Belfast to commemorate 80th Anniversary of VE Day with vibrant City Hall events

(From left to right) Michael Fryer from NI War Memorial and historian Jason Burke join the Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Micky Murray, and wartime performers Simon Pyper and Victoria Barkley to launch Belfast City Council’s VE Day programme.

Belfast is set to honour the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day with a series of poignant and celebratory events at City Hall on Wednesday 7 and Thursday 8 May, organised by Belfast City Council.

The programme, designed to reflect on the city’s wartime experiences and pay tribute to those who contributed to peace, will offer a blend of historical reflection, music, and community engagement.

Tickets for the free events will be available from 9am, Wednesday 23 April via the Visit Belfast website or by calling 028 9024 6609.

The council has also allocated £75,000 in grants to support community-led street parties, get-togethers, and fun days across Belfast from 8 to 11 May, ensuring the anniversary resonates city-wide.

Wednesday 7 May: A Night of Remembrance and Reflection

The commemorations will commence on Wednesday evening at 7.30pm with a special event hosted by Tim McGarry and Dr David Hume, known for BBC NI’s The Long and Short of It. Held in City Hall, the evening will explore Belfast’s wartime history through music and readings drawn from the NI War Memorial’s Oral History Archive.

The event promises to evoke the resilience and spirit of the city during World War II.

The evening will culminate in the City Hall grounds, where a replica Supermarine Spitfire—a fighter plane iconic to the Allied Forces—will serve as a striking backdrop.

Guests will be treated to a brass band performance, accompanied by a relay of the historic speeches delivered by Winston Churchill and King George VI on 8 May 1945, which announced the end of the war in Europe. City Hall itself will be illuminated in red, echoing the celebratory lighting of 1945, when jubilant crowds gathered in Donegall Square North for a giant street party.

Wartime sweethearts Simon Pyper and Victoria Barkley enjoy an embrace on the staircase at City Hall as they help launch Belfast City Council’s VE Day programme.

Thursday 8 May: History, Music, and Community

On Thursday, the public will have the opportunity to view and photograph the replica Spitfire from 10am to 5pm, with no ticket required. The day will also feature free guided walking tours led by historian Jason Burke, exploring key sites in Belfast’s wartime narrative.

Tours will depart at 10am and 2pm from City Hall, offering insights into the city’s role during the conflict. Concurrently, the NI War Memorial will host tours at 11am and 2pm, focusing on the Cathedral Quarter and the devastating impact of the Belfast Blitz.

A highlight of the day will be a tea dance from 1pm to 3pm in City Hall, hosted by BBC Radio Ulster’s Hugo Duncan and broadcast live on the station. The event will recreate the joyous atmosphere of VE Day, inviting attendees to dance and reminisce. City Hall will once again be lit in red, serving as a beacon of remembrance.

Wartime performers Simon Pyper and Victoria Barkley join the Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Micky Murray, to launch Belfast City Council’s VE Day programme.

A City Shaped by War

Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Micky Murray, reflected on the significance of the occasion:

“When VE Day was declared on 8 May 1945, City Hall was lit up in celebration, with crowds gathering in the grounds and a giant street party held in Donegall Square North.

“Eighty years on, the building will once again be a focal point to remember Belfast’s wartime experiences, pay tribute to those veterans who contributed to bringing about peace, and look back at how the war shaped our city as it is today.”

He added, “The feeling that day was one of jubilation, and our events will provide a chance to experience what it must have been like to be here on 8 May 1945, through music, song, and recollection.”

Community Engagement and Legacy

The council’s £75,000 grant scheme will support local groups in hosting their own VE Day events, fostering a city-wide sense of unity and remembrance. From street parties to family fun days, these initiatives will ensure that Belfast’s diverse communities can mark the milestone in their own way.

For further details on the VE Day programme, including event schedules and ticket information, visit belfastcity.gov.uk/events. As Belfast prepares to commemorate this historic anniversary, the events promise to blend solemn reflection with the joyous spirit of 1945, honouring the sacrifices and resilience that shaped the city’s past and present.