Photos: A Viking Fire Festival in Scotland
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In Scotland’s Shetland Islands, a fire festival called Up Helly Aa celebrates the region’s Norse heritage. It takes place every January to mark the end of the yule season.

A person wearing a fanciful Viking costume, holding an axe, stands in front of a burning replica of a viking ship, seen in silhouette.

Jeff J Mitchell / GettyThe Guizer Jarl, Lynden Nicolson, and his Jarl Squad stands beside his Viking Galley ship as it is set on fire on January 27, 2026, in Lerwick, Scotland.

A person wears a metallic-looking helmet shaped like the skull of a fearsome monster.

Andy Buchanan / AFP / GettyMembers of the Jarl Squad gather before parading through the streets in Lerwick, Shetland Islands, on January 27, 2026, before the Up Helly Aa festival later in the day.

A crowd gathers around a group of people dressed as Vikings who pose beside a replica of a Viking ship beside a harbor.

Jane Barlow / PA Images / GettyThe Jarl Squad poses beside the galley at the harbor in Lerwick on January 27, 2026.

People dressed as Vikings march in a parade.

Jane Barlow / PA Images / ReutersMembers of the Jarl Squad parade through Lerwick on January 27, 2026.

A person dressed as a Viking poses while standing beside the dragon head of a replica Viking ship.

Andy Buchanan / AFP / GettyLynden Nicolson, the Guizer Jarl of the Up Helly Aa Jarl Squad poses after parading through the streets in Lerwick, on January 27, 2026.

People dressed as Vikings, carrying torches, march during a parade.

Jeff J Mitchell / GettyThe Jarl Squad marches through the streets of Lerwick on January 27, 2026.

People dressed as Vikings hold large flaming torches during a parade.

Jane Barlow / PA Images / GettyMembers of the Jarl Squad take part in the torchlight procession in Lerwick on January 27, 2026.

A crowd of people holding flaming torches surrounds a replica Viking ship in a public square.

Jeff J Mitchell / GettyThe Guizer Jarl and his Jarl Squad gather around his Viking galley ship before it is set on fire.

People toss flaming torches onto a pile on top of a burning replica Viking ship.

Jeff J Mitchell / GettyThe Viking longship is burned during the Up Helly Aa festival on January 27, 2026, in Lerwick, Scotland.

A person wearing a Viking costume with a winged helmet is seen in silhouette in front of a burning Viking ship.

Jeff J Mitchell / GettyA man dressed as a Viking stands beside the burning longship on January 27, 2026.

A close view of dozens of burning torches that have been tossed into a pile.

Andy Buchanan / AFP / GettyTorches tossed by Jarl Squad members burn atop the Viking longship.

A replica of a Viking ship goes up in flames, surrounded by piles of burning torches.

Jane Barlow / PA Images / ReutersPeople watch the burning of the longship in Lerwick, during the Up Helly Aa festival.

A view of the dragon head of a replica Viking ship, surrounded by flames

Jeff J Mitchell / GettyThe Viking longship goes up in flames on January 27, 2026.

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