Operation Dynamo: The Return to Ramsgate 2026
Where history returns — and stories come to life.
At a Glance
🗓 Main Event (22 May – 25 May 2026)
🕊️ 338 Standing With Giants silhouettes (15 May – 28 June 2026)
🎡 Children’s fair & giant Ferris wheel
🎶 Live music, markets & workshops
🎖️ Commemorative Parade (Sunday 24 May 2026, 10:30am)
🎥 Evening projections & “We Are Shadows” processions
🎟️ Chance to step aboard selected Little Ships
👉 Click here to sign-up to be in the ‘We Are Shadows’ parade.
A Harbour at the Heart of History
This May, Ramsgate Royal Harbour becomes the focal point for remembrance, as Operation Dynamo: The Return to Ramsgate brings the story of Dunkirk back to life.
From 15 May, the harbour begins to transform, with the arrival of the Little Ships and a powerful six-week installation by Standing With Giants, building towards a four-day commemorative weekend (22–25 May).
Alongside the temporary installation, a series of new permanent silhouettes will be installed around the harbour, complementing the existing Tommy figure. These will help tell Ramsgate’s wider Operation Dynamo story — from RNLI lifeboatmen and Royal Navy crews, to civilian skippers, evacuees and WVS volunteers who offered food, warmth and comfort to those arriving on our shores.
Silhouettes representing RNLI, a civilian skipper, evacuees, WVS and a naval skipper.
338: Ramsgate Remembers (from 15 May)
From 15 May to 28 June, the harbour will host a major installation by Standing With Giants — one of the largest installations of its kind outside Portsmouth.
338 life-sized silhouettes will line the harbour railings, each one representing 1,000 soldiers rescued during Operation Dynamo. Together, they create a striking visual tribute to the 338,226 servicemen brought to safety in 1940.
The final opportunity to see the installation will be on 28 June, following Ramsgate’s Armed Forces Day Parade on 27 June.
Click here for more information.
The Little Ships Return to Ramsgate
Over 25 Dunkirk Little Ships will gather in Ramsgate, with vessels arriving from Friday 15 May and remaining throughout the commemorative weekend.
Photo credit : Mike Goldwater – images from Operation Dynamo 2025 event.
Visitors will be able to see the ships in the harbour and book ticketed opportunities to step aboard selected vessels via the Ramsgate Tunnels website from 22–24 May, 2pm – 4.30pm in 25 minute slots.
An Extra Special Guest Boat
We’re especially excited to welcome back the wonderful Little Ship, MV Watchful! She will be moored on the east side of the Inner Harbour alongside the other beautiful Little Ships. Last year marked her first return to Ramsgate since 1940 and after such a warm welcome, she clearly couldn’t resist coming back for more.
She’s not just a historic vessel, she’s home to a café, a bar and has her own onboard museum! All of the Little Ships are floating pieces of history but Watchful goes one step further:a museum within a museum!
Four Days of Celebration (from 22nd – 25th May)
A children’s fun fair with a giant Ferris wheel, live music opposite the Queen’s Head, a handmade and vintage fair, children’s workshops, a replica Spitfire and 1940s military vehicles, plus screenings of The Little Ships in Concert, will take place across the weekend.
Photo credits : Queen’s Head social media and Mike Goldwater – images from Operation Dynamo 2025 event.
Ramsgate Tunnels, RNLI displays and exhibitions will also run throughout, including a special Railway Tunnel Tour on Saturday morning.
Photo credit : Mike Goldwater
Commemoration at the Heart
A Commemorative Town Parade will take place on Sunday 24 May at 10.30am, proceeding through the town centre to St George’s Church, followed by a public service featuring the Thanet Big Sing Community Choir.
For those wishing to pay their respects at the War Graves in Ramsgate Cemetery, a small procession and service will take place on Saturday 23 May. Meet inside the cemetery entrance off Cecilia Road at 10.30am, before proceeding to the graves for a short service at 11am.
Light, Sound and Shadows
On Saturday and Sunday evenings, The Silent Return – We Are Shadows procession will move through the harbour, led by the Queen’s Regiment Drum Corps with their illuminated batons.
This is followed by a Sea Cadets Evening Colours ceremony and the powerful 17-minute ‘Dynamo: The Spirit of Ramsgate’ projection by Illumiscape, illuminating the Tunnels cliff face in the form of the town’s Grade II* Clock House, currently undergoing restoration.
Photo credit : Mike Goldwater – image from 2025
A ‘Famous historical Face’ in Town!
Adding a touch of character to the weekend, visitors may spot a familiar figure from history making appearances around the harbour. ‘Winston Churchill’ will be joining one of Blitz Bob’s guided tours on Sunday, bringing the story of wartime Ramsgate to life, before heading to the harbour to inspect the Little Ships. He will also be making a special visit to the Royal Temple Yacht Club to meet crews, paying his respects to Havengore, the vessel that carried his coffin during his state funeral, before returning to the Queen’s Head to mingle with guests from across the Channel.
Churchill famously authorised Operation Dynamo in May 1940, with the evacuation led by Vice-Admiral Bertram Ramsay, and on 4 June 1940, following the success of the audacious rescue operations, he delivered his iconic ‘We shall fight them on the beaches’ speech to the House of Commons.
Be Part of the Story
Volunteers are invited to take part in The Silent Return – We Are Shadows.
👉 Click here to sign-up to be in the ‘We Are Shadows’ parade.
📩 info@visitramsgate.co.uk
Plan Your Visit
Arrive early to experience the silhouettes, watch the Little Ships arrive and join in the festivities. Even better, stay for longer and enjoy some of Ramsgate’s hospitality.
Don’t Miss It
Operation Dynamo: The Return to Ramsgate is more than an event, it is a moment in time, not to be missed.