Armistice and Remembrance Day events 2026: West Midlands communities come together for acts of remembrance
It's the time of year where the nation gathers to pay respects and remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice
There will be parades, services and moments to reflect as cities and towns across the region mark Remembrance Sunday (November 8) and Armistice Day on Wednesday, November 11.
It will see veterans, civic leaders, members of the Royal British Legion and the public gather to honour members of the armed forces who have died in the line of duty.
Members of the public will be able to watch the parades go by and there will be opportunities to lay wreathes and pause for two minutes of silence, preceded by The Last Post and followed by The Reveille.
Council and civic leaders will be part of events across the region on Remembrance Day and Armistice Day including large-scale events at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas and the RAF Museum in Cosford.
It will be an opportunity for people to come and pay their respects to those who fell in the service of their country.
The council-led Remembrance Day service on Sunday will take place at the cenotaph in Ednam Road.
Current and ex-service men and women, along with families of the fallen and community groups, will parade from Vicar Street at approximately 10.30am, arriving at the cenotaph for the service at 10.45am.
Road closures will be in operation from 8am until 1pm on Priory Road, Ednam Road, New Street, Tower Street, Priory Street, Stone Street, St James's Road, Parsons Street, Market Place, High Street, Wolverhampton Street, Union Street, and Vicar Street.
Then veterans will join the Mayor of Dudley, council staff, councillors and members of the public at the First World War Clock Tower Memorial in Priory Street for Armistice Day on November 11.
Priory Street will be closed on the morning of Armistice Day from 10.30am to 11.30am, with alternative routes clearly signposted.
Veterans, councillors and residents will gather from 10.55am for wreath-laying and the traditional two-minute silence.
A cascade of handmade poppies created by the Dudley Remembers Group is on display at Dudley Council House.
Councillor Pete Lowe, Mayor of Dudley, said: “Remembrance gives us the opportunity to pause and reflect on the courage, sacrifice and dedication of the men and women who have served our country and those who continue to do so today.
“As a borough, we are proud to honour their service and remember those who gave their lives for the freedoms we enjoy.
"I encourage residents to join us at the commemorative events and to take a moment to remember all those who have made the ultimate sacrifice."
There will be seven Remembrance Sunday parades across Sandwell with representation from the West Midlands Lieutenancy for each, with people recommended to arrive from 10.30am to watch.
Parades will be followed by services, during which a two-minute silence will be observed at war memorials at 11am.
This year, there will be parades with services in the following locations:
- Great Barr: St Margaret’s Church
- Oldbury: Civic Square, Oldbury
- Rowley Regis: Powke Lane Cemetery
- Smethwick: Smethwick Council House
- Tipton: Victoria Park
- Wednesbury: Memorial Gardens
- West Bromwich: Dartmouth Park
Members of the public are advised that temporary road closures will be in effect for parades during these events.
A spokesman for Sandwell Council said: "On Sunday, November 8, communities across Sandwell will come together to mark Remembrance Sunday and honour the service and sacrifice of those who have served and given their lives in conflict.
“Everyone is welcome to attend and pay their respects.
“We look forward to welcoming residents, veterans, serving personnel and community groups as Sandwell comes together in remembrance.”
Across the borough, parades and services are taking place on Remembrance Sunday to pay tribute to the men and women of the armed forces.
Walsall’s main Remembrance Sunday parade will take place in the town centre on November 8 followed by a service at the Cenotaph in Bradford Place. Residents are invited to attend, pay their respects and join military veterans and armed forces representatives in marking the occasion.
The Mayor of Walsall, Councillor Alan Fleming QRM, will lead the Remembrance Day tributes on behalf of Walsall Council, joined by representatives from the council, the armed forces and the wider community.
Among those attending will be David Frost CBE DL, Deputy Lieutenant of the West Midlands, who will join others in laying a wreath. The council’s armed forces champion, Councillor Pete Sutton, will also be present.
The service of remembrance will be conducted by the Reverend Canon Rob Hall, vicar of St Paul’s and St Luke’s in Walsall, and reader Anita Edwards.
Councillor Fleming said: “Remembrance Sunday brings communities across Walsall together in a shared moment of reflection and thanks. It is a privilege to lead the borough’s tributes and honour all those who served, sacrificed and continue to serve. I hope many of our residents will come along and pay their respects at one of the many services taking place across the borough.”
Councillor Sutton said: “Remembrance is an important opportunity to recognise the courage and dedication of our armed forces community, including serving personnel, veterans and their families. Their contribution must never be forgotten, and Walsall Council remains committed to supporting and recognising our armed forces community throughout the year.”
The parade will begin at 10.25am in Hatherton Road and Hatherton Street before travelling past the Council House and along Lichfield Street, Lower Bridge Street, The Bridge and Bradford Street. It is expected to arrive at the cenotaph at 10.35am, with the service beginning at 10.40am ahead of the two-minute silence at 11am.
The Staffordshire Band will provide music for the parade, which will include representatives from military associations, cadet forces and uniformed youth organisations from across the borough. This will include the Walsall & Bloxwich branch of The Staffordshire Regiment Association, 159 Div Support Company, the 196 (Walsall) Squadron RAF Air Cadets, the Girls Venture Corps (GVC) Air Cadets, Cheshire Regiment Association, Mercian Volunteers Regimental Association, Walsall Sea Cadets, Queen Mary’s Grammar School Combined Cadet Force and various uniformed youth organisations.
The service will be amplified, and a sign language interpreter will be available for deaf and hard-of-hearing attendees.
At 11am, those attending will observe the two-minute silence. A bugler from the Staffordshire Band will sound The Last Post and The Reveille before wreaths are laid at the cenotaph.
The parade will return via the same route to the Council House, where the mayor will take the salute. The mayor will then lay a wreath at the John Carless VC Memorial.
The order of service, details of road closures and the latest information about events across the borough will be published on the council’s website.
Other services and parades taking place across the borough:
Friday, November 6
Barr Beacon War Memorial: A wreath-laying ceremony of remembrance, led by the Mercian and Staffordshire Volunteer Regimental Associations and supported by the Barr Beacon Trust.
Attendees are asked to arrive by 10.30am, with the ceremony beginning at 11am and including a one-minute silence.
This will be attended by Councillor Fleming, David Frost CBE DL, members of the Barr Beacon Trust Committee, Wendy Morton MP, veterans from the Mercian and Staffordshire Volunteer Regimental Associations and representatives from local schools.
Location: Barr Beacon Park, Walsall, WS9 0QR
Sunday, November 8
Aldridge War Memorial: Parade starts at 10.45am, with arrival from 10am, from Aldridge Community Centre to the war memorial for wreath laying at the cenotaph. The Green, Aldridge
Bloxwich Cenotaph: Parade starts at 10.45am along the High Street with the Royal British Legion, Scouts, Brownies, Cubs and military all in attendance. To be followed by a service and a minute’s silence at 11am. High Street, Bloxwich, Walsall
Brownhills Cenotaph: Parade starts around 10.30am from the Brownhills Memorial to St James Church. Service and minute’s silence at 11am, followed by the laying of wreaths
Darlaston War Memorial (Darlaston North): Parade starts from 10am from King Street. Service starts at 10.40am at the cenotaph before the minute’s silence at 11am. To be followed by a reception at Darlaston Town Hall at 11.30am. Victoria Road, Darlaston, Wednesbury
Moxley War Memorial (Darlaston South): Service and wreath laying at the cenotaph, starting at 10.30am, followed by a minute’s silence at 11am. Moxley Road, Junction with High Street, Moxley
Pelsall Cenotaph: The service in Pelsall commences at 10.50am at Pelsall War Memorial. Prior to this, there is a short parade of uniformed organisations from Pelsall village centre to the war memorial along Pelsall High Street. This starts at 10.40am. Norton Road/Station Road, Pelsall
Rushall War Memorial: Meeting at Pelsall Lane/Lichfield Road junction before a service outside the Rushall Hub around the memorial stone. The service starts at 10.45am with a minute’s silence at 11am followed by the laying of wreaths
Short Heath Cenotaph: Parade starts at 10.30am, with arrival from 10am, followed by a service and a minute’s silence at 11am. Parade starts from the British Legion Club on Church Road and then proceeds to the Short Heath Cenotaph on High Road. Willenhall. At the end of the service, the parade will set off back to Short Heath Royal British Legion for refreshments; all members of the community are invited to join
Streetly War Memorial: Service starts at 10.30am and a minute’s silence at 11am at All Saints Church, Foley Road, East, Streetly. Streetly scouts marching band, Squirrels, Beavers, Cubs, Explorers, Brownies, Guides and Rangers will do a parade from All Saints Church after the service. Refreshments will be served to local residents in the Church Hall
Walsall Wood War Memorial: Assemble at 1.45pm. Parade starting at 2.15pm. Parade from the KFC car park to St John’s Church on Walsall Wood High Street, down to the church where there will be a short service
Willenhall Cenotaph: Parade starts from the marketplace at 10.30am, with veterans and brass band. It proceeds through Stafford Street to Field Street. A service and wreath laying will be followed by a minute’s silence at 11am at Field Street Cenotaph. This will be followed by a wreath laying at the smaller cenotaph site at Portobello (at the junction of Somerford Place/The Keyway)
A parade will step off from Wulfruna Street at 10.30am on Sunday, November 8, and the public are encouraged to line the route.
Led by the West Midlands Fire Service Pipe Band, the parade will make its way into Princes Square, right into Lichfield Street, right into Exchange Street and into St Peter’s Square.
Once assembled in the square, the parade will be joined by civic dignitaries for an outdoor service of remembrance which is open to the public to join.
A two-minute silence will take place at 11am before the laying of wreaths at the city’s cenotaph. This will be followed by a service of remembrance inside St Peter’s Church.
Mayor of Wolverhampton, Councillor Paul Singh, said: "Remembrance Sunday is a time to reflect on the extraordinary courage, dedication and sacrifice of those who served, and to honour the debt of gratitude we owe them. By gathering as a community, we ensure their service and sacrifice are never forgotten.
"I encourage people from across Wolverhampton to join us next weekend as we come together to remember the men and women from our city and elsewhere who gave their lives in service to our country.
"I will be wearing my poppy with pride and hope others will do the same as a mark of respect for all those who have served, and continue to serve, in our armed forces."
Wulfruna Street will be closed from 8am until 11am. The rest of the parade route will be closed to all traffic from 10am to allow the parade to march through safely and will reopen at approximately 10.50am.
The Royal British Legion is also inviting people to join a service to mark the anniversary of the end of the First World War on Armistice Day.
The City of Wolverhampton Central Branch of the Royal British Legion will be holding a short service at the cenotaph in St Peter’s Square, with people invited to attend and join a national two minutes' silence at 11am.
Meanwhile, the Mayor and other dignitaries will pay their respects to the brigade of Dutch soldiers who were stationed at Wrottesley Park during the Second World War, at the annual Dutch War Graves service of remembrance at Jeffcock Road Cemetery on Saturday, November 7.
The service, also organised by the City of Wolverhampton Central Branch of the Royal British Legion, remembers the 23 soldiers from the Princess Irene Brigade who are buried at the cemetery.
Birmingham's annual Remembrance Day Service will take place on Colmore Row, opposite St Philip's Cathedral, on Sunday, November 8.
Military veterans and representatives from the armed forces will attend the service.
The timetable for Sunday's event is here:
- 10:15am: The Salvation Army Band will begin playing on Colmore Row. The Birmingham City Council Choir will perform.
- 10:30am: Uniformed contingents march on.
- 10:40am: Standards and associations march on. The Civic Party will proceed from the Council House. Arriving at the dais, the Civic Party will take up position facing the Parade.
- 11:00am: Two-minute silence.
- 11:02am: Bugler plays Reveille.
Mayor of Stafford Councillor Mark Winnington said he was “incredibly proud” of the borough’s military links and encouraged everyone to join him in marking such important dates.
Members of the armed forces will parade through Stafford town centre on Sunday.
The Remembrance Sunday open air service will begin from 10.50am and will include wreath laying at the borough war memorial in the town’s Victoria Square. Wreaths will then be laid at the county war memorial, Victoria Road, before the parade by local servicemen and women.
The parade will pass through the Market Square where a salute will be taken by the Lord Lieutenant of Staffordshire alongside Councillor Winnington and civic dignitaries.
Service personnel from 22 Signal Regiment and Tactical Supply Wing (RAF) based in the town, as well as representatives from The Royal British Legion and local organisations, will be part of the parade through the town centre.
On Wednesday, November 11, prayers and a two-minute silence will be held in the Market Square from 10.50am. The short service will include a trumpeter playing The Last Post and the Reveille.
Councillor Winnington said: “Like many residents across the borough, I am incredibly proud of the strong military presence we have in Stafford. It is wonderful to see service personnel from 22 Signal Regiment and Tactical Supply Wing (RAF) taking part in the parade.
“I encourage residents of all ages to join me in paying tribute to the brave men and women who made tremendous sacrifices in conflicts around the world. Their courage and service helped protect the freedoms we enjoy today, and it is vital that we continue to remember and honour them.”
In Cannock Chase, a number of services and parades are taking place between Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day:
Saturday, November 7
Wimblebury: Gather at the Memorial on John Street for a service at 10.30am
Sunday, November 8 (Remembrance Sunday)
Brereton & Ravenhill: The parade will leave Brereton Social Football Club on Armitage Lane at 8.55am, with a service taking place at 9.15am at St Michael’s Church on Main Road in Brereton. The parade will leave St Michael’s Church at 10.40am, with an act of remembrance at the war memorial on Main Road at 10.50am, before returning to Brereton Social Football Club at 11.20am
Cannock: There will be a service at St. Luke’s Church at 10am, before the parade assembles on Stafford Road outside South Staffordshire College at 10.30am. The parade then marches off to the memorial at 10.40am, with a service at 10.55am
Chadsmoor: There will be a service at Bethany Baptist Church on Cannock Road at 10.30am
Heath Hayes: A service will take place at St. John’s Church at 10am, followed by a parade up to the War Memorial Gates on Five Ways Island
Hednesford: A service of remembrance will take place at St. Peters Church at 9.30am, before a procession begins at 10.30am to the memorial for an act of remembrance, The Last Post and wreath laying. Following the service, the procession will go through Market Street for the official salute followed by a short service at the Ex Serviceman’s Club
Norton Canes: At 10.15am, the parade marches from Jerome School to St. James Church, arriving at 10.40am for a service of Remembrance and wreath laying
Rugeley: There will be a church service at St. Augustine’s Church at 9am, with a parade at 10.30am from Mansfield House on Market Street to the war memorial on Anson Street, with a service, including wreath laying, at 10.40am, before the parade marches to the Rose Theatre on Taylors Lane.
Wednesday, November 11 (Armistice Day)
Chadsmoor: There will be a service at the memorial at 10.30am.
The Royal British Legion National Remembrance Gardens (formerly the National Memorial Arboretum) in Staffordshire has announced its plans to honour and remember the service and sacrifice of the armed forces community throughout November.
Sunday, November 8 (Remembrance Sunday)
The Remembrance Gardens will hold a service of remembrance at the base of the Armed Forces Memorial.
The service will begin at 10.30am, with a two-minute silence observed at 11am. Thousands are expected to gather to pay their respects.
Visitors travelling by car are strongly encouraged to book parking tickets in advance to guarantee entry to the gardens on Remembrance Sunday.
Wednesday, November 11 (Armistice Day)
The Remembrance Gardens will lead the nation in commemorating Armistice Day with a service on the Armed Forces Memorial. While all public tickets to watch the service on the memorial have now been allocated, a live video feed will be streamed to Heroes’ Square so all visitors can participate.
At 11am, a two-minute silence will be observed. In a symbolic moment, weather permitting, a shard of sunlight will fall directly onto the central bronze wreath; a tribute to those who gave their lives in service.
The service will also feature performances from a cappella group Black Voices, and Talent in the Ranks, an artist development programme made up of armed forces community members.
Visitors travelling by car are strongly encouraged to book parking tickets in advance to guarantee entry to the Arboretum on Armistice Day.
Kidderminster: Commemorations begin with a parade and short outdoor service at the St Mary and All Saints War Memorial, followed by the sounding of The Last Post, a two-minute silence and the laying of wreaths. The congregation will then move inside St Mary and All Saints Church for the indoor service, before proceedings conclude with a final parade and military salute.
Parade participants are asked to gather at Bateman’s Yard Car Park for 10.15am, before the parade to St Mary and All Saints Church begins at 10.30am, with the service at the church’s war memorial starting at 10.50am, then indoors after the laying of wreaths and two minutes’ silence, before the procession back to Bateman’s Yard begins at 12pm.
Stourport: The parade will leave from the Royal British Legion at 10.35am and will proceed via Severn Road, Mitton Street and Vale Road to the war memorials for the service of remembrance.
Wreaths will be laid, followed by The act of remembrance. The Last Post will be sounded, and the two-minute silence will be observed.
After the service, the parade will re-assemble and march to the Royal British Legion Headquarters via Lion Hill (the saluting dais will be at Villeneuve-le-Roi Gardens) and on to Lichfield Street, where the parade will be dismissed.
Bewdley: People are encouraged to gather for the parade at Bridge House on Riverside North at 10.30am, which will then march to the War Memorial at St Anne’s Church for a two minutes’ silence and church service.
Other major Remembrance events
On Sunday the Royal Air Force Museum Midlands at RAF Cosford will host a Remembrance Day service to honour members of the armed forces who made the ultimate sacrifice during their tours of duty.
Visitors are warmly invited to join the service, led by RAF Cosford’s station chaplain Rev (Sqn Ldr) John Mbayo, and reflect on the sacrifices of service personnel past and present.
This year, the ceremony will take place beneath the iconic Avro Vulcan in the National Cold War Exhibition, providing a powerful and moving backdrop to pause and remember.
The service will begin with a marching contingent from RAF Cosford. Guests will then enjoy hymns performed by the Cosford Military Wives Choir, accompanied by readings, prayers, and the traditional sounding of The Last Post followed by a two-minute silence.
Wreaths will be laid by representatives from the museum, RAF Cosford, Cosford Military Wives Choir, and the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Shropshire, in memory of those who have fallen in service to their country.
Mike Groves, RAF Museum Midlands public events manager, said: "Remembrance Day is a moment for us all to pause and reflect on the courage and sacrifice of those who served.
"We are honoured to provide a space where visitors can come together beneath the iconic Vulcan to remember and pay tribute to those who gave everything in service to their country."
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