On what date did the formal surrender ceremony ending World War II take place?

The formal surrender ceremony ending World War II took place on September 2, 1945.

Japanese representatives signed the Japanese Instrument of Surrender aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay. The ceremony began shortly after 9 a.m. Japan Standard Time and formally ended hostilities between Japan and the Allied powers.

Japan had announced its acceptance of the Allied terms in August, but the August announcement and the September ceremony were different events. Emperor Hirohito’s radio address was broadcast on August 15, while the legal and ceremonial surrender occurred on September 2.

The date is often called Victory over Japan Day, or V-J Day, although countries and newspapers used both August 14–15 and September 2 depending on whether they meant the announcement or the signing. The ceremony included representatives from Japan, the United States, China, the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, Australia, Canada, France, the Netherlands, and New Zealand.