Eightieth Anniversary VE Day Commemoration: Outlining the Four-Day Festivities in 2025
Uncensored Retelling:
Victory in Europe Day (VE Day) is rolling out with a bang this year, marking 80 years since the end of World War II in Europe on May 8, 1945. Four days of blow-out celebrations are scheduled by the government from May 5-8. Here's the lowdown on what's happening and how you can join in on the fun.
Day 1: May 5
Kick things off with a military procession and airshow in central London at high noon. Winston Churchill's iconic VE Day speech will be read aloud, and a young person will pass the Commonwealth War Graves Torch for Peace to a 100-year-old Second World War veteran who served in the Normandy campaign. The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment and The King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery will lead the parade from Parliament Square, past the Cenotaph, up to Trafalgar Square, and down the Mall towards Buckingham Palace. Dignitaries like the King and Queen, along with other royals and the prime minister, will be there. Stick around for a flypast featuring the Red Arrows and other current and historic military aircraft.
Wanna See the Flypast? Check out the live coverage on our website starting at 10 AM with Sarah-Jane Mee hosting a special program from Buckingham Palace.
Street Parties Gone WildVarious street parties, barbecues, and community events will be happening on the Bank Holiday Monday. After the parade and airshow, the King and Queen will host a tea party for veterans and members of the Second World War generation at Buckingham Palace. HMS Belfast, the most significant surviving Second World War warship, will host an afternoon tea street party in London, with talks from keynote speakers, and an evening party. In other parts of the country, highlights on May 5 include an open-air music festival in Blackburn with fairground rides, food trucks, and a VE Day picnic in the Shropshire town of Caven Arms.
Day 2: May 6
30,000 ceramic poppies will return to the Tower of London on May 6. Developed by designer Tom Piper, the installation will reflect on the sacrifices made during the Second World War. Historic landmarks across the UK will be illuminated that evening, with live helicopter shots of the scenes available on our website.
Day 3: May 7
An anniversary concert will take place in Westminster Hall at the Palace of Westminster on the evening of May 7 to commemorate the newsflash that announced the following day as Victory Day. The choir will perform European and American music classics, along with special guests.
Day 4: May 8
The day itself begins with a service at Westminster Abbey, followed by a two-minute silence nationwide at high noon. A private tea party for Second World War veterans and their families will be hosted by the Royal British Legion later in the afternoon at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire. In County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland, there will be a parade of 80 pipers and drummers along Church Street, with pubs staying open until 1 AM to mark the end of the celebrations.
The festivities wrap up with a concert at Horse Guards Parade from 8 PM to 10 PM, featuring stars from stage and screen, military musicians, readings, and heartfelt moments retelling the story of VE Day and the nation's reaction to the end of the war.
Stay tuned for the SSAFA's VE Day 80: The Party at the Royal Albert Hall at 7:30 PM and the simultaneous lighting of 2,500 beacons across the UK around 9 PM. Don't miss out on the action! Follow our channel to stay up to date.
Party like it's 1945, amirite? 🎉🎈🇺🇦
In the evening of Day 2, the Tower of London will display 30,000 ceramic poppies, a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made during the World War II. This will be followed by the illumination of historic landmarks across the UK, which can be viewed on our website.
The formal events of the VE Day commemoration will conclude with a concert at Horse Guards Parade on Day 4. This event, featuring stage and screen stars, military musicians, and heartwarming narratives, promises to rekindle the spirit of VE Day and the nation's jubilation at the end of the war.
Away from the official events, on Day 4, County Fermanagh in Northern Ireland will host a parade of 80 pipers and drummers, with pubs staying open until 1 AM to mark the end of the celebrations. A private tea party for Second World War veterans and their families will also be held at the National Memorial Arboretum, under the auspices of the Royal British Legion.
