About this Event
Lerwick Up Helly Aa is Europe’s biggest fire festival and Shetland’s most famous celebration of its Viking and Norse heritage. Growing out of rowdy winter customs in Lerwick, it was reshaped into an organised torchlit procession with a Viking galley as its centrepiece, led by the Guizer Jarl and his Jarl Squad. The 2027 edition will see up to a thousand costumed guizers march through Lerwick with burning torches, culminating in the spectacular burning of a replica Viking longship.
Date & Time
Tuesday 26th January 2027 — Up Helly Aa 2027 is on Tuesday 26th January 2027. The Jarl Squad timetable runs from the morning, with the torchlit procession commencing at 7:30 pm from the Hillhead, below Lerwick Town Hall.
Explore Local Experiences
Venue & Location
The festival takes place throughout Lerwick, Shetland, ZE1 0HB, United Kingdom, with the main procession starting at the Hillhead, below Lerwick Town Hall, and ending at the galley burning site. Key locations include Islesburgh Community Centre, Commercial Street, Market Cross, Bressay Ferry Terminal, and Shetland Museum, all within walking distance in central Lerwick.
Staying overnight?
Check the nearest hotel near the venue.
Full programme
- 06:00: Bill (Proclamation) displayed at Market Cross.
- 08:15: Jarl Squad morning march begins.
- 09:40: March through Commercial Street.
- 10:30: Departure for civic reception.
- 15:30: Visit to Shetland Museum.
- 17:30: Junior Up Helly Aa procession.
- 18:00: Galley moved to Hillhead.
- 19:00: Squads muster at Hillhead.
- 19:30: Main torchlit procession begins.
- 21:15: Jarl Squad visits its first hall.
Some individual squad and hall timings are not yet published.
For official information, please visit the Lerwick Up Helly Aa official website (https://www.uphellyaa.org/).
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to help you plan your visit.
When is Lerwick Up Helly Aa 2027?
Lerwick Up Helly Aa 2027 will take place on Tuesday 26th January 2027. It is always held on the last Tuesday in January, and the 2027 date is confirmed on the official Up Helly Aa website.
Where does Lerwick Up Helly Aa take place?
It takes place in Lerwick, the capital of Shetland, in the Shetland Islands, Scotland. The torchlit procession starts at the Hillhead, below Lerwick Town Hall, and moves through the town centre, with the galley burning as the dramatic finale. Most visitors stay in Lerwick and walk to all the main viewpoints.
What time does the Up Helly Aa procession start?
The main torchlit procession commences at 7:30 pm, when the Guizer Jarl Squad passes up the ranks of the guizers at 7:15 pm. Earlier in the day, the Jarl Squad marches from Islesburgh at 8:15 am, the galley is on display, and The Bill proclamation is at Market Cross from 6:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Do I need tickets for Lerwick Up Helly Aa?
Watching the morning march, the torchlit procession, and the galley burning is free and open to all, with crowds lining the streets of Lerwick. The evening hall visits and dances are private, ticketed events for squad members and their guests, so visitors should plan to enjoy the street procession and burning, then celebrate in Lerwick’s pubs and venues.
How do I get to Lerwick for Up Helly Aa and where should I stay?
Lerwick is reached by ferry from Aberdeen with NorthLink Ferries or by flight to Sumburgh Airport, followed by a bus or taxi to Lerwick. Accommodation in Shetland books up extremely early for Up Helly Aa, so book hotels, B&Bs, and self-catering in Lerwick well in advance, dress warmly for a January night outdoors, and wear sturdy shoes for standing along the procession route.
No matching questions. Try another search term.
