The poignant and deeply moving Festival of Remembrance returns to the Royal Albert Hall for 2025, offering the nation a chance to come together in reflection. This annual event, a cornerstone of the UK's commemorative calendar, will once again be broadcast live to millions of homes across the country, honouring the service and sacrifice of the armed forces community.
How to Watch the Festival of Remembrance
For those wishing to pay their respects from home, the BBC will provide comprehensive live coverage of the ceremony. The broadcast is scheduled to begin at 9pm on Saturday evening, fitting into the channel's prime-time lineup following popular shows like Strictly Come Dancing and The Wheel.
Viewers can tune in live on BBC One or stream the event via BBC iPlayer. Ensuring the ceremony is accessible to all, a version with British Sign Language will be available to watch on the Red Button service and also on iPlayer.
Host and Musical Line-Up for 2025
This year's event will be hosted by the award-winning actress and singer Hannah Waddingham, widely recognised for her role in Ted Lasso and for co-hosting the Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool.
The musical performances promise to be both powerful and uplifting, featuring an array of talented artists. The line-up includes music legend Sir Rod Stewart, alongside Blessing Offor, Sam Ryder, Keala Settle, and the group The Wellermen.
As always, military music will form a central pillar of the event, with awe-inspiring displays from The Central Band of the RAF, The RAF Squadronaires, The King’s Colour Squadron, and The Band of HM Royal Marines.
Commemorations and Special Anniversaries
The 2025 Festival will hold particular significance as it commemorates the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, paying tribute to the immense courage and sacrifice of a generation.
Personal stories from more recent conflicts will also be shared, powerfully connecting the past with the present and highlighting the ongoing impact of war. A special focus will be placed on the resilience of military children who have experienced bereavement.
This year also marks the 25th anniversary of a landmark moment for inclusivity: the UK Government's decision to lift the ban on gay, lesbian, and bisexual personnel serving openly in the armed forces. The Festival will reflect on past discrimination while celebrating the progress made since the year 2000.
The ceremony will reach its emotional peak during the two-minute silence, as thousands of poppy petals descend within the Royal Albert Hall. This solemn moment will be observed by Members of the Royal Family, veterans, and the entire nation, united in remembrance.
