VE Day 80th anniversary events UK
On Tuesday 8 May 1945, the Allied forces formally accepted Germany's unconditional surrender, signalling the end of World War 2 in Europe. At 9.30pm on Tuesday 8 May 2025, beacons and Lamp Lights of Peace will shine across the United Kingdom to commemorate 80 years since VE Day.
There are many events happening in the UK which will mark the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day and we’ve listed all the biggest below.
VE Day Military procession, London
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Date |
Monday 5 May 2025 |
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Location |
Whitehall, London SW1A 2ET |
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The Cenotaph will once again be the nation’s focal point of remembrance. On Monday 5 May, there will be a Military procession from Whitehall to Buckingham Palace to honour and remember those who fell during the World War 2. This will be followed by a flypast of current and historic military aircraft, including the Red Arrows.
VE Day 80: The Party, Royal Albert Hall, London
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Date |
Thursday 8 May 2025 |
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Location |
Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, South Kensington, London SW7 2AP |
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The Royal Albert Hall and SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, will be leading the nation's VE Day 80 celebrations with a party saluting 'Our Greatest Generation' with music, dance and first-hand stories of the wartime generation. The RAF Squadronaires, part of The Central Band of the Royal Air Force, will take the audience back in time with iconic 1940s favourites, while the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra will perform the nation’s best loved classical anthems. The event will also feature untold personal accounts of those who were there 80 years ago to the day, as well as the key moments that led to the end of the World War 2 in Europe.
Letters to Loved Ones, IWM North, Manchester
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Date |
Wednesday 7 May 2025 |
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Location |
IWM North, Trafford Wharf Rd, Trafford Park, Stretford, Manchester M17 1TZ. |
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A special VE Day event will take place at IWM North on Wednesday 7 May, as the Imperial War Museum and the National Theatre team up to present letters submitted by the public for the IWM’s Letters to Loved Ones campaign which will explore family histories and uncover correspondence from ancestors who experienced the war. Public letters will be presented alongside readings by high-profile figures sharing letters from the IWM collection and excerpts from a new film, “The Next Morning” by Olivier Award-winning playwright, James Graham.
VE Day Concert, Royal Air Force Museum, West Midlands
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Date |
Saturday 10 May 2025 |
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Location |
RAF Museum, Lysander Avenue, Cosford, Shifnal, TF11 8UP |
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Website |
The Royal Air Force Museum Midlands will be hosting a day of music, remembrance and community pride to celebrate the spirit of Victory in Europe Day. The National Service (RAF) Association will start proceedings with a welcome and a poem to commemorate Victory in Europe, followed by classic wartime songs and patriotic anthems performed by the likes of veterans from The RAF Voluntary Band Cosford.
VE Day 80: Afternoon Tea, HMS Belfast, London
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Date |
Saturday 3 May 2025 |
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Location |
HMS Belfast, The Queen's Walk, London, SE1 2JH |
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HMS Belfast is the most significant surviving World War 2 warship having fired some of the opening shots on D-Day in 1944 and protected Arctic convoys. For VE Day 80, the warship will commemorate the occasion with an onboard street party. The afternoon will begin with a talk in the Officer’s dining room, exploring the world of wartime cuisine in the Royal Navy. Following the talk, take your seat for a luxury afternoon tea, with a menu especially curated to pay tribute to 1940s rationing and naval recipes.
VE Day Dance, National Army Museum, London
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Date |
Saturday 10 May 2025 |
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Location |
National Army Museum, Royal Hospital Rd, London, SW3 4HT. |
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Website |
The National Army Museum will be celebrating VE Day with a 1940s dance. Whether you’re an absolute beginner or already know your way around the floor, SwingdanceUK will show you how it’s done. From Lindy Hop to Jitterbug, there’ll be lessons for both new and improving dancers. Live music will be provided by South London Jazz Orchestra and there’ll be cabaret from the Diamond Girls. Hair and make-up artists Pretty Me Vintage will also be on hand to keep you looking the part.
See also
VE Day and The Gazette - 80th anniversary
Images
The Gazette
Publication date
9 April 2025
Any opinion expressed in this article is that of the author and the author alone, and does not necessarily represent that of The Gazette.