About Up Helly Aa
Up Helly Aa is a fire festival held in Shetland each January, most famously in Lerwick, celebrating the islands' Norse heritage with a torch-lit procession of costumed 'guizers' led by a Viking 'Jarl Squad' who haul a replica longship through the dark streets and set it ablaze. It marks the end of the yule season with a spectacular midwinter defiance of the long northern night. The celebrations continue in halls until dawn. A thousand torches against the Shetland dark make it one of the most atmospheric nights in Britain.
“A thousand torches in the Shetland dark and a burning longship. The most atmospheric night in Britain.”
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Plan your trip
Where to stay
Hotels & stays near Shetland
Tours & experiences
Things to do around Shetland
Tickets & official info
Up Helly Aa official site
Getting there
Flights to Scotland