First World War centenary The First World War centenary is the centenary of World War One which starts in 2014 and will last until 2018 . Countries which are planning official commemorations include Australia , New Zealand , France , the UK and Turkey . European Union . Europeana has three digital projects to commemorate the First World World across Europe . These will make a range of materials freely available on the web . Australia . In Australia , the occasion is known as the Anzac Centenary . Committees planning the event include the National Commission on the Commemoration of the Anzac Centenary and the Anzac Centenary Advisory Board . The government has budgeted $ 83 . 5M for a seven year programme which will include commemorative events in Australia and overseas ; educational activities and resources ; and refurbishments of galleries and war graves . For more information visit the Anzac Centenary website France . In France , the government will carry out a policy of national remembrance . An early start was made in 2011 with the opening of " Le Musee de la Grande Guerre " in Meaux on Armistice Day . United Kingdom . In the United Kingdom , the Imperial War Museum ( IWM ) is leading a national programme of commemorative events and is planning new galleries for the occasion . In May 2010 the museum launched its First World War Centenary partnerships . Partner organisations receive access to IWM collections objects and expertise , and to digital resources , branding and a collaborative extranet . By November 2011 , 330 national and international organisations had become partners . The museum will also open a new permanent First World War exhibition at its London branch , as part of a £35 million redevelopment of the building . In November 2011 it was announced that Prime Minister David Cameron had appointed Andrew Murrison MP as his special representative for First World War centenary commemorations . On 11 October 2012 , Cameron announced £50 million to fund national centenary commemorations . The anniversaries of Britain ' s declaration of war on Germany , the opening of the Battle of the Somme , the Battle of Jutland , and the November 1918 Armistice will be marked by national commemorations . The redevelopment of the Imperial War Museum , where Cameron delivered his speech , will be supported by an additional £5 million . A further £5 . 3 million will fund visits to Western Front battlefields by pupils from English schools . The Heritage Lottery Fund will provide £15 million to community projects , led by young people , to conserve local heritage associated with the war . In addition the preservation of the former Royal Navy light cruiser HMS " Caroline " , which served at the Battle of Jutland , will be supported by a grant of up to a million pounds . The Heritage Lottery Fund is providing funding to educational projects in fields such as local history , online access to museums and archives , youth heritage projects , family history , the preservation of war memorials , and the conservation of historic artefacts . The BBC will mark the centenary period with around 2 , 500 hours of television , radio and online programming over four years . The programming will include documentaries , drama , arts and music , commemorative programmes and programmes for children and schools . New Zealand . New Zealand government agencies and other organisations are working together on commemorations to mark the centenary , which is being identified as WW100 . The commemorations are being led by the Minister for Arts , Culture and Heritage , Hon . Christopher Finlayson . A WW100 Programme Office has been established by the Ministry for Culture and Heritage along with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade , the New Zealand Defence Force and the Department of Internal Affairs . New Zealand ' s centenary commemorations will honour those who fought , but will also tell the stories of the people who remained at home . $ 17 million in lottery funding has been allocated by the Lottery Grants Board to commemorate the First World War Centenary . The New Zealand Government ’ s key centenary projects include the development of a National War Memorial Park in Wellington , an education / interpretation centre at the National War Memorial , a series of new histories , and heritage trails in Gallipoli and along the Western Front . A First World War Centenary Panel has been established , chaired by Brian Roche of New Zealand Post . The Panel ' s role is to advocate for the First World War Centenary , attract sponsorship or philanthropic support for centenary projects , coordinate with any equivalent bodies overseas , particularly Australia ; and provide advice to the government on the centenary commemorations . Dame Anne Salmond , Bob Harvey , Dr Monty Soutar , Matthew Te Pou and Sir Peter Jackson are all involved . In addition to local and national activities , New Zealand will also participate in international commemorative activities . Turkey . Official Anzac Day commemorations will be held at Gallipoli Turkey on 25 April 2015 to mark the 100th anniversary of the Gallipoli landing . For information on the commemorations including ballot arrangements for those planning to attend , visit the Gallipoli 2015 website International organisations . The Red Cross has an archive of records about the twenty million soldiers that were captured or buried by other countries . It plans to put all these paper records online for the centenary .