Somme 110th Anniversary, 1 July 2026 — commemorative services in France

The 110th anniversary of the first day of the Battle of the Somme, 1 July 1916, will be marked by a series of ceremonies across the battlefield throughout the day:

7.00am – Sunken Lane and Hawthorn Crater, Beaumont-Hamel
7.28am – Lochnagar Crater, La Boisselle
9.15am – McCrae's Battalion Memorial, Contalmaison
12 noon – Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, Thiepval
2.00pm – Ulster Memorial Tower
3.00pm – Newfoundland Memorial Park
4.30pm – 16th (Irish) Division Memorial, Guillemont
5.30pm – German Cemetery, Fricourt
7.00pm – Défilé, Place Émile Turcq, Albert

British and French officials will attend Thiepval, the Ulster Tower and Newfoundland Memorial Park, so the schedule for these three sites is altered and strict security measures apply. Visitors must register in advance and will be taken to the sites by shuttle. It is only possible to attend one of the three. All other ceremonies are free to attend without restriction.

For more information, visit coquelicot-tourisme.com/110e.