To show support for significant events, key anniversaries or national awareness campaigns, Durham Cathedral is occasionally lit in different colours.
Upcoming dates:
- Remembrance Day - Sunday 9 November. - the cathedral will be lit up red from dusk to 11pm.
Previous lighting of Durham Cathedral
Baby Loss Awareness - 15 October 2025
Pink light lit up the outside of the cathedral to raise awareness of pregnancy and baby loss, along with highlighting the charity, as they support bereaved families.
Organ Donation Week - 22 September 2025
The cathedral was lit up in pink to mark Organ Donation Week, which raises awareness about the importance of organ donation, and to increase the number of people on the NHS Organ Donor Register.
Dementia Awareness Week - 22 May 2025
To mark Dementia Awareness week, the cathedral was lit in blue from dusk and formed part of a trail of blue buildings in and around the city. Organised by the local Alzheimer’s Society the blue buildings included the cathedral, Durham Castle, Dilston Physic Garden, Hatfield College, Durham University Oriental Museum and Durham Botanic Garden
Victory in Europe (VE) Day - Thursday 8 May 2025
On 6 and 7 of May the cathedral was lit up in red to commemorate the 80th anniversary of VE Day, which marked the end of The Second World War in Europe.
Holocaust Memorial Day - 27 January 2024
In January, the cathedral was lit in purple in memory of the victims of The Holocaust.
How to request lighting of the cathedral?
If you would like to request for the cathedral to be lit for a certain charity or event, please get in touch via email - marketing@durhamcathedral.co.uk
Please note, we receive a high volume of requests to light the cathedral for different charities, anniversaries and awareness days. The lighting up the cathedral has to be coordinated and approved with Durham County Council and due to the high volume we aren’t always able to process every request.
