking about death, poll shows

The Times
27 Sep 2025
Dr Jonathan Romain encourages us to reach out to people grieving

Positive News
16 Jun 2025
Celebration Day featured in Positive News as National Moment to remember gathers pace

Newsletter
01 May 2025
Celebs share how they'll remember loved ones this Celebration Day

The Guardian
25 May 2025
Asa Butterfield performs The Peace of Wild Things by Wendell Berry

The Guardian
24 May 2025
Nathaniel Parker performs Anthem for Doomed Youth Poem by Wilfred Owen – video

The Guardian
23 May 2025
Susan Wokoma performs What If This Road by Sheenagh Pugh – video

The Guardian
22 May 2025
Stephen Mangan performs I See You Dancing, Father by Brendan Kennelly – video

The Guardian
21 May 2025
Helena Bonham Carter performs Don’t Let That Horse by Lawrence Ferlinghetti – video

The Times
18 May 2025
Mel Giedroyc and the podcasters helping Britain to discuss grief

The Times
13 May 2025
Dame Prue Leith: The nine people I miss every day

The Independent
01 May 2024
King and National Trust announce sapling planting on Celebration Day

The Telegraph
01 May 2024
William Sitwell - On Celebration Day, I’ll honour my late father with his egg mousse pâté

Royal Family Instagram
01 May 2024
King and National Trust: Remember the lives of those who are no longer here and who have shaped us

The Times
01 May 2024
We need a special day to recall our lost loved ones

BBC
01 May 2024
King and Judie Dench plant Sycamore Gap tree seedlings

Daily Star
01 May 2024
Shaughna Phillips shares the touching tribute she paid to her dad

The Times
25 May 2024
Tom Holland: We must celebrate England's forgotten founding mother

The Times
23 May 2024
Michelin star chefs cook up recipe for honouring a loved one on Celebration Day

The Times
01 May 2024
Alexander Armstrong spoke of the power of remembering loved ones

The Times
02 Jun 2023
Celebration Day: Times readers invited to plant tree in honour of loved ones

The Times
01 May 2023
Heartfelt stories were shared at the Hay Festival to mark Celebration Day

The Times
28 May 2023
Helena Bonham Carter turns to fudge and the charleston on Celebration Day
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The Mirror
01 May 2023
The top ways to honour someone's memory

The Times
01 May 2023
Britons urged to talk about death on Celebration Day

The Guardian
28 May 2023
A simple truth: When loved ones die, they never really go away

About Manchester
23 May 2023
New dedicated woodland for people to remember and celebrate their loved ones

The Times
27 May 2023
Celebration Day will create a woodland to serve as a living memorial

The Sun
01 May 2023
The quirky ways Brits remember loved ones who have died

The Times
01 May 2023
Planting the Future on Celebration Day

The Day
23 May 2023
Why Celebration Day is inspiring a Writing Competition for Schools

Daily Star
23 May 2023
Arlene Phillips will plant a tree with the National Trust to celebrate Len Goodman

Huffington Post
25 Jun 2022
Brits Honour Friends And Family They've Lost "We are what we are today, because of what they did.”

Schools Week
09 Jun 2022
Celebration Day: The Writing Competition Championing People Who Shape Lives

Vodafone
21 Jun 2022
Vodafone offers free data to connect with loved ones this Celebration Day

The Telegraph
25 Jun 2022
Alexander Armstrong shares his insights on faith, feelings and remembering those we’ve lost

The Guardian
01 Jun 2022
Guardian readers: Tell us whose life you will be celebrating?

The Guardian
01 Jun 2022
Guardian readers share tributes to loved ones to be remembered on Celebration Day
FAQs
Who is behind Celebration Day?
Celebration Day is a non-profit initiative that has grown organically since 2022. It is not owned by any individual, brand, political group or organisation, and it is not commercially funded. A small, non-profit group exists only to protect the purpose and integrity of the day, safeguarding its spirit rather than directing participation.
What is the purpose of Celebration Day?
Celebration Day offers a simple, shared moment to reconnect with family, friends and community, and to mark the memory of the people who shaped our lives. It creates space for reflection and togetherness in an increasingly disconnected world.
Who is Celebration Day for?
Celebration Day is for everyone. It is inclusive and personal, allowing people of all ages, faiths and backgrounds to recognise family, friends, colleagues, public figures or everyday heroes who influenced their lives.
How is this different from Remembrance Day?
Remembrance Day focuses on national service and sacrifice. Celebration Day is personal and open-ended, inviting people to recognise and give thanks to the many individuals who shaped their lives, without a fixed script or single theme.
How do people take part?
There is no single way to participate. People might gather with loved ones, share stories or messages, reflect quietly, or join shared gestures such as the Big Toast at 7pm. Participation can be public or private, communal or personal.





























