What we know about VE Day celebrations for 80th anniversary of Second World War ending

Yahoo

05-03-2025

Concerts, services and processions have been announced to commemorate the 80th anniversary of VE Day in May this year.
The government said that four days of events have been planned for the anniversary, and urged people to celebrate with street parties.
Culture secretary Lisa Nandy said this year's anniversary offers 'important opportunities for communities to come together'.
She said the commemorations will be an opportunity to 'hear our veterans' stories first hand, to reflect and remember, and ensure that their stories of sacrifice and service are remembered for generations to come'.
The Together Coalition, which is organising the VEDay80 community campaign, have announced bank holiday street parties and barbecues will be organised – including a street party on the surviving warship HMS Belfast.
VE Day is on 8 May, which falls on a Thursday in 2025.
However, celebrations kick off on Monday, 5 May with events including a military procession and flypast in London, followed by community-focused activities like street parties across the country.
The commemorations will build toward the anniversary itself on 8 May.
The celebrations for VE Day kick off on the early May bank holiday on 5 May – but there will not be an extra bank holiday for the day itself.
There had been some suggestions that the government were planning on giving Britons an extra bank holiday on VE Day but that was quashed at the time.
The prime minister's spokesperson said in November that the VE Day plans 'do not include an additional bank holiday' – and this has not been announced in the planned commemorations.
As it's the 80th anniversary of VE Day this year, a whole host of events and celebrations are planned, spreading across four days.
Monday 5 May
Military procession from Whitehall to Buckingham Palace
Flypast of current and historic military aircraft including the Red Arrows
Street party on HMS Belfast
Country-wide street parties, barbecues and community get togethers
Tuesday 6 May
Installation of nearly 30,000 ceramic poppies at the Tower of London
Evening light-up of historic landmarks across the UK
Wednesday 7 May
Anniversary concert in Westminster Hall at the Palace of Westminster
Thursday 8 May (VE Day)
Service at Westminster Abbey
Concert for 10,000 members of the public at Horse Guards Parade in central London
The government has announced that street parties will be taking place – and have encouraged people to set up their own.
Brendan Cox, co-founder of the Together Coalition, which is organising the VEDay80 community campaign, said year's events offer 'a great opportunity to celebrate what we have in common, and to use the celebrations to reach out to neighbours, friends and our wider communities'.
Bank holiday street parties and barbecues will be organised by the coalition, and the first day of events includes a street party on the surviving warship HMS Belfast.
Bruno Peek, pageant master of the commemoration, said: 'We encourage everyone to take part – raise the VE Day flag at 9am, gather in streets, gardens, town halls, clubs and pubs. Let this be a day of joy, reflection, and celebration.'
VE Day stands for Victory in Europe Day and commemorates the moment when the Second World War came to an end in Europe.
On 8 May 1945 the Allied forces formally accepted the unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany, a surrender that silenced the guns across the continent after nearly six years of conflict.
VE Day marked a turning point that sparked jubilation from London's streets to rural villages across the country. Scenes from the day saw people dance, sing and wave flags, in a sign of patriotism and relief.
VE Day followed months of grueling battles, including the D-Day landings and the relentless advance through occupied territories, which finally broke the back of Hitler's regime.
On the 80th anniversary, VE Day still stands as a poignant reminder of the cost of freedom and the enduring legacy of a generation whose sacrifices paved the way for peace.
Watch: Veterans and replica Spitfire in London for VE Day countdown