VE Day 80th anniversary - our guide to what's on

The 80th anniversary of VE Day, on Thursday 8 May, will be celebrated in full glory this month, with a host of touching tributes and joyful events to mark this historic day of peace.  

Starting in Whitehall, London, the Cenotaph – a focal point for national remembrance – will be decorated with Union flags for the week.

And throughout the UK, communities will come together to remember the historic day when the Second World War ended in Europe 80 years ago. 

Claire Horton, director general of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, said, “This is a deeply poignant anniversary. It is likely the last major VE Day that will be marked with living Second World War veterans still among us – which brings a great sense of responsibility and privilege. 

“Many of our events have been designed with this generation in mind, whether by inviting them to attend ceremonies, share their stories, or simply be honoured in person by the next generation.

“This will continue in June, when surviving veterans will join us in Bayeux for a special D-Day 81 service, ensuring their legacy is recognised while we still have the chance to hear from them directly.” 

Horton hopes the events will bring communities together, bound in remembrance to protect our peace for future generations.

“In an increasingly unsettled global climate, commemoration can be a unifying force, helping us to appreciate what peace truly means and the collective responsibility we all share in preserving it,” she adds. 

Events marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day

From Government organised events to community street parties, celebrations and commemorations will be taking place across the UK both in person and on our TV screens.

Monday 5 May 

Bank Holiday Monday sees a military procession through London from Whitehall to Buckingham Palace, complete with a flypast from the iconic Red Arrows and historic military aircraft.

A tea party for 50 veterans will be held in the gardens of Buckingham Palace, while a street party will take place aboard warship HMS Belfast, on the River Thames.  

Outside of the capital, many communities have organised street parties, check your local newspapers and social media groups for more information.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy says, “VE Day 80 is a chance for us to come together and celebrate our veterans and ensure their legacy of peace is passed on to future generations.  

“Whether by watching on TV or having a street party with neighbours, everyone can take part. This is one of the last chances we have to say thank you to this generation of heroes and it is right that we do just that.” 

Tuesday 6 May 

Nearly 30,000 poppies from 2014’s unforgettable installation will back at the Tower of London. In the display, ‘The Tower Remembers’, a sea of red ceramic flowers will resemble a ‘wound’, marking the scars left from the Blitz and the sacrifice made during the war.

The poppies, on loan from the Imperial War Museum, will remain in place until 11 November. 

In the evening, London landmarks, including Buckingham Palace, Marble Arch and Tower Bridge, and other buildings across the UK will be lit up in the colours of the British flag. 

Wednesday 7 May

In the evening The Parliament Choir will perform in Westminster Hall at the Palace of Westminster in London. The concert will mark 80 years since a newsflash told the nation that the next day would be known as Victory Day.

Thursday 8 May 

VE Day itself sees Westminster Abbey host a thanksgiving service attended by the King and Queen and other members of the Royal Family - it will be broadcast live on the BBC from 10:45am. 

In the afternoon the Royal British Legion, will host a private tea party for Second World War veterans and their families at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, especially for veterans from the North of England who couldn't travel to events in London.

In the evening watch VE Day 80: A Celebration to Remember from 8pm–10pm on BBC One, live from the Horse Guards Parade in London. Stars of the stage and screen will perform in front of more than 12,000 people.

And don't forget to raise a toast in the evening as pubs can stay to open until 1am for this historic day. 

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said: "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."