Armed Forces Day Events this weekend
Free Armed forces day events over the weekend to feature historic shelter tours and call to ‘look to the skies’ and a free concert at Brighton Bandstand on the beach
Free Armed forces day events this weekend on Sat and Sun to feature historic shelter tours and call to ‘look to the skies’ and a free concert at Brighton Bandstand on the beach.
A cool Brighton heritage site is set to mark Armed Forces Day with a full programme of community events, including a Battle of Britain Memorial Flight flyover, on 27 June around 4pm.
Armed Forces Day is a UK-wide occasion dedicated to recognising the contributions of serving personnel, veterans and cadets, with communities encouraged to come together in support and remembrance.
The Brighton event will run from 10am, with guided tours of the site’s underground air raid shelter, part of the Take Shelter museum. Built in 1939, the shelter protected up to 300 pupils and staff during school hours and was later used by the wider community during the Second World War. Sealed after the war and forgotten until its rediscovery in 1983, it remained unused until volunteers began restoring it in 2012. Today, it operates as an interactive museum featuring wartime dioramas, films and soundscapes, welcoming thousands of visitors each year.
Above ground, visitors can explore new museum displays, speak with veterans, and take part in a programme of activities including cadet demonstrations, dancing, stalls and vintage military vehicle displays. A Deputy Lieutenant and the Mayor will review cadets and service personnel before a Drumhead Service in the afternoon.
A key highlight will be the planned flyover by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. Organisers are urging attendees to “look to the skies and listen out for the distinctive engines of these amazing planes”, with planes crossing the city for 4pm.
The event will also provide 50 free fish and chip lunches for veterans and serving military personnel, funded by Sussex Freemasons. Entry to the museum and outdoor activities is free, although tickets are required for shelter tours. Book them here:
Inclusive remembrance events play an important role in ensuring LGBTQ+ service members and veterans are visible, recognised and included in shared national history.
Brighton & Hove City Council is hosting a free Armed Forces Day Concert at the Bandstand on Kings Road on Sunday 28 June 2026, featuring the Patcham Silver Band performing a lively mix of 1940s classics and modern favourites.
Running from 1:30pm to 3:00pm, this family-friendly event will offer free deckchairs for relaxed seaside seating and include a rare WWII German general’s car, captured in 1943, on public display along the promenade. Visitors are encouraged to come along, enjoy the music, and take part in a community celebration of Armed Forces Day.
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