When is VE Day and why do we celebrate it in the UK?
It's no surprise that VE Day is being brought up in conversations as we head towards its 80th anniversary.
Here's what we know about the celebration and why it's marked in the UK calendar.
VE Day will take place on May 8, as it does every year - in 2025, May 8 falls on a Thursday.
Celebrations are expected to take place across the country on and leading up to May 8.
VE Day, short for Victory in Europe Day, is celebrated every year on May 8 to mark the day the Allies formally accepted Germany's surrender in 1945.
Commemorations will mark the end of the war, including a Red Arrows flypast in London and a service at Westminster Abbey with members of the royal family.
Street parties, an installation of 30,000 ceramic poppies and more are also expected.
While the UK is being encouraged to enjoy celebrations, there is no bank holiday scheduled for May 8. It will instead be considered a normal day with celebrations taking place throughout the day and week.
You can find out more about the government's decision to not schedule an extra bank holiday for VE Day in our article, linked below.
Award-winning actors will star in a Second World War film released to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day.
The National Theatre's short film will use connected stories to present intergenerational perspectives on the end of the war.
Olivier Award-winning actor Julian Glover, who starred in the James Bond, Indiana Jones and Star Wars film franchises, will feature in The Next Morning screened on May 8.
It was written by James Graham who wrote Dear England, a play about former England football manager Gareth Southgate.
The film will also feature Sian Phillips, who won a Bafta for her role in I, Claudius, and Joseph Mydell, from the Academy Award-winning film Conclave.
Recommended reading:
Is VE Day a bank holiday as the UK celebrates its 80th anniversary?
Full list of UK Bank Holidays for 2025
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said: 'It is absolutely right that we ensure that the stories of those who lived through and fought in the Second World War are remembered by generations to come.
'Through the National Theatre, the VE Day 80 concert and our UK-wide exhibition, we will bring to life the stories of those no longer with us so that the next generation are able to honour their sacrifice and recognise the legacy of peace that they fought to secure.'
More than 12,500 people including Second World War veterans are expected to attend the VE Day 80 concert on May 8, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
2025 RAF Cosford Air Show in Shropshire: Thousands expected
The RAF Cosford Air Show returns this weekend, bringing displays of aircraft ranging from the Battle of Britain fighter planes to modern military 50,000 people are expected at the annual event on Sunday, near restrictions are being relaxed and extra trains put on to cope with the influx of event is the only one of its kind organised by the RAF, and chief operations officer Sqn Ldr Chris Wilson said it attracted people from around the world. "People are fascinated by aviation," he said. "It's something that makes people stop and look." The event was first held in 1978, and has run most years since this year include the Great War Display Team, performing a dogfighting routine in replica British, French and German World War One aircraft, displays by the RAF Red Arrows and the Royal Navy Black Cats, and Chinook and Apache will also be a display from aerobatics pilot Mélanie Astles, the first woman to take part in the Red Bull Air Race. Sqn Ldr Wilson said static aircraft, which this year include the Eurofighter Typhoon, a Boeing Stearman biplane, and a Sioux light helicopter, were also popular."We work very hard to put on a really interesting flying display, but we also try and make sure that there's lots to see on the ground as well in our hangars," he said. "It's a really, really, good way to expose young people to what aviation is and how maybe they can get into it when they're older."The show was a useful tool to demonstrate to children the practical applications of what they learn in maths and physics lessons, he added."They come and meet people [like them], from Wolverhampton and Telford, who happen to be in the Royal Air Force, or maybe they work in the Civil Aviation sector and they go: 'If you can do this, why can't I?'"And that's really the nice thing about it." Sqn Ldr Wilson said he and his colleagues enjoyed being able to share their passion for aviation with others."If you're working around aircraft and all this stuff every day, it just kind of becomes the norm," he said. "You forget how exciting it is for people who don't get to see it on a regular basis."Cosford is a working RAF station, meaning visitors can really get a feel for the aviation industry, he added."We train all of the Royal Air Force's aircraft engineers," he explained."But of course, we work behind the wire day in, day out, and very few people actually get to see what we do on a regular basis."So, for us, it's quite nice to be able to show off a little bit." The RAF Cosford Air Show takes place on Sunday 8 June. Gates open at 08:00 BST. Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
South Wales Argus
4 hours ago
- South Wales Argus
Ghost hunt event to take place at Llanyrafon Manor Farm
Llanyrafon Manor Farm, in Cwmbran, is hosting a 12-hour lockdown and fear ball ghost hunt. Those brave enough are invited to bring their own bedding and spend the night inside the reportedly haunted building. (Image: Supplied) The event will include a paranormal investigation with Tracey and Nigel Turner, séance technique experiments, and a free exploration of the site's three acres of grounds. Visitors will have access to most areas, including the Tudor kitchen, Great Chamber, and attic bedrooms. The history of Llanyrafon Manor Farm dates back to the mid-1500s, and it's thought that a timber-framed medieval building stood on the site as far back as the 13th century. The site was possibly a farm for the monks of Llantarnam Abbey, and some of its remains can still be seen today. The Griffiths family owned the manor for centuries, with the earliest member of the family appearing to be Walter Griffith of Llanyrafon, who practised as an attorney and left a will dated November 20, 1629. The manor once stood in a thousand acres of ground, and during the First World War, three Italian prisoners of war worked on the farm. In the Second World War, members of the Women's Land Army worked the farm, learning how to perform tasks including ploughing, milking, harvesting, and digging. Today, Llanyrafon Manor Farm stands as grand as ever, its history once again showcased for all to enjoy. A free breakfast and unlimited teas, coffees, hot chocolate, bottled waters, juice, and biscuits will be available. The event is not open to pregnant ladies or anyone intending to consume drugs or alcohol. Over in Abersychan, Garndiffaith Millennium Hall will host a murder mystery evening. (Image: Supplied) The event, which will run from 6pm to 9pm on Saturday, June 7, invites attendees to come along and solve the mystery. A ploughman's supper is included in the ticket price of £6.50. For those interested in the murder mystery evening, tickets will be available from the hall or via Eventbrite. Flash Back will travel across the border to the Olway Inn, Usk, on Saturday, June 7. (Image: Supplied) The band will perform rock and pop hits from the 60s to the 00s, promising an evening of dance and sing-along for all. Tintern Abbey will also be hosting a historical event over both days of the weekend. (Image: Supplied) Visitors will be able to discover all about monastic life in the high medieval period at one of the nation's largest monasteries of the time. The Chapter of Stronghold re-enactment group will portray the lives of monastic people, including monks, nuns, and laypeople as they write, pray, live, and eat at Tintern Abbey. There will be authentic cooking, manuscript writing, a holy reliquary, and more. Normal admission prices apply for this event.
Daily Mirror
4 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
BBC removing 'masterpiece' film from iPlayer in days with fans urged to watch
The hit movie will leave th BBC iPlayer soon The clock is ticking for film buffs to catch a classic, Oscar-winning film on BBC iPlayer before it's taken down, reports Surrey Live. The film has garnered a global fanbase and was met with rave reviews from both audiences and critics upon its release. One fan gushed on Rotten Tomatoes: "Absolutely amazing. With invigorating writing and an amazing story surrounded by an amazing cast and even better music this movie is a modern movie classic!". Another chimed in: "This Movie is amazing. From the way it was written and portrayed by the actors to the way it was received, amazing [sic]." A third declared: "Masterpiece. My favorite musical of all time. My favorite movie of all time [sic]." A fourth praised: "one of the best movies of the century, you dont need to like musicals to like it. many movies have been about actors and musicians but this is the best of all [sic]. ". Another viewer confessed: "Very few movies have affected and haunted me like La La Land. I couldn't sleep the first time I watched it because of how it ended. I think it moved me a little too much. "The emptiness of their relationship not bringing closure was tough to swallow." La La Land, released in 2016, is a musical romantic comedy-drama that shines a light on Hollywood. Hailing from the creative genius of Damien Chazelle, the mastermind behind the Oscar-winning Whiplash, La La Land chronicles the love story of aspiring actress Mia Dolan (Emma Stone) and jazz musician Sebastian Wilder (Ryan Gosling), both striving to make their mark in the city of dreams, Los Angeles. Their relationship is tested as they navigate the harsh realities of a city notorious for shattering aspirations. La La Land, a musical spectacle, bagged numerous Oscars, including Best Actress for Stone and Best Director for Chazelle. The film also marked a reunion for Stone and Gosling, who had previously shared screen space in the romantic comedy Crazy, Stupid, Love. In addition to its Oscar haul, the film scooped up a host of awards, including Golden Globes, BAFTAs, among others. La La Land is often hailed as one of Gosling's most remarkable performances, with the Canadian actor boasting an impressive repertoire of roles spanning from romantic drama The Notebook, Blue Valentine, action-packed Drive, Blade Runner 2049, Barbie to The Big Short.
