Is VE Day 2025 a bank holiday in the UK?

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.

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?

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,has been dedicated to community celebrations marking the anniversary.

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.

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.

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 5The 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 6The 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 7A Victory in Europe Day Anniversary Concert will be held in Westminster Hall at the Houses of Parliament,hosted by the Parliament Choir.Thursday May 8While 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,community halls and quiet roads are asked to unfold the chairs and tables and host a party.And expect a lot of bell ringing,chair of the Association of English Cathedrals.Friday August 15Marking 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.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.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