2020 May bank holiday will be moved to mark 75th anniversary of VE Day
The government has announced that the date of next year’s early May bank holiday is to move from Monday, 4 May to Friday, 8 May to mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day. This is only the second time ever that the early May bank holiday has been moved – the first was in 1995 to mark the 50th anniversary of VE Day. There will be commemorative events taking place across the country over the three-day weekend to honour the sacrifice made by men and women during the Second World War. VE Day was first celebrated on 8 May 1945 when Allied Forces formally accepted Germany’s surrender.
The early May bank holiday will move in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, where it is achieved by a Royal Proclamation made under the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971. Bank holidays are a devolved issue in Scotland. However, Scottish Ministers have also confirmed the change of date on the Scottish government’s website.
