80th Anniversary of the end of the Second World War

Across IWM sites - Spring, Summer and Autumn 2025
IWM will be marking key moments from 1945 in commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War.
This will include reflections on the liberation of the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, VE Day, the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, VJ Day and the Nuremberg Trials.
IWM will explore the profound impact these events had on lives around the world, offering an examination of the Second World War’s enduring legacies.
IWM’s programming, which will be announced in the run-up to the anniversaries, will examine these critical events, exploring their lasting impact on the world and the ongoing legacies of the Second World War.
25th Anniversary of the Lifting of the Ban on LGBT Personnel Serving in the UK Armed Forces

IWM North and IWM London, 11 and 12 January 2025
On 12 January 2000, the UK Government lifted the ban on LGBT personnel serving in the armed forces. It followed a lengthy legal battle and a case heard before the European Court of Human Rights.
IWM is partnering with Fighting with Pride to present panel discussions and live choir performances at IWM North and IWM London. LGBT armed forces veterans will tell their stories of discrimination, fear, and the lasting suffering caused by the ban.
Chila Kumari Singh Burman: Chila Welcomes You

IWM North, 30 January - 31 August 2025
A large-scale neon installation on the façade of IWM North will be unveiled as part of a major new commission and exhibition from Chila Burman. Chila Welcomes You responds to themes around the Indian independence movement and the Partition of India (1947) and explores individual and collective histories of Indian migration to the UK.
Burman is commissioned as part of the IWM 14-18 Now Legacy Fund.
Unsilenced: Sexual Violence in Conflict

IWM London, 23 May 2025 – 2 November 2025
IWM’s powerful new exhibition will shine a light on the often-silenced issue of sexual violence in conflict. Through this exhibition, IWM considers the contexts in which sexual violence occurs in conflict, exploring how propaganda shapes perceptions of gender and power.
The exhibition will foreground the untold stories of child evacuees, victims of trafficking, prisoners of war, and survivors from the First World War to present-day conflicts.
It will also highlight the ongoing efforts of those fighting for justice and working to prevent conflict-related sexual violence. By increasing public awareness and understanding, Unsilenced aims to empower survivors, inform visitors, and contribute towards meaningful change in the fight against sexual violence in conflict.
Flying Season 2025

IWM Duxford, May – October 2025
IWM Duxford’s 2025 Flying Programme will be back and bigger than ever next year with a series of uniquely themed Flying Days, Flying Evening and Flying Finale on various dates from May to October and our two annual Air Shows.
The Duxford Summer Air Show will take place on 21 – 22 June, and the Battle of Britain Air Show will take place on 6 and 7 September, marking the 85th anniversary of this historic battle. Both weekend events will feature an array of entertaining ground content and signature aerial displays.
Emergency Exits: The fight for independence in Malaya, Kenya and Cyprus

IWM London, 17 October 2025 – 12 April 2026
Sharing lesser-known stories from IWM’s collections, Emergency Exits is IWM’s first exhibition to explore the wave of independence movements that followed the end of the Second World War, as many of Britain’s former imperial territories gained independence.
The exhibition will focus on three significant conflicts - fought in Malaya (now Malaysia), Kenya and Cyprus, known by the British Government at the time as ‘Emergencies’, shedding light on the brutal and lasting impact on those involved.
By examining how the Second World War set the stage for these movements and how its end prompted millions across the empire to seek new futures, the exhibition will explore the roles and motivations of key figures, the responses of British colonial authorities, and how these conflicts were fought.
More events
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IWM Institute
IWM London and Online, spring 2025
The IWM Institute Annual Lecture will take place in Spring 2025 at IWM London, discussing and exploring the subject of sexual violence in conflict.The IWM Institute will also programme a half-day Symposium on the subject in Summer 2025 featuring leading historians, human rights advocates and survivors.
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New Big Picture Show
IWM North, October 2025
IWM will launch a brand-new Big Picture Show at IWM North to mark the 80th anniversary of the fifth Pan African Congress, held in Manchester in October 1945.IWM North’s award-winning 360-degree cinematic shows use surround sound, moving images and photographs to create a powerful and immersive experience.
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Family activities
Activities for all the family continue every weekend and throughout the school holidays at IWM London, IWM North, IWM Duxford and HMS Belfast.