VE Day 80th Anniversary, 2025

Join the For Evermore tour - Marking the 80th Anniversary of VE Day, WW2

Discover, Learn, Remember and share stories of your family and friends

To mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day and end of the World War 2, we are taking to the road with the For Evermore Tour.

Our mobile exhibitions will be travelling the UK, and this is your chance to take part in an amazing event near you.

Find out more about the history VE and VJ Day;  read real stories, and share your own stories.

At the centre of the tour is the Torch for Peace – our lasting symbol of commemoration,  inspiring future generations.

Come and see us at an event near you or join us online. Bring along your photos and your stories. 

Be part of keeping the memory alive. EVERY STORY FOR EVERMORE.

VE Day events

See the For Evermore Tour

Come and see us and explore our interactive exhibition, where you can learn more about our work, the men and women who served in the Second World War, and the civilians who supported the war effort from home.

You can search our records, go on a virtual tour of our sites – read the stories of people from the Commonwealth who commemorate across the world and much more.

80 years on from the end of the Second World War its never more important, we know of many incredible stories but there even more we don’t know.  Come and visit us and share your story.

Discover our Torch for Peace

Our Torch for Peace is a symbol for future peace, that acknowledges the circumstances and losses of the past. The Torch will be at the heart of the UK national commemorative proceedings, carefully symbolising the story of passing on freedoms and equity given by us to those who lost their lives in conflict. 

Join us at one of our VE day events for your chance to have your photo taken with the Torch of Peace and play your part as the Torch is passed from generation to generation, together presenting a timeless symbol for future peace, whilst acknowledging the circumstances and legacy of the past.

How to commemorate VE Day

Across the UK and around the world, there will be crowds gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day. 

In the UK, the Department of Culture, Media and Sports (DCMS) and partners are spearheading a number of commemorative events in the leadup to VE Day. 

You can join the Great British Food Festival, joining or hosting street parties, BBQs, lunch events and gatherings.

Join the Tip Top Towns community programme and volunteer your spare time to help prepare your town for the VE Day celebrations. From cleaning and decorating, to community flower gardens, join in with your friends and neighbours and get involved. 

Share your Second World War history. You might have a friend or family member who can remember life during the war, or have collected heirlooms and hand me downs, letters and photos. Share your memories on social media using #VE80, #VJ80 and #Victory80. 

Got a story about someone who fought and died in the war? You can tell us about it via our stories portal, For Evermore: Stories of the Fallen. You can also explore some of the thousands of stories we already have of Commonwealth men and women who lost their lives in the conflict. 

Find out the other ways to get involved through the DCMS website

What is VE Day? 

VE Day marks the day that German forces formally surrendered to the Allies, signalling the end of World War II in Europe. The war continued in other theatres around the world, but in Europe and in the United Kingdom, it was a day of relief and a day of jubilation. 

When is VE Day​ 2025?

Victory in Europe Day 2025 falls on Thursday 8 May. It marks the day in 1945 when the German forces in Europe surrendered to the Allies. 

German forces were instructed to surrender at 23:00 - so, owing to time zones, in some countries, such as Russia, VE Day is celebrated on 9 May and is often simply referred to as Victory Day. 

The history of World War 2 and Victory in Europe 

VE Day marked the end of the Second World War in Europe. For the previous five years, most of continental Europe had fallen under the control of the German forces and their allies. The campaign in Italy, the Invasion of Normandy and the defence, and subsequent counter attack, of the Soviet Union signalled the liberation of Europe. 

Pushed further and further back into Germany, the German high command came under increasing pressure, leading to the suicide of Adolf Hitler at the end of April 1945. This effectively meant the end of German resistance in Europe, and a formal surrender was made, with the remaining German armed forces told to cease operations at 23:00 on 8 May 1945. 

Jubilation spread across the continent. In London, crowds gathered along the mall to Buckingham Palace where King George VI, Queen Elizabeth, their daughters (including the future Queen Elizabeth II) and the Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, appeared on the balcony to receive cheers and applause. 

Unfortunately, these celebrations did not signal the end of the conflict. The war continued, particularly in the Pacific theatre, where Allied forces continued to fight against Japan. The war would continue until VJ Day - the day that marks the official surrender of Japan, and the end of the Second World War. 

VE day in 1945​

The fact that the war continued did not temper the celebrations at home. A national holiday was declared in Britain, with celebrations around the country. In London, the Royal Princesses allegedly snuck out to join the fun. 

Victory celebrations occurred across the Allied nations. Crowds gathered at the Champs Elysees in Paris, in Times Square in New York and in many other cities, towns and villages around the world. 

Both Winston Churchill and US President Harry Truman made addresses, welcoming the end of the war in Europe, but reinforcing that the conflict was far from over. For those with loved ones still committed to the war against Japan, VE Day was bittersweet.