Essential Information
| Type | Events and festivals |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Date and Times | Saturday 23 August 2025 | 11am-5pm |
| Prices | Free |
On 23 August 1791, enslaved people on the island of Saint Domingue (modern-day Haiti and the Dominican Republic) rose up against French colonial rule.
The uprising played a crucial role in the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade.
That's why, on 23 August each year, the National Maritime Museum commemorates International Slavery Remembrance Day and the long struggle for emancipation throughout the world.
Keep an eye on this page for more details about the 2025 event, and find more stories, resrouces and information below.
In pictures
Look back on previous Slavery Remembrance commemorations hosted at the National Maritime Museum.
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The emancipation ceremony during Slavery Remembrance Day 2024
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Inside the Atlantic Worlds gallery at the National Maritime Museum
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Procession from the National Maritime Museum to the River Thames
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Music during the emancipation ceremony
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Jahmila Heath performs at the National Maritime Museum during Slavery Remembrance Day
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People dancing outside the National Maritime Museum
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Author Stella Dadzie speaking at the National Maritime Museum
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The emancipation ceremony by the River Thames
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Young people at the National Maritime Museum
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Musical performance
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Procession to the River Thames
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Historian S.I. Martin speaking at the National Maritime Museum
Resources and responses
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What is International Slavery Remembrance Day?
Between the 1400s and 1800s, 12-15 million men, women and children were forcibly transported from Africa to the Americas.
This day stands as a reminder of the bravery, courage, resilience and determination of enslaved African people who continuously fought for their freedom.
It is a time to remember that people fought and died to establish their own freedom and liberation from the tyranny of enslavement.
The day also raises the contemporary legacies of transatlantic slavery, which are manifested in the continued racism and prejudice against Black and Caribbean communities.
UNESCO selected the 23 August to mark the International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition. 23 August was the day that self-liberated enslaved people on the island of Saint Domingue (today Haiti and the Dominican Republic) rose up against French colonial rule, and played a crucial role in the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade.
Choose your tickets
Entry to the National Maritime Museum is free, but you are welcome to book tickets online in advance. Click the links below and select 23 August using the booking calendar. See all tickets and prices
National Maritime Museum
- Guaranteed entry time
- Access to all free galleries and activities
- Astronomy Photographer of the Year currently included
| Free entry |
|---|
| Book online |
Member tickets
- Unlimited free entry
- Priority booking and exclusive events
- Access using your membership card
| Membership card number required |
|---|
Become a Member
- Unlimited entry all year
- Royal Observatory
- Cutty Sark
- Planetarium Shows
- Special exhibitions
| Direct Debit | One-off |
|---|---|
| Individual: £50 | Individual: £60 |
| Family: from £60 | Family: from £70 |