Winter’s got nothing on Shetland’s Up Helly Aa festival – a rare chance to witness blazing torchlight parades, Norse-themed armour, and Scottish country dancing.
Beyond UNESCO sites and Michelin diners, the modern tourist is making plenty of wiggle room in their itinerary for experiences that bring surprise, local flavour, and a sense of discovery. Imagine Spain’s ‘running with the bulls’ street festival of San Fermín, which was made famous to Indian audiences by Zindagi Na Millegi Dobara (2011). Germany has Oktoberfest, where Bavarian outfits and carnival-esque beer halls take over. In a similar vein, every winter, Scotland turns up the heat with its Vikings-inspired fire festival ‘Up Helly Aa’. Keep in mind that ‘Up Helly Aa’ is not one festival, but a series of eleven fire festivals that light up Shetland, a subarctic archipelago in Scotland, through its coldest and darkest nights.
Glowing fire torches brighten frigid winter streets, ancient Norse traditions bring communities together, and secret-themed skits, dance parties, and brass band music – featuring fiddles, guitars, mandolins, and accordions – keep the tempo high until dawn.
A winter holiday in Scotland is best timed with the annual Up Helly Aa festival. Wondering why it’s celebrated, if it's ticketed, and what to pack for it? Our team of travel experts at SEVN have done the legwork. Scroll for the A to Z guide on Up Helly Aa in Shetland.
What is the Up Helly Aa Festival?
Translating to ‘Up Holy [Day] All’ or the ‘end of the holidays’, the Up Helly Aa festival marks the end of the Yule season in Scotland. Each of the eleven fire festivals include a torch procession, helmed by costumed participants called ‘guizers’. Year after year, the elected Chief Leader, called the Guizer Jarl, embodies the persona of a legendary Viking leader. Feels like something out of a Norse mythology-and-lore movie, right? For better context, the elected Guizer Jarl in 2014, Ivor Cluness, portrayed the 9th century Viking leader Ivar the Boneless. In 2025, Calum Grains portrayed King Eystein Magnusson (the co-ruler of Norway from 1103-1123), and in 2026 Lynden Nicolson depicted Nore King ‘Knut the Great’.
Around 40 groups of guizers partake in the procession, each deciding their own annual theme – this can range from historical periods to satirical and topical themes – in addition to the central Viking theme. Needless to say, every year brings a smorgasbord of elaborate costumes and characters to the streets. The procession culminates in the ceremonial burning of a 10-metre-long replica of the Viking galley (longship).
When is the Up Helly Aa festival celebrated in Scotland?
The Up Helly Aa festivals are celebrated annually, between January and March. For this year, they’re slated between January 8 and March 19, 2027; check out the full calendar here. They bring various communities of Shetland together for a night of ‘guizing’ (disguising in costumes), marching with torchlights, and tapping toes to traditional music. Among these, the biggest celebration is the Lerwick Up Helly Aa, which takes place on the last Tuesday of January (falling on January 26, 2027).
A brief history of the Up Helly Aa festival
Europe’s largest fire festival will likely pass you by in a flash – be prepared to soak up every bit of it, from the get go. Festivities commence in the morning with the Chief Guizer leading his ‘Jarl Squad’ – all decked in bold, extravagant costumes and weaponry – and the Viking longship through the streets.
Come evening, the street lights are dimmed – meaning it's time to light the torches before the eagerly awaited procession kicks off. The amber glow of the paraffin-soaked torches lights up the streets and everything that surrounds it.
Towards the end, participants hurl their torches collectively into the Viking longship, watching it crumble to ashes, as light and heat ascend – a sign that the dark winter has passed and longer days return.
While the loudest chatter is about the torchlight procession, there’s a softer side to Up Helly Aa festival, too. During the daytime hours of the festival days, Viking Jarl’s squads visit care homes, supported living organisations, and schools, to ensure every member of the community is involved in the celebrations.
After the burning of the Viking longship, the night makes room for feasting, dancing, and skit shows. Bear in mind that a lot of the after-parties at local halls are private, and ticketed events are reserved for locals. Keep a tab on local sites, and liaise with your B&B or hotel contacts ahead of time to secure an invite to these. Some tour packages also include hall access.
Tips to consider for attending the “Up Helly Aa”
We highly recommend booking tickets and accommodations as early in advance as possible, for quality travel and stay fill up quickly towards the festive season. Shetland, without exaggeration, freezes in January, with temperatures ranging between 2-5 degrees Celsius. Make sure you pack multiple layers of thermal clothing, sweaters, gloves, winter boots, and waterproof jackets.
During the months leading up to the Up Helly Aa festival, the official website also drops a timetable, which includes information about the programmes, galley location, and souvenir shops.
SEVN suggests: Around afternoon, the procession halts at the Shetland Museum, where you can meet the Vikings, and try on their helmets and axes.
Beyond the Up Helly Aa festival, enjoy the St Ninian’s Isle Winter Walk in Shetland – a 500-metre shell-sand tombolo (natural sandbar bridge) stretching between the mainland and St Ninian's Isle. The festival also coincides with the prime Northern Lights (locally called ‘Mirrie Dancers’) viewing season i.e. October to March. You’ll have to escape Lerwick’s city lights to chase the auroras. Consider Unst (The Northern Isles), Eshaness, Sumburgh Head, and Muckle Roe. Alternatively, if the agenda is to unwind, lounge at the waterfront Mareel Arts Centre, widely known for its live music scene and cinema.
SEVN suggests: On Lerwick’s Up Helly Aa day, Mareel Arts Centre organises its annual traditional music concert ‘Fiery Sessions’. Keep a tab on the Shetland Arts website for ticket and line-up updates.
For a detailed Shetland itinerary spanning fire festivals, winter trails, must-try restaurants, and suitcase essentials, count on the in-house destination experts at SEVN. Beyond the obvious, we’re keen on who ‘you’ are, how you experience the world, and what draws you forward.
Before you go
What is the Lerwick festival?
Lerwick, a port town in Scotland’s Shetland, is widely known for Up Helly Aa – the largest fire festival in Europe.
What are some popular festivals in Shetland?
The most popular festival in Shetland is its annual Up Helly Aa celebration, a series of Viking-inspired fire festivals held between January and March. Other famous festivals include the Shetland Fold Festival (April) and Fiddle Frenzy (August).
What day is Up Helly Aa 2027?
The main Up Helly Aa event is held in Lerwick on the last Tuesday of January. In 2027, it’ll fall on January 26, 2027.
Is there a live fire festival in Shetland in 2027?
As part of Up Helly Aa celebrations, multiple live fire festivals will be organised in Shetland in 2027, running between January 8 and March 19.
