Up Helly Aa Explained: Shetland’s Viking Fire Festival

Up Helly Aa is Shetland’s great Viking fire festival. Each year, on the last Tuesday of January, close to a thousand torch-bearing men march through Lerwick in Viking costume and set fire to a full-size longship. The next festival falls on Tuesday 26 January 2027. This guide explains what Up Helly Aa is, how the night unfolds and how you can see it for yourself.

What Is Up Helly Aa?

Up Helly Aa is a community fire festival held in Lerwick, the main town of the Shetland Islands. The name comes from “uphalie day”, the old end of the Yule holiday. Shetland marked the end of Yule with fire, feasting and fun long before the modern festival began.

The festival is a celebration of Shetland’s Norse past. Shetland was under Norse rule for centuries. It passed to the Scottish Crown in 1469, when it was pledged as part of a royal marriage dowry. Many place names, dialect words and traditions on the islands still show that Viking link.

Locals run the whole event themselves. The festival is not a tourist show. It is a community tradition, and the people who take part spend most of the year preparing for one night.

The History of Up Helly Aa

Shetlanders once marked Yule by dragging burning tar barrels through the streets. By the 1870s, the barrels caused too much danger and disorder. Townspeople replaced them with torch processions, and the festival grew from there.

From Tar Barrels to Longships

The modern festival took shape in the 1880s. Lerwick added the Viking theme, costumes and a Guizer Jarl, the chief of the festival. A galley, or longship, was first burned in 1889. The festival has kept that basic form ever since.

The date is now fixed as the last Tuesday of January. In Lerwick that day is a public holiday, so shops close and the whole town joins in.

How the Night Unfolds

The festival runs through the whole day, but the main events follow a clear order. Here is what happens.

The Jarl Squad and the Morning

The Guizer Jarl leads the festival and plays the part of a Viking chief. He dresses in a full costume with a helmet, shield and axe. His team, the Jarl Squad, dresses to match. The Jarl Squad tours the town during the day, visiting schools, care homes and other places, before the evening begins.

The Torch Procession

After dark, the squads gather and light their torches. The procession starts at about 7.30pm. Close to a thousand guizers, as the costumed marchers are called, walk through the streets in a long river of flame. Each squad wears its own costumes, and many choose humorous themes. The Jarl Squad leads the way behind the galley.

Burning the Galley

The procession ends at a playing field in the town. The squads circle the galley, sing the festival song, and then throw their torches into the ship. The flames rise within seconds. A crowd of locals and visitors watches the longship burn down to the keel. The galley is about nine metres long. Volunteers build it by hand over many months, and it burns for only a few minutes.

The Hall Parties

The night does not end with the fire. Each squad then visits a series of halls around Lerwick. At every hall, the squad performs a short comic act, a song or a dance, and joins in the dancing until the early hours. These parties are the heart of the festival for locals. Visitors can rarely get in, so ask early if you hope to attend one.

Who Takes Part?

Membership of the Lerwick squads is open to local men. Many take part for decades and work their way up to the role of Guizer Jarl. The Jarl is chosen years in advance and spends much of that time preparing. Women do not march in the Lerwick procession, but they play a big part behind the scenes. They cook, make costumes and help run the hall parties. Women also take part in some of Shetland’s smaller fire festivals.

Shetland holds around a dozen smaller Up Helly Aa festivals across the islands between January and March. They are smaller, quieter and often easier for visitors to enjoy. Ask at the Shetland visitor information centre for the current dates.

How to See Up Helly Aa in 2027

Anyone can watch the torch procession and the burning of the galley from the street. You do not need a ticket. Plan ahead, because accommodation in Lerwick fills up many months before the festival.

Getting to Shetland

Shetland is a long way north, so allow plenty of time. NorthLink Ferries runs an overnight sailing from Aberdeen to Lerwick, which takes about 12 hours. Flights to Sumburgh Airport leave from Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Inverness. Book either option as early as you can for festival week.

What to Pack

January in Shetland is cold, wet and windy, and daylight lasts less than seven hours. Pack waterproof layers, warm boots and gloves. Wind can force organisers to delay the procession, so keep your plans flexible and stay for at least one extra night.

Where to Learn More

The official Up Helly Aa website explains the festival in detail. For travel advice and visitor tickets, see Visit Shetland. If you cannot go in January, the Up Helly Aa Exhibition in Lerwick shows the costumes and the galley story all year round. Check opening times before you travel.

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More Scottish Fire and Viking Traditions

Up Helly Aa is not the only Scottish festival built around fire. Hogmanay brings a fireball ceremony to another coastal town, which you can read about in our guide to the town that swings balls of fire. To learn more about the islands where Norse culture runs deepest, read the Scottish island where Viking traditions live on. For the full year of events, see our guide to Scotland’s best festivals. If you are planning a winter trip, our winter in Scotland guide has more ideas.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is Up Helly Aa in 2027?

Up Helly Aa in Lerwick takes place on the last Tuesday of January. In 2027, that is Tuesday 26 January. The torch procession starts in the evening.

Can visitors watch Up Helly Aa?

Yes. Anyone can watch the torch procession and the burning of the galley from the street, free of charge. The hall parties are mainly for locals, so only a limited number of visitor places are available.

Is Up Helly Aa a real Viking festival?

Not in the ancient sense. The modern festival dates from the 1880s, and the longship burning began in 1889. It celebrates Shetland’s Norse heritage rather than reviving a Viking ritual.

How long does the galley burn?

The galley burns for only a few minutes. Volunteers spend months building the ship, which makes the moment of burning even more powerful.