Colchester's Remembrance Sunday falls on 8 November 2026. Last year the service began at 10.45am at the High Street War Memorial, with the road shut 8am to 1pm.

Remembrance Sunday 2026 is on 8 November, and Colchester’s service is held at the War Memorial on the High Street. Colchester City Council has not yet announced this year’s arrangements. Last year it did so on 31 October 2025, and that service had a 10.45am start, a gun fired at the start and end of the two-minute silence, and a parade past the Town Hall.

The quick answer

Sunday 8 November 2026, at the War Memorial on Colchester High Street. In 2025 the service began at 10.45am, with the two-minute silence at 11am, and the High Street was closed to traffic from 8am to 1pm. Armistice Day, Wednesday 11 November, is marked with a silence at 11am at the Town Hall.

What happened in 2025

The council’s release for 2025, Colchester to honour the Fallen on Remembrance Sunday, published on 31 October 2025, set out the day:

  • The Remembrance Service and wreath-laying began at 10.45am on Sunday 9 November at the War Memorial on the High Street.
  • Soldiers from 16 Air Assault Brigade were on parade with the Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Essex, the Mayor of Colchester and representatives of Colchester Garrison and the council.
  • A 105mm Light Gun from 7th Parachute Regiment Royal Horse Artillery fired at the beginning and end of the two-minute silence at 11am.
  • The City of Colchester Band played for the service.
  • Afterwards the Mayor took the salute at the Town Hall as the parade, led by 7 Para RHA’s guns and including soldiers, veterans and youth organisations, went along the High Street.
  • The High Street was closed to traffic from 8am until 1pm, with diversions.

If you are driving into the centre that morning, expect the same closure and check our Colchester roadworks and travel page nearer the day. The car parks away from the High Street are listed on our parking in Colchester page.

Armistice Day, 11 November

On Armistice Day the Mayor leads a two-minute silence at 11am with civic representatives, and the public is invited, the council’s 2025 release said. In 2026, 11 November falls on a Wednesday.

A note of caution: the council’s Armed Forces events page still lists “Sunday 10 November” and “Monday 11 November”. Those are 2024’s weekdays, not this year’s, so do not plan from that page.

Wivenhoe

Wivenhoe holds its own parade. In 2025 it was on Remembrance Sunday afternoon, and Wivenhoe Town Council’s road closure notice, published on 16 October 2025, said the High Street was closed from Wivenhoe Congregational Church to St Mary’s Church from 2pm to 3pm. Expect a similar notice in mid October.

West Mersea Town Council’s what’s on listing did not show a Remembrance event when we checked on 25 September; we will add the island’s arrangements when they are published.

Still to be confirmed

  • Colchester’s 2026 service time, parade order and road closure: the council published last year’s on 31 October. We will update this page when it does.
  • Wivenhoe’s 2026 parade time: last year’s notice came out on 16 October.

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