ECB commemorates International Holocaust Remembrance Day with ceremony and memorial garden

The European Central Bank (ECB) hosted a commemorative event on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, January 27, 2026, at its main building in Frankfurt’s Ostend. The ceremony included addresses by ECB President Christine Lagarde, Frankfurt Deputy Mayor Ina Hartwig, Jewish Museum Frankfurt Director Mirjam Wenzel, and Hessian State Commissioner Uwe Becker.

The event featured a discussion between President Lagarde and designer and philanthropist Diane von Fürstenberg, daughter of Holocaust survivors, focusing on family history, intergenerational trauma, and hope for the future. Diane von Fürstenberg was presented with a magnolia tree, named Lily Nahmias, in honor of her late mother who survived Auschwitz. This tree will be the first in the ECB’s Memorial Garden, with a new tree added each year.

President Lagarde emphasized the importance of remembrance and responsibility, stating, “Memory is not only about the past – it is a call to protect human dignity today and for generations to come.” The initiative aims to create a living tribute connecting remembrance with renewal, fostering hope and responsibility for the future.

Photos of the event are available on the ECB multimedia hub. For media inquiries, contact Silke Köhler at +49 69 1344 8671.