Questions and answers - Beaumont-Hamel 110

Several public events commemorating the 110^th anniversary of the Battles of the Somme and Beaumont-Hamel, as well as Memorial Day, will take place on 1 July 2026 in Canada.

For more information on other commemorative events in your area, or to add your community event, please visit our public Calendar of Events.

Between June 30 and July 2, the Government of Canada will hold commemorative events in France.

The public is invited to attend most of these events. However, registration is required to attend the July 1 event at the Beaumont-Hamel Newfoundland Memorial.

For more information about events in France and in Canada, visit: Events: 110^th anniversary of the Battles of the Somme and Beaumont-Hamel | Veterans Affairs Canada.

Your official ticket will be sent to you via e-mail closer to the date of the ceremony.

Important: You must bring both your official ticket and your photo ID (passport or National photo ID Card) on the day of the ceremony. There is no exception to this security requirement. Without your official ticket and your official photo ID, you will not be able to attend the ceremony on 1 July 2026.

Due to heightened security in France and limited space on the event sites, anyone planning to attend one of our ceremonies must be registered separately. It will not be possible to bring an unregistered guest to this event.

E-tickets are non-transferable. Please email Veterans Affairs Canada at commemoration-rsvp-commemoration@veterans.gc.ca if you are no longer able to attend.

In order to allow for preparations for the ceremony on July 1, there will be limited access to the Beaumont-Hamel Newfoundland Memorial on June 29-30. Please consult our virtual bulletin board for regular hours of operation, contact information, and any changes in hours due to preparations for the July 1 ceremony.

The site will be closed to the public on July 1 for the ceremony. Only those who have registered in advance will be permitted entry.

Details on how to access the site on July 1 will be provided to those who have registered in advance. Please follow these instructions carefully as any deviation from them could lead to you being denied access to the site.

This event location will be closed to the non-registered public for the duration of the event.

Please note that the public will be required to be on-site well in advance of the start of the ceremony. Transportation to and from the site, as well as security checks, could result in wait times.

There will be no parking onsite for the July 1 ceremony. The Beaumont-Hamel Newfoundland Memorial is accessible to wheelchairs, however the portion of the site designated for the public may present challenges for those with mobility issues.

Any accessibility requirements must be provided at the time of registration.

There is no seating for the public at this event. There are zones with seating designated for Government of Canada officials, dignitaries, and other guests.

Bring your ticket and your national ID (passport or other government issued ID). As you could be on site for several hours, we suggest you bring any medication that may be required during that time. It is always a good idea to carry a list of your medications and allergy information in case of emergency.

We recommend you bring snacks as there will be no concessions on site. You will be able to bring non-alcoholic drinks in small plastic bottles containing less than 1 litre. There will be water available on site. Please consult the list of authorized and prohibited items.

Weather in Beaumont-Hamel in early July can be unpredictable. Check the local forecast before leaving for the ceremony and be prepared for hot or cold conditions and rain. The event will take place outdoors rain or shine. Please dress accordingly.

In order to ensure the safety and security of all those attending the events, as well as to ensure that views are not obstructed, the public should limit the items they wish to bring to event locations. Please consult the list of authorized and prohibited items.

Prohibited items

Authorized items

Due to heightened security in France and limited space on the event site, anyone planning to attend our main commemorative ceremony at the Beaumont-Hamel Newfoundland Memorial in France on July 1 must be registered.

Registration is now open: Event Registration.

For additional information, please contact Veterans Affairs Canada at commemoration-rsvp-commemoration@veterans.gc.ca.

No. While we recognize the importance and significance of these initiatives to the individuals and groups requesting assistance, Veterans Affairs Canada is not funded to provide assistance for such requests.

VAC is not in a position to secure accommodations for the general public in France. However, we can refer you to a number of sites that may be useful as you are planning your trip:

• Home - Somme Tourisme
• Location de vacances - Gîtes, Chambres d'hôtes | Gîtes de France®
• Clévacances : Location de vacances, gîte et chambre d'hôtes en France
• Airbnb | Vacation rentals, cabins, beach houses, & more
• Vrbo | Book your vacation rentals: cottages, studios, villas & more

Register your trip with the Registration of Canadians Abroad service to receive updates to the travel advice and advisories for your destination(s) right to your email. It also helps consular officers reach you in case of an emergency at your destination or at home.

Read the Travel advice and advisories for France while you plan your trip and again before you leave, to see if anything has changed. Visit Travel and tourism (Government of Canada) to read more general information as well as tailored travel advice for different situations and types of travellers.

Read our advice on how to prepare for possible global travel disruptions, fuel impacts and security risks.

Reach us if you need help by taking down the contact information for the Canadian office nearest your destination.

Consult the Travel advice and advisories for France to learn about entry and exit requirements.

Learn more about travelling to Europe, including the Schengen area and the EU’s new Entry/Exit System.

Report the loss or theft to the local police and obtain a written police report. Then notify the Consular section of the Embassy of Canada to France in Paris to apply for a replacement passport.

You can reach the Consular Section by email at paris-passport@international.gc.ca or by phone at 33 (0) 1 44 43 29 02. Please note that the processing time of an urgent passport application is a minimum of 2 working days.

Learn what forms are needed to replace a lost or stolen passport.

In case of an emergency, you may call the 24/7 Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa at 613-996-8885 (call collect where available).

Before your trip, leave a copy of your travel itinerary and contact phone numbers with your family and friends. Tell them how often you will check in while you are away.

We recommend that you sign up for the Registration of Canadians Abroad service and provide your travel details and contact information as well as your emergency contact. If your relatives are unable to reach you, consular officials can also try to contact you using the information you provide. If you experience an emergency, consular officials will be able to communicate with your emergency contact with your consent.

Consular officials from Global Affairs Canada provide assistance to Canadians to navigate difficult situations while living or travelling abroad like contacting family in case of an accident or medical emergency or death or replacing lost or stolen passports.

Learn more about the consular services offered by Canadian offices abroad.

Yes. Both the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority and the US Transportation Security Administration permit military medals in both carry-on baggage and checked baggage. If you are unsure, please check with your airline.

Thank you for your interest in performing at the events marking the 110^th anniversary of the Battles of the Somme and Beaumont-Hamel. Please email commemoration-rsvp-commemoration@veterans.gc.ca. We will keep your request on file and, if it is determined that there is a possibility that we would require your services, you may be invited to submit a sample of your work. Planning is very advanced at this time and in all likelihood, we may not be able to accommodate additional performances.

If you provided incorrect personal information, please contact us at commemoration-rsvp-commemoration@veterans.gc.ca.

Your information will be destroyed two years after the last administrative use of the information.

It will be destroyed immediately following the Beaumont-Hamel Newfoundland Memorial event on 1 July 2026.

Please consult the VAC section of the Information about Programs and Information Holdings in the Personal Information Bank, Ceremonies and Events (VAC PPU 621).

If you have questions, comments, concerns or complaints about VAC’s handling of your personal information please contact VAC ATIP (Access to Information and Privacy) Coordinator by email at atip-aiprp@veterans.gc.ca or by phone at 1-877-566-8609. If you are not satisfied with our response, you may contact the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada by email at info@priv.gc.ca or by telephone at 1-800-282-1376.