Thousands of people are set to line the streets in London to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day next month.
The celebrations will cap off a week of commemorative events 80 years after the Second World War came to an end on May 8, 1945.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer and the Royal Family will also be in the audience for the Red Arrows flypast, a Churchill speech performance, and a military procession of 1,300 members of the armed forces.
The procession will begin in Parliament Square, with a recital of Winston Churchill’s famous VE Day speech the moment Big Ben strikes noon.
Alan Kennett, a 100-year-old World War II veteran who served in Normandy, will then be handed the Torch for Peace before the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment and The King’s Troop, Royal Horse Artillery lead a procession down Whitehall.
Mr Kennett, who travelled to Normandy with the Royal British Legion for the 80th anniversary of D-Day, called it a ‘huge honour’ and said the day ‘brings back so many memories’.
When is VE Day?
While Victory in Europe (VE) Day is officially May 8 – the date the Second World War came to an end in 1945 – commemorations will kick off on the May bank holiday from Monday May 5.
Celebrators will be able to see the Cenotaph draped Union flags, as well as a military procession from Whitehall to Buckingham Palace.
May day also promises an RAF flypast over London.
That Thursday on May 8, there will be a party at Horse Guards Parade showed live on BBC One.
Michael Kill, chief executive of the Night Time Industries Association, said the industry is looking forward to a boost from the extended pub hours.
He added: ‘As someone with a strong family background in the armed forces, I know how vital it is to honour the legacy of those who served.
‘VE Day is not only a moment of remembrance but also an opportunity for communities to come together.
‘At such a challenging time for the hospitality sector, allowing businesses to extend their trading hours during these celebrations offers a much-needed boost while paying tribute to our shared history.’
How else will the UK mark VE Day’s 80th anniversary?
Monday May 5
Union jacks will be draped over the Cenotaph and a military procession will take place from Whitehall to Buckingham Palace.
Street parties will be held across the country on the bank holiday.
Tuesday May 6
The moving display of ceramic poppies at the Tower of London, first installed to mark the centenary of the First World War in 2014, will return to the historic fortress.
Wednesday May 7
A Victory in Europe Day Anniversary Concert will be held in Westminster Hall at the Houses of Parliament, hosted by the Parliament Choir.
Thursday May 8
A service will take place at Westminster Abbey which will serve as both ‘an act of shared remembrance and a celebration of the end of the war’.
A concert will also take place at Horseguards Parade to mark the end of commemorations.
Friday August 15
Marking the 80th anniversary of VJ Day, a service will take place at the National Memorial Arboretum.
The Royal British Legion will partner with the government to honour those who died in the war in the Far East.
Plus, pubs and bars that usually close at 11pm can keep serving for an extra two hours on Thursday, May 8.
Keir Starmer said of the plan: ‘As we mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day, the whole country should come together to remember the incredible sacrifices made by the wartime generation and to celebrate the peace and freedom they secured for us all.
‘Keeping our pubs open for longer will give people the opportunity to join in celebrations and raise a glass to all of the men and women who served their country, both overseas and at home.’
This is not the first time pub opening hours have been relaxed for major UK celebrations.
Opening hours were extended last summer when England’s football aces reached the semi-finals of the Euros.
The team even made it one step further to the final against Spain – only to crash out 2-1.
Is VE Day a bank holiday in the UK?
VE Day itself, May 8, is not a bank holiday.
Instead the early May bank holiday, May 5, has been officially dedicated to community celebrations marking the anniversary.
UK bank holidays 2025
These are the upcoming bank holidays in England and Wales for 2025:
- May 5 – early May bank holiday
- May 26 – Spring bank holiday
- August 25 – Summer bank holiday
- December 25 – Christmas Day
- December 26 – Boxing Day
This article was originally published on April 19, 2025
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