2026 shows the resilience and resolve of the Jewish community continues to be tested

Each of these incidents is an attempt to intimidate, undermine and undo Jewish life in the UK. But each of these incidents also shows somebody who confronts this hostility

CST’s Antisemitic Incident Report January-June 2026 shows 1,926 cases of anti-Jewish hate reported across the UK. It is a figure that exceeds last year’s six-monthly total by 21%; it is a figure that demonstrates how the resilience and resolve of the Jewish community continue to be tested.

This total – the second-highest ever recorded in the first half of the year – is significant. It shows that antisemitic incident levels have firmly stabilised over the longer term at a far higher rate than reported prior 7 October 2023. With over 200 incidents reported every month, and over 300 in March, April, May and June, the six-monthly figure logged in 2026 eclipses the total reported across the entirety of 2022.

Antisemitism has been a consistent backdrop to Jewish life in the UK since Hamas’ attack on Israel, and anti-Jewish terrorism has moved from threat to horrific reality in the last few months. There was the terror attack on Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation on Yom Kippur last year, and the first half of 2026 was marked by several serious incidents, all occurring in the context of war between Israel, the United States and Iran. Arson attacks have been conducted against synagogues and Jewish communal organisations, and two visibly Jewish men were stabbed in Golders Green.

The three days following the knife attack saw three of the highest daily totals of reported antisemitic incidents between January and June. Over a fifth of these incidents were direct responses to the attack, which included celebration, regret that more Jews had not been seriously hurt, responsibility attributed to Jews and Israel, and various other antisemitic narratives. The increase in antisemitism following the Golders Green stabbing, regardless of whether these incidents were explicitly related to the knife attack, perpetuates a pattern observed in the wake of every major assault on Jewish life: anti-Jewish hate thrives when Jews are perceived to be vulnerable.

The stabbing was one of 136 acts of physical violence targeting Jewish people in the first six months of the year. It is the record number of such incidents logged in the January-to-June period and, worryingly, a disproportionately high percentage of both victims and perpetrators of antisemitic assault were children. A record 178 instances of anti-Jewish hate affected schools, pupils and staff, and a record 117 impacted synagogues and congregants.

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Each of these incidents has an impact. Each of these incidents is an attempt to intimidate, undermine and undo Jewish life in the UK. But each of these incidents also shows somebody who confronts this hostility, who is not going to allow it to go unreported, who believes in the future of the Jewish life in this country and is prepared to fight for it. The resilience and resolve of the Jewish community continue to be tested, the data is stark evidence of this, yet the Jewish community stands resilient and resolute.

These are qualities that inspire CST to do our work, support our community, and do everything possible to facilitate the thriving of Jewish life. Every report helps CST to better understand the hatred that threatens our community and, in turn, helps us to do what we need to do to serve it.