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Celebrating the work, and sacrifice, of our entire Armed Forces community - Saturday 27 June 2026
The United Kingdom first celebrated a 'Veterans' Day' in 2006, a national celebration of the veterans of our Armed Forces. In 2009 this was renamed to 'Armed Forces Day' and it became a wider celebration of all of our Armed Forces community - from those in active service, and our veterans, to our Cadet Forces and Armed Forces families.
Since then Armed Forces Day has become more and more well-known, and, though it is not a public holiday, has become a popular day of celebration for much of the British public.
It is a perfect way that we, as a nation, can remind our Armed Forces community that we are proud of their work, integrity and sacrifices - and we hope you will be able to join one of the Armed Forces Day events held across the country - including SSAFA's very own 13 Bridges Challenge in London.
Rushmore Borough Council has been selected to host the National Armed Forces Day Event in 2026.
The council will be hosting the event at the Queen's Parade in Aldershot across both the Saturday and Sunday, and will feature a formal military parade and military demos on the Saturday, and sports and crafts competitions on the Sunday. Both days will also feature plenty of food, drink, entertainment and a fun fair - and be sure to look out for (and say hello to) the SSAFA contingent!
To celebrate Armed Forces Day SSAFA is holding our annual 13 Bridges Challenge, an incredibly popular fundraising walk along the banks of the River Thames in central London.
The route provides a fantastic tour of our capital city, where you can take in sites like the Palace of Westminster, the London Eye, and the home of James Bond - the 'MI5' building.
With pit stops on the way, and extra activities at the finishing line, the 13 Bridges Challenge has proven to be an incredibly fun way to spend Armed Forces Day - and to help raise funds for your favourite Tri-Service charity!
Join over 1000 other SSAFA supporters for a great day out - for families, friends, work groups, cadet forces and anyone who wants to show their support for Armed Forces Day!
Across the country - and even further afield - there will be hundreds of local events you can join and take part in. These are organised by local councils, universities, defence organisations and more, and are all free to attend!
Whether you fancy joining a picnic, attending a concert or watching a military parade, there is something for everyone who wants to support our Armed Forces this June!
Show your support for your favourite service or regiment!
The SSAFA Store has a wide selection of t-shirts, hoodies and tops celebrating the different arms and units of the UK's Armed Forces. Each design has a 'normal' and "veteran" version, and is a fashionable celebration of the best Army, Navy and Air Force in the world! There are also items such as mugs, books and badges, so please have a browse!
All purchases on the SSAFA Store help support our work within the Armed Forces community.
From all of us at SSAFA, we hope that everyone has a fantastic Armed Forces Day 2026!
Please say hello to any SSAFA staff, volunteers or supporters you see - and let our soldiers, sailors, aviators, veterans and cadets know how much their contribution means to us all!
Wishing us all an amazing day of fun, sun and Armed Forces celebration!
Please note: some of the images on these pages were provided by the Ministry of Defence's Image Archive, under the Open Government License.
Find out more about SSAFA, the way we work and how we use your donations to provide support across the Armed Forces community.
Read moreHelp SSAFA's mission to provide support to the Armed Forces community by taking part in some fundraising!
Support SSAFAFind out more about how SSAFA can help any member of the Armed Forces community.
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