1944 – 2024: 80th Anniversary of D-Day and the Battle of Normandy

Normandy will forever be marked by the D-Day Landings and the Battle of Normandy that led to the liberation of France and Europe. 2024 will mark the 80th Anniversary of this historic event, and with it, a momentous occasion to celebrate peace, liberty and reconciliation. A rich and unprecedented programme of events will be put together to bring the memory of this tragic period of world history to life, all while emphasizing the spirit of hope.

The memory lives on

On 6th June 1944, and during the long summer which followed, soldiers from the world over came to fight in Normandy to defeat Nazism and to re-establish Freedom. Normandy will bear the scars of the moment in history forever, and every year we remember and pay tribute to the veterans from America, Britain, Canada, Belgium, Denmark, Holland, Norway, Poland, Australia, France and their brothers in arms, to those many heroes who lost their lives here during that summer, and are at rest in the cemeteries to be found throughout the area. It is often forgotten that the people of Normandy also paid a heavy price in those terrible battles. Each anniversary year is the occasion to pay tribute to the fallen and to the veterans who will come to attend the commemorative events and celebrations organized in Normandy. Lest we forget.

The Normandy region is encouraging all those who wish to express their gratitude to leave a testimonial on this webpage.

An important anniversary

In 2024, Normandy will honour the memory of these events and the men and women who came from all over the world to liberate us. A regional mobilisation will take place to celebrate this major ten-year anniversary. It will be the perfect occasion for visitors to discover, or rediscover, the main memorial sites, the cemeteries, the key places and the museums which bear witness to this tragic period of time. These important places are today imbued with fundamental and universal values such as Reconciliation, Peace and Freedom. Our hope is that your visit will present a special moment for you to share with your loved ones.

a unique event

For this very special occasion, Normandy’s ambition is to offer a major family-friendly event, aimed at Normans and visitors alike, who have little or no access to official ceremonies. The date of Friday 31^st May at nightfall has been chosen for this event, on the weekend ahead of 6^th June. An original show will be created with 2,500 drones simultaneously on the 5 landing beaches. An artistic director has also been recruited for the occasion in order to create, in addition to the drones, a 30-min sound & light show.

A VERY SPECIAL FESTIVAL

Each year from end May to mid-June, the tourist offices of the Landing Beaches area invite you to celebrate freedom! During the D-Day Festival Normandy, visitors will enjoy a popular program of festive and cultural events to mark the anniversary of the Allied Landings. The D-Day Festival Normandy takes place along the entire coastline of D-Day and the Battle of Normandy, from Pegasus Bridge to Sainte-Mère-Eglise, including Ouistreham, Arromanches, Pointe du Hoc, and of course the five iconic sectors of Utah Beach, Omaha Beach, Gold Beach, Juno Beach and Sword Beach. Parachuting, parades, concerts, historical re-enactments, fireworks, exhibitions, projections… The festival offers over 100 events, and promises to be bigger and better than ever before in 2024!

NORMANDY FOR PEACE

The Normandy for Peace World Forum was created in 2016 on the back of an initiative to promote the values of peace and freedom to the general public and in particular with the young in mind.  It now takes place every year at the Women’s Abbey in Caen and consists of a series of conferences that bring together leading international thinkers and Nobel Peace Prize winners. The programme also includes cultural activities and social events.

FAQ