Get ready for the biggest community celebration of the decade! On May 8, 2025, the entire nation, along with our friends and allies around the world, will come together for VE Day 80, marking 80 years of peace. This is more than just a commemoration – it’s a joyful celebration of reconciliation, unity, and the lasting peace that has brought us together.
Bruno Peek CVO OBE OPR Pageantmaster, who has successfully led many national commemorations including D-Day 80 and our late Queen Elizabeth’s Golden, Diamond and Platinum Jubilees, along with the Queen’s 90th Birthday as many other historic anniversaries over the last forty years, is once again spearheading this very special event on 8th May this year. “We, as a nation and alongside our allies, are committed to making this the largest celebration of the Victory in Europe since the day it was announced 80 years ago by the great Winston Churchill,” said Bruno Peek. “It’s a time to pay tribute to the many millions who sacrificed so much for the freedoms we all enjoy today.”
This year, VE Day 80 will be all about bringing the peoples, families and communities of our great nation together in a spirit of celebration and peace. From the bustling streets of London to the quiet villages of the countryside, from the four countries of the UK to the Channel Islands to the Isle of Man, and to the countries that once stood shoulder to shoulder with us during WWII, the day will be filled with street parties, garden gatherings, and festivities.
The celebrations will begin at 9.00am with hundreds of Town Criers throughout the nation delivering a spirited VE Day 80 Proclamation, setting the tone for a day of fun and togetherness. By 9.00am, communities will raise the VE Day 80 Flag at this time, not as a somber reminder of the past, but as a vibrant symbol of our shared journey toward a brighter, peaceful future. As the day turns into evening, the celebrations will continue with music, dancing, and the sound of bells ringing out from churches and cathedrals at 6:30pm, symbolising the harmony and reconciliation that have been the foundation of our peace for the last eight decades.
At 9.30pm, the night sky will be lit up as over one thousand Beacons and hundreds of Lamp Lights of Peace shine across the UK, with the flames from both, representing the ‘light of peace’ that emerged from the dreadful darkness of war. This isn’t just about remembering the past – it’s about celebrating and enduring the spirit of peace that we all share today, and the friendships that have grown stronger over the last eighty years.
“This VE Day 80 holds special significance as it may be the last time we have the privilege of celebrating alongside those who remember the events of WWII. The generation that lived through the war, who fought for our freedom and rebuilt our world in the aftermath, is now in its twilight years. Thank you – a heartfelt tribute to the men and women who made unimaginable sacrifices to secure the peace we enjoy today. As we gather to celebrate, let’s also remember to honour their legacy by committing to the values they fought for: peace, unity, and reconciliation” said Bruno.
To make this moment truly special, we invite everyone to pause, stand if they can, and join in the largest sing along of the patriotic hymn “I Vow to Thee My Country.” Let’s fill the air with song, laughter, and the sounds of joy, making this the most unforgettable party the world has ever seen.
So, gather your friends, family, and neighbours, and join us on May 8, 2025, for a day of unity, celebration, and, most of all, peace. Whether you’re hosting a street party, gathering in your garden, or joining in the fun at your local pub or club, VE Day 80 is your chance to be part of something truly special – a celebration of the peace and reconciliation that bring us all together.
