Victory in Europe Day speech template (France)
Published 10 October 2026 · Date checked on 5 October 2026 · Written by the Cue Card Converter team at EventProgrammer, event production professionals
Victory in Europe Day, known in France as the Victoire du 8 mai 1945, is a public holiday marking the end of the Second World War in Europe. Ceremonies are held at war memorials in towns and villages across France, usually with wreath-laying, a minute of silence and La Marseillaise. In Paris, the President of the Republic leads a ceremony at the Arc de Triomphe, at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The day honours the combatants, the Resistance and the victims of the war.
- Date
- May 8
- Next dates
- Saturday 8 May 2027
Monday 8 May 2028
Tuesday 8 May 2029 - Country
- France
- Tone
- Reflective
- Typical events
- Ceremonies at town war memorials, school commemorations, veterans' associations, French embassies and consulates abroad, and Franco-German twinning associations.
- Length
- 162 spoken words · about 1 min at 130 words a minute · 4 cue cards
The Victory in Europe Day speech, ready as cue cards
A complete host script in 4 cards, about 1 minutes of speaking. Open it in the editor to add your names, change the card size or highlights, and print.
- WELCOME1 / 4
Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. I'm {Your name}, and on behalf of {Organisation} I welcome you to this ceremony for the anniversary of the victory of 8 May 1945. We are here to remember, and to reflect together on the value of peace. - WAR'S END IN EUROPE2 / 4
On that day, the Second World War came to an end in Europe. After years of occupation, deportation and loss, France and its allies celebrated victory. We remember the soldiers, the members of the Resistance, the deported and the civilians who did not live to see it. - LAYING THE WREATH3 / 4
I now invite {Guest of honour, title} to lay a wreath at the memorial on behalf of us all. Please remain standing afterwards for a minute of silence and La Marseillaise.
[WREATH LAYING]
[MINUTE OF SILENCE, THEN LA MARSEILLAISE] - FROM WAR TO RECONCILIATION4 / 4
The nations that fought one another in 1945 now work side by side in Europe. That reconciliation was built patiently, by people who chose cooperation over revenge. Keeping it alive is our task now. Thank you all for being here today.
Red is used only for names, titles, organisations, dates, times and section headings. Replace the words in {curly brackets} with your own details; lines in [SQUARE BRACKETS] are stage directions and are not read aloud.
How to adapt it
- Local ceremonies in France usually follow a set order led by the mayor, often including an official ministerial message read aloud. Check the running order with your town hall before adapting the script.
- Veterans' associations bring their flag-bearers, the porte-drapeaux. Acknowledge them, and give them time to take position before the wreath is laid.
- Keep the tone reflective rather than triumphant. Many French towns are twinned with German ones, and reconciliation is a common theme of speeches on this day.
- Because 8 May is a public holiday, school commemorations usually take place on a school day beforehand. Change the welcome and 'that day' if your event is not on the date.
Print and rehearse
“Edit and print these cards” opens the script in the free cue card maker, where you can choose A5, 4 × 6 or 3 × 5 inch cards, print several per sheet with cut lines or export PDF, PowerPoint and Word, and rehearse full screen in practice mode. To write your own programme around it, see how to write an MC script and the run of show template.
Sources
Date and background checked on 5 October 2026 against: Cérémonie de commémoration du 81e anniversaire de la Victoir. Customs vary between organisations and regions; always follow the official programme of your event.
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