Will the UK be getting an extra bank holiday in May? Details of four-day VE WW2 celebrations

FOUR days of celebration will mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, but will Brits get an extra day off?

With military parades, a fly-past and star-studded concert, here’s everything you need to know about the upcoming festivities and the Early May Bank Holiday 2025.

Will there be an extra bank holiday in May 2025?

The verdict on the proposed four-day weekend to mark the 80th anniversary of World War II’s end has been revealed.

It was speculated that Brits could see May 9 and 12, 2025, wiped free to allow nationwide celebrations, or August 22 bolted on to make the summer bank holiday on August 25 a four-day festival.

However, dreams of an extra day off for Brits have been unceremoniously quashed.

Despite a groundswell of support for a four-day bank holiday blowout, the Government has revealed there will be no additional public holiday this year.

Four days of celebrations

Instead, the nation will be encouraged to mark this momentous milestone during the existing May bank holiday, a move sure to disappoint those who’d envisioned street parties, parades, and long weekend celebrations.

A Downing Street spokesperson confirmed the decision, emphasising the Government’s commitment to commemorating VE Day and VJ Day “appropriately.”

They announced a £10million budget for national events but firmly ruled out the prospect of an extra bank holiday.

A government spokesperson said: “The 80th anniversaries of Victory in Europe Day and Victory in Japan Day are moments of huge significance.

“We’ll honour them with fitting events, using the early May bank holiday for commemorative activities. There are no plans for an additional holiday.”

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said it will be the perfect opportunity to “pay tribute to those who served in the Second World War and reflect on values they fought for”.

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She added: “People will be able to hear our veterans’ stories and ensure stories of sacrifice and service are remembered.”

On Monday, May 5, 2025, the Cenotaph will be draped in Union Flags and a military procession will go from Whitehall to Buckingham Palace, which will be followed by a flypast of the Red Arrows and other aircraft.

Then on Tuesday, May 6, an installation of poppies will be unveiled at the Tower of London.

May 7 will mark the anniversary of Sir Winston Churchill’s victory broadcast, with Westminster Hall hosting a special concert.

But the main VE Day 80 event will be on Thursday, May 8, with a service for world leaders and veterans at Westminster Abbey.

Later in the day, 10,000 people will attend a concert at Horse Guards Parade.

[quote credit=”Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy”]People will be able to hear our veterans’ stories and ensure stories of sacrifice and service are remembered[/quote]

Hundreds of veterans are expected to join the VE Day anniversary celebrations.

Recalling the day in 1945 itself, ex-Wrens signaller Marie Scott, 98, said: “London was manic, everyone kissing and hugging.”

But she added: “Within a foreseeable future, there will be nobody left to talk about their participation in World War Two.”

Costly day off

The soaring cost of granting extra bank holidays appears to be a decisive factor.

When Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee delivered a four-day celebration in 2022, it reportedly carried a staggering £2.4 billion economic impact.

Similar concerns might explain the Government’s reluctance to green-light another day off, even for an occasion as historic as the anniversary of WWII’s conclusion.

Victory in Europe (VE) Day on May 8, 1945, marked Nazi Germany’s surrender, while Victory over Japan (VJ) Day on August 15 sealed the Allies’ triumph and brought the war to an end.

With around 70,000 WWII veterans still alive, next year could be the final major commemoration many will witness.

A generation remembers

For surviving veterans, the lack of an extra bank holiday is a bitter pill to swallow.

Geoff Roberts, 99, a survivor of Operation Market Garden, expressed his disappointment.

He told MyLondon: “I think it’s very important to remember those who gave their lives for our freedom.

“An extra bank holiday could’ve helped people reflect on that sacrifice.”

[boxout headline=”Bank holiday 2025 dates” intro=”Here are the eight bank holiday dates scheduled for 2025″][/boxout]

Marie Scott, 98, who worked tirelessly in a secret D-Day communications bunker, also championed the idea of a day off to honour the war effort.

She said: “It’s a chance to thank those who secured the victory. Without them, the future could’ve been very grim indeed.”

The decision to forgo an extra bank holiday bucks recent trends.

In 2022, Brits enjoyed a Platinum Jubilee extravaganza, while King Charles III’s coronation last May also saw the nation gifted an extra day off.

The late Queen’s funeral on September 19, 2022, was similarly marked as a public holiday, with millions pausing to pay their respects.

However, in 2020, the early May bank holiday was simply moved to coincide with VE Day’s 75th anniversary, rather than adding a new date to the calendar.

Critics at the time argued the occasion warranted a proper day of its own—a debate that’s now resurfaced.

As it stands, next year’s calendar remains unchanged, with eight public holidays on the books.

The early May bank holiday will serve as the focal point for WWII anniversary commemorations.

For the dwindling ranks of the Greatest Generation, the decision may feel like a missed chance to ensure their sacrifice is remembered in the way it deserves.

For everyone else, it’s business as usual—back to work, and no long weekend in sight.