Is VE Day 2025 a bank holiday in the UK?

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After thousands of people lined the streets in London to watch the red arrows fly over, more celebrations are planned this week to mark the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day.

A military procession took place from Whitehall to Buckingham Palace yesterday on Bank Holiday Monday, with the Royal Family taking to the balcony.

It featured a display of pageantry by the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment and The King’s Troop, Royal Horse Artillery, showcasing ceremonial traditions of the British Armed Forces.

Winston Churchill’s famous Victory Day speech was also recited as Big Ben struck noon.

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 05: (L-R) Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, Princess Anne, Princess Royal, King Charles III, Queen Camilla, Prince William, Prince of Wales, Prince George of Wales, Prince Louis of Wales, Catherine, Princess of Wales and Princess Charlotte of Wales on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during the 80th anniversary of VE Day on May 05, 2025 in London, England. The King and Queen, joined by Members of the Royal Family, will take part in events from May 5th to May 8th to commemorate the 80th anniversary of VE Day, which signalled the end of the Second World War in Europe. (Photo by Samir Hussein/WireImage) — The Royals watched the Red Arrows fly overhead (Picture: Samir Hussein/WireImage)

The celebrations will cap off a week of commemorations 80 years after World War II ended on May 8, 1945.

While Monday, May 5, was a bank holiday, a day of events for VE Day itself will be on Thursday.

Is VE Day a bank holiday in the UK?

Residents take part in a street party during bank holiday celebrations commemorating the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day, in Manchester, Britain, May 5, 2025. REUTERS/Temilade Adelaja — Monday’s bank holiday allowed people to set up street parties and have fun (Picture: REUTERS)

VE Day, May 8, is not a bank holiday.

Instead, the early May bank holiday, May 5, has been 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

Those wanting to celebrate the on the day itself should not despite, however.

That is because pubs will be allowed to stay open for an extra two hours, allowing revellers to celebrate until 1am on the Friday morning.

What is happening on VE Day on Thursday?

This is the actual VE Day. 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 two minutes silence will be held across the country, led by UK government buildings and departments.

Members of the Armed Forces attend a Street Party hosted by British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to celebrate the 80th Anniversary of VE Day at Downing Street in London, England, UK on Monday 5 May, 2025., Credit:Justin Ng / Avalon — Street parties are expected to take place on Thursday as well (Picture: Justin Ng / Avalon)

A private tea party will also be held for Second World War veterans and their families by the British Legion.

There’s a good chance a street party will be taking place near you. Those with country parks, gardens, community halls and quiet roads are asked to unfold the chairs and tables and host a party.

And expect a lot of bell ringing, too. Cathedrals have been asked to ring their bells at 6.30pm in a united call to ‘work for peace’, explained Revd Jo Kelly-Moore, chair of the Association of English Cathedrals.

A concert will also take place at Horseguards Parade from 8pm to mark the end of commemorations.

More than 12,500 people will attend the event, including the King and Queen.

Pubs will also be allowed to stay open for an extra two hours, allowing revellers to celebrate the end of celebrations at 1am on the Friday morning.

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 05: King Charles III and Queen Camilla during the military procession to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day on May 05, 2025 in London, England. The King and Queen, joined by Members of the Royal Family, will take part in events from May 5th to May 8th to commemorate the 80th anniversary of VE Day, which signalled the end of the Second World War in Europe. (Photo by Samir Hussein/WireImage) — A concert will be held at Horseguards Parade on Thursday evening (Picture: Samir Hussein/WireImage)

Capping off May 8, 2,500 beacons will be set alight across the UK.

The fires will be lit around 9pm at focal points at various points in the country, including at London’s Tower Bridge.

How will the UK mark VE Day's 80th anniversary?

Monday May 5

Handout photo issued by the Ministry of Defence dated 8/5/2020 of the Royal Air Force Red Arrows flying over the City in London during a flypast in central London to mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day. The Red Arrows' smoke trails could go green in an effort to cut their environmental impact, official documents have shown. Defence Equipment and Support, a trading arm of the Ministry of Defence, has appealed to potential future suppliers for environmentally-friendly smoke dye and diesel solvent alternatives. Issue date: Wednesday August 11, 2021. PA Photo. See PA story ENVIRONMENT RAF. Photo credit should read: SAC Hannah Smoker/MoD/Crown Copyright/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder. — The Red Arrows will perform a flypast, as they did for the 75th anniversary five years ago (Picture: PA)

Union Jacks will be draped over the Cenotaph and a military procession will take place from Whitehall to Buckingham Palace – including the Red Arrows roaring over the capital and beyond.

Street parties will be held across the country on the bank holiday.

Tuesday May 6

Members of the public stop to look at the ceramic poppies which form part of the art installation 'Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red' by artist Paul Cummins at the Tower of London, marking the centenary of World War I. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date Wednesday November 5th 2014. Photo credit should read Chris Radburn/PA — The ceramic poppies spilling out from the Tower of London in 2014 (Picture: PA)

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

People wearing protective face masks walk past Walthamstow residents having a street party in their front garden to celebrate the 75th anniversary of VE Day (Victory in Europe Day), the end of the Second World War in Europe in Walthamstow in East London on May 8, 2020. (Photo by Tolga AKMEN / AFP) (Photo by TOLGA AKMEN/AFP via Getty Images) — While VE Day isn’t a bank holiday, people are encouraged to throw street parties during the day (Picture: AFP)

This is the actual VE Day. 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.

There’s a good chance a street party will be taking place near you. Those with country parks, gardens, community halls and quiet roads are asked to unfold the chairs and tables and host a party.

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.

How to find VE Day celebrations near me

There is a handy website available to find all the closest VE Day events near to you.

The government has put together this web page to list 780 activities happening throughout the week of festivities.

There is even space to add your own event and get help on how to bring people together to celebrate.

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Guy Bell/Shutterstock (15274277b) Union Jacks are out, which is good timing for the upcoming VE Day celebrations - The street is busy in the warm weather of the mini-heatwave as Post Marathon runners mingle with normal shoppers in Oxford street, London. Post Marathon shoppers Oxford street, London., UK - 28 Apr 2025 — Hundreds of events are still planned to take place across the country (Picture: Guy Bell/Shutterstock)

Will there be another Red Arrows flypast?

The distinctive Red Arrows are due to perform at many air shows and events for the remainder of this year.

The squadron will be made up of nine Hawk T1 aircraft for the duration of the 2025 season.

They will be visiting the length and breadth of the country, as well as flying abroad as well.

A major military procession and flypast in central London has commenced the United Kingdom?s national commemorations of the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Europe ? Victory in Europe Day. The procession comprising of around 1,000 members of the Armed Forces from the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force and 23 aircraft will from the Royal Air Force flypast. Ceremonies in Parliament Square will launch the procession as the Armed Forces march up Whitehall, through Admiralty Arch and down the Mall towards Buckingham Palace. Second World War veterans will join special guests at the Queen Victoria Memorial to watch the procession. Seven military bands are involved in the procession, including The Band of The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment on horseback. The Royal Air Force flypast will include a Second World War-era Lancaster from The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and modern aircraft which have recently served on operations protecting the UK around the world. The flypast will culminate in a spectacular display by The Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team ? The Red Arrows ? complete with their iconic red, white and blue smoke. The UK Armed Forces will also take a leading role in VE Day 80 commemorations in Edinburgh, Belfast and Cardiff. — The Red Arrows stunned onlookers in the Mall yesterday (Picture: © MOD Crown copyright 2025)

Here is a full list of where and when to see the Red Arrows this year, according to the Military Airshows guide.

Full list of where and when to see the Red Arrows this year

Rest of May

24 May – Chania, Crete, Greece Display
26 May – Thessaloniki, Greece Display
30 May – Midlands Air Festival (Alcester) Display – between 5.25 & 6pm
31 May – Midlands Air Festival (Alcester) Display – between 11.55 & 12.30pm
31 May – English Riviera Airshow (Torbay) Display – between 5.25 & 6pm

June 2025

01 June – English Riviera Airshow (Torbay) Display – between 11.55 & 12.30pm
01 June – Midlands Air Festival (Alcester) Display – between 5.25 & 6pm
05 June – Isle of Man TT Races Display
08 June – RAF Cosford Air Show Display
14 June – The King’s Birthday Flypast, London Flypast
15 June – Festival Aereo AIRE 25, San Javier, Murcia, Spain Display
21 June – Northern Ireland Armed Forces Day (Newtownards Airfield) Display
22 June – Duxford Summer Air Show Display
28 June – Shuttleworth Festival of Flight (Old Warden) Display – between 3.45 & 4.20pm
28 June – North East Lincolnshire Armed Forces Day (Cleethorpes) Display – between 12.25 & 1pm
29 June – Event to be confirmed.
29 June – Battle of Britain Airshow (Headcorn) Display

July 2025

05 July – Wales National Airshow (Swansea) Display
06 July – Wales National Airshow (Swansea) Display
06 July – British Grand Prix, Silverstone Flypast
10 July – Goodwood Festival of Speed Display
11 July – Goodwood Festival of Speed Display
13 July – Goodwood Festival of Speed Display
18 July – Royal International Air Tattoo Display
19 July – Royal International Air Tattoo Display
20 July – Royal International Air Tattoo Display
21 July – The Tall Ships Races, Aberdeen Display
26 July – Swanage Carnival Display
26 July – Old Buckenham Airshow Display
27 July – Old Buckenham Airshow Display

August 2025

09 August – Blackpool Airshow Display
09 August – Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo Flypast
10 August – Blackpool Airshow Display
13 August – Falmouth Week Display – 6.15pm
14 August – Airbourne – Eastbourne International Airshow Display
15 August – Airbourne – Eastbourne International Airshow Display
16 August – Airbourne – Eastbourne International Airshow Display
17 August – Airbourne – Eastbourne International Airshow Display
20 August – Cromer Carnival Display
21 August – Clacton Airshow Display
22 August – Clacton Airshow Display
22 August – Sidmouth Regatta Display
24 August – Roskilde Airshow, Denmark Display
30 August – Bucharest International Air Show Flypast
30 August – Radom Airshow, Poland Display
31 August – Radom Airshow, Poland Display

September 2025

05 September – International Ayr Show, Scotland Display
06 September – International Ayr Show, Scotland Display
07 September – Great North Run, Newcastle/South Shields Display
10 September – Guernsey Air Display
11 September – Jersey International Air Display
13 September – International Sanicole Airshow, Belgium Display
14 September – International Sanicole Airshow, Belgium Display
20 September – NATO Days – Ostrava, Czech Republic Display
21 September – NATO Days – Ostrava, Czech Republic Display
27 September – Overseas Event to be confirmed.
28 September – Overseas Event to be confirmed.

October 2025

04 October – Duxford Flying Finale Display

This article was originally published on April 25, 2025

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