Here’s the latest on VE Day coverage compiling information up to now.
Global and UK coverage trend: major broadcasters are marking the 80th anniversary with a mix of live ceremonies, archival programming, and online streams, often including flyovers, veterans’ tributes, and community events. Expect a combination of on-site broadcasts and accessible digital options for those following remotely. This broader approach follows recent VE Day commemorations that leaned heavily on online and broadcast formats due to evolving public gathering norms.[3][4][5]
UK-focused events and planning: many councils and media outlets have published guidance on community celebrations, street party logistics, and road-closure considerations, with some waiving typical fees to encourage participation. There are scheduled parades, processions, and fly-pasts, alongside indoor and online commemorations to accommodate varying public health contexts.[4][5]
Retrospective and educational content: museums and libraries are releasing archival material and educational explainers about VE Day’s significance, including survivor testimonies and historical context to accompany current events. These resources help frame the anniversary for new audiences and students.[6][8]
Notable outlets and programs: major outlets such as BBC, ITV, and The Guardian are running dedicated VE Day features, live blogs, and special programming to cover ceremonies, veterans’ stories, and public participation across the UK and Europe.[5][9][3]
Illustration of format you can expect:
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Citations:
8 May 1945 – VE Day (Victory in Europe Day) – was one that remained in the memory of all those who witnessed it. It meant an end to nearly six years of a war that had cost the lives of millions; had destroyed homes, families, and cities; and had brought huge suffering and privations to the populations of entire countries.
www.iwm.org.ukWatch the latest from ITV News - Commemorations will begin on Bank Holiday Monday and include street parties, a procession and a fly past.
www.itv.comThe Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) and other radio networks all covered the last hours of World War II in Europe in depth, and these recordings are preserved in the Library of Congress, where they are available for listening in the Recorded Sound Research Center in Washington, DC, when the Library reopens it’s doors. CBS’s coverage of …
blogs.loc.govIn January 1985, a reluctance to offend West Germany prompted the government to consider cancelling VE Day celebrations for that year. *The Daily Express* reacted furiously to this prospect, asking ‘Why should we surrender Britain’s proudest moment?’ Public outcry prompted Margaret Thatcher to change course and announce that celebrations would go ahead after all. Newspapers of this period also featured some of the wartime nostalgia that would become prevalent in 1995 and beyond. … Fast forward...
www.bl.ukWatch the latest from ITV News - Street parties have been taking place across the North West to mark the start of this week's VE Day celebrations
www.itv.comAll the latest content about VJ Day from the BBC.
www.bbc.comLatest London news, business, sport, showbiz and entertainment from the London Evening Standard.
www.standard.co.uk