The government has denied claims of an extra bank holiday in 2025 as part of the celebrations commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War.
According to a report in the Daily Express, the government was set to announce an extra day off as part of a four-day celebration during one weekend next summer to mark 80 years since VE Day and VJ Day.
Victory in Europe Day marks the formal acceptance by the Allies of Germany’s surrender on 8 May 1945, while Victory over Japan Day, when Imperial Japan surrendered months later, is held on 15 August.
The Express reported that an extra bank holiday would be added at some point between May and August next year to create a four-day weekend of commemorations to mark the milestone anniversary.
There are two bank holidays in May and one in August next year.
However, the government quashed claims there would be a bonus bank holiday.
A spokesperson for the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport told Yahoo News on Tuesday: “The 80th anniversaries of VE and V-J Day will be moments of huge significance for our country, and the government is committed to commemorating the occasions appropriately. That is why we have announced more than £10 million for events.
“We will announce the government’s plans to mark the occasion shortly. These plans will not include an additional bank holiday.”
Earlier, the prime minister’s official spokesman told the Mail Online that the plans “do not include an additional bank holiday”, adding: “We will look to use the existing early May bank holiday for commemorative events.”
In 2020, for the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, there wasn’t an extra bank holiday, but the early May bank holiday was moved back four days to 8 May to form part of a three-day weekend of commemorative events.
The plan had been for people to celebrate in their home villages and towns, but councils had to cancel many events because of the coronavirus lockdown.
When are the bank holidays in 2025?
There are eight bank holidays in England and Wales next year.
Wednesday 1 January – New Year’s Day
Friday 18 April – Good Friday
Monday 21 April – Easter Monday
Monday 5 May – Early May bank holiday
Monday 26 May – Spring bank holiday
Monday 25 August – Summer bank holiday
Thursday 25 December – Christmas Day
Friday 26 December – Boxing Day
Scotland has nine bank holidays in 2025, with Thursday 2 January included, while Northern Ireland has 10 – its extra bank holidays are on Monday 17 March for St Patrick’s Day and on Monday 14 July to mark the Battle of the Boyne.