Armed Forces Day 2026

Armed Forces Day is the nation's annual opportunity to celebrate the incredible work of our Armed Forces, held on the last Saturday of June.  

This year Armed Forces Day will be held on 27 June.

We also celebrate Reserves Day on the Wednesday before - 24 June - to mark the often overlooked contribution of all our Reservists.

Our Armed Forces community does not just contain actively serving personnel, but also all of our veterans and Armed Forces families. 

This is our chance to say thank you to the brave men and women who have pledged to defend our nation, and our values. 

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.

To celebrate Armed Forces Day SSAFA is holding our annual 13 Bridges Challenge, a fundraising walk along the banks of the River Thames in central London, where our route takes us from the iconic Tower Bridge (near HMS Belfast and the Tower of London) to the finishing line at Battersea Park, just south of the 13th bridge, Battersea Bridge.

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!

Find out more about the 13 Bridges Challenge

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!

Find an event in your local area

There will also be the nationally sponsored Armed Forces Day event, this year hosted by Rushmore Borough Council.  They will be hosting the national event across the whole weekend - 27 and 28 June - at the Queen's Parade parklands in Aldershot.

Find out more about the National Armed Forces Day Event

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 coasters, mugs and badges, so please have a browse!

All purchases on the SSAFA Store help support our work within the Armed Forces community.

Armed Forces and SSAFA Clothing

SSAFA Supporter Accessories