Viking

Lynden Nicolson, the Guizer Jarl of the Jarl Squad on the galley at the harbour in Lerwick on the Shetland Isles during the Up Helly Aa 2026.

What to know about Up Helly Aa 2026 - including how to watch it live

Up Helly Aa: How the Viking festival began in Scotland

Edinburgh's Hogmanay fireworks

Edinburgh's Hogmanay 2025: Your guide to what's on and when

Michael Farmer will lead the Up Helly Aa squad at this year's Torchlit Procession in Edinburgh on December 29.

The second-generation Viking leading Edinburgh torchlight procession

Bannocks made from pea and bean meal were the traditional humble offering of a Scots Christmas.

Scotland's forgotten winter foods were humble and rich in folklore

The 'viral' women's clothing brand that's come to Scotland

A Viking longship like those once used by Norse settlers who travelled to Britain.

Which UK surnames have Viking ancestry? Check if yours is one of them

The 30-year-old Edinburgh market stall that's moved into Old Town shop

Visualisation of the castle at Finlaggan. PIC: David Simon.

Remains of 'lost and nameless' castle found on Scottish island

The sun rises behind the Calanais Standing Stones on the Isle Of Lewis.

How one couple became obsessed with 5,000-year-old standing stones

The potential Viking site lies close to a chapel ruin on Nave Island, Islay. PIC: geograph.org/Rob Farrow.

Search for Viking life - and boat burial - on tiny Nave Island

Think your family came over with the Normans? This fearsome Viking re-enactor is a reminder that many northern and Scottish surnames trace back to Norse invaders.

30 surnames that could mean you’re descended from Viking invaders

The excavation of a 'probable' Viking boat burial was carried out by Time Team at a site in Dunrossnesss (pictured) on the south of the Shetland mainland. PIC: geograph.org/Robbie.

Time Team hunts for Viking boat burial on Scottish island

Historic Environment Scotland Grants Permission for Time Team-Led Dig

Possible viking boat burial to be excavated in Shetland by Time Team

We borrowed millions to build wind turbines – but it’s paid off, big time Alice Mathewson

Being taught the box loom

The Adventures of Mary Mouse History in the Park

Shetland islanders are still awaiting news of any potential council tax hikes.

Inside the pioneering £1m 'Viking gene' project to screen thousands

The Galloway Hoard. Picture: National Museums Scotland/PA Wire

Runic translation of Viking-Age gold hoard unlocks new burial secrets

Up Helly Aa: 16 mesmerising images from the historic celebration

Guizer Jarl Calum Grains leads the Jarl Squad through Lerwick on the Shetland Isles during the Up Helly Aa festival. Picture: Jane Barlow/PA Wire

Up Helly Aa: Woman takes on Guizer Jarl role on island for first time

Members of the Up Helly Aa 'Jarl Squad' set fire to their galley boat during the torchlit procession through the streets of Lerwick, Shetland, in 2024. PIC: Andy Buchanan/Getty.

Up Helly Aa - roots and Viking traditions of the Shetland celebration

The Viking Galley burns in Scalloway in the Shetland Isles with this year's two-day Scalloway Fire Festival due to get underway on Friday, January 10. PIC: Dave Donaldson

First fire festival of the long winter to light up Scottish island

An overhead view of a wind turbine. Picture: William Edwards/AFP via Getty Images

Company fined £800k after young worker dies at wind farm site

Energy giants at SSE have announced the completion of what is expected to be the most productive onshore wind farm in the UK (Picture: SSE/PA Wire)

Readers' Letters: Shetland wind farm is an unspeakable environmental tragedy

The Viking Wind Farm on the Shetland Islands. Energy giants at SSE have announced the completion of what is expected to be the most productive onshore wind farm in the UK. Picture: SSE/PA Wire

The massive 103-turbine wind farm with a 160-mile underwater cable

The Highland Galley - or Birlinn - was a ship at the heart of life in the Highlands and Islands for hundreds of years.

The rebuilt 13th-century clan boat comes ashore to island home

Zosia Mamet and Saoirse-Monica Jackson dodge the Black Plague in The Decameron. Picture: Giulia Parmigiani/Netflix

The Decameron finds black humour in the Black Death

Father's Day experience for 2024

Father's Day: Memorable experience gifts starting at just £25

Viking Longship Beyla near the Albrechtsburg Castle along the Elbe River in Meissen, Germany. Image: Viking Cruises

Viking river cruise: stunning views and a relaxing sail along the elegant Elbe

This aerial shot shows the aftermath of the peat slide, which halted work on a major electricity network upgrade project in Shetland that will allow increasing renewable energy to be connected to the grid and power exported to the rest of the UK

Watch as the earth moves in landslide near Shetland wind farm

Picture: Andy Buchanana/AFP via Getty Images

Stranded on Shetland gives time to breathe after jam packed Up Helly Aa

Youngsters take part in the Junior Up Helly Aa in Lerwick on the Shetland Isles during the Up Helly Aa fire festival. Originating in the 1880s, the festival celebrates Shetland's Norse heritage. Picture: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire

Ten of the best moments from Shetland's annual Viking festival Up Helly Aa

Artist Alberta Whittle will be creating new work for Mount Stuart House on the Isle of Bute.

Artist to explore Scottish island's links with Viking parliament

Edward Kane, Advocate in The Supernal Sisters. Chapter 18: ‘Like a Lost Soul’ (Illustration: Lesley-Anne Barnes Macfarlane)

Edward Kane, Advocate in The Supernal Sisters. Chapter 18: ‘Like a Lost Soul’

Mansion House, in the heart of York. Pic: Olivia Brabbs/York Mansion House

Review: Railway House York, self-catering apartments – Scotland on Sunday Travel

The new interactive adventure has been launched in Ellon.

Lauch of new interactive adventure around Ellon

Augmented reality archaeology at Cladh Hallan. Credit - Uist Virtual Archaeology Project

Ad Feature It’s time to unlock your Hebridean escape. It’s time for Uist

The Haunted Castle is on at Warwick Castle over Halloween

Review: This castle offers up a shockingly good Halloween treat

Norn is the extinct Scandinavian language of Scottish regions like the Shetland Islands which was brought there by way of Norse settlers. To this day, Shetland communities celebrate their Nordic heritage with events like Up Helly Aa.

Explainer The Norn Language: Scotland’s mysterious Viking tongue found in Scots

According to Vikingeskibsmuseet ( Viking Ship Museum): “The Vikings were probably one of the most important influences in Scotland.”

Explainer Largs Viking Festival 2023: Full schedule and history of the event

Max and Ivan

Fringe comedy reviews: Max & Ivan | Nathan D'Arcy Roberts| Patrick Spicer + more

Rising sea levels are eroding the archaeological site with plastics from the sea sometimes found amongst the remains. PIC: Stephen Dockrill.

'Viking demolition' of Pictish-era settlement in Orkney uncovered
The site at Swandro Bay on Rousay is revealing its turbulent secrets.

The remains of Dun An Sticir - an Iron Age broch re-used during the Lord of the Isles period with the ruin - which is accessed by a causeway - reconstructed by Uist Unearthed to reveal an almighty landmark that was central to the Uist story. PIC: Uist Unearthed.

Step back into deep time as extraordinary archaeology of Uist reconstructed

Explaining runestones at Hovgården archaeological site

A trip to Sweden helps Neil Geraghty find his inner Norseman

The Hebrides are far from Scotland in ways that reach beyond geography, says reader (Picture: Adobe)

Scotsman Letters: It’s time Gaeldom broke away from Scotland

Zenobe, the electric vehicle (EV) fleet and battery storage specialist, has some 1.6GW of battery storage in the UK, either in operation, in construction or in late stage development. Picture: Paul Adams

Work on battery site in north of Scotland is milestone in transition to net zero

The Jarl Squad set light to the galley in Lerwick on the Shetland Isles during the Up Helly Aa fire festival. Originating in the 1880s, the festival celebrates Shetland's Norse heritage. Jane Barlow/PA Wire

11 pictures as thousands gather at Up Helly Aa fire festival in Shetland

Up Helly Aa in Lerwick has allowed women to take part for the first time. PIC: Anne Burgess/geograph.org

Analysis: Up Helly Aa in slow motion over acceptance of Viking women

A general view of the waterfront in Kirkwall on September 6, 2021

UK’s Top 10 most welcoming places - does your town make the list?

A vessel arriving in Lerwick, Shetland to deliver turbine components for the Viking Wind Farm.

Peterson wins work for Shetland wind farm that can power half a million homes

Best binoculars 2022 for birdwatching and nature hikes

Our expert reviews the best binoculars for bird and nature watching

Viktor the Viking mascot at The Grand in York. Pic: PA Photo/The Grand.

Railway heritage and fine dining at The Grand, York – Scotland on Sunday Travel

The Grand hotel in York. Pic: PA Photo/The Grand.

Railway heritage and fine dining at The Grand, York – Scotland on Sunday Travel

Jenna Fincken in Ruckus

Fringe reviews: Ruckus | Crossing the Void | Blodlina: The Viking Musical

The gold filigree items found packed in the Galloway Hoard. PIC: NMS.

Galloway Hoard: Mystery of gold treasures bound in silk

Perth-headquartered SSE is now one the world's largest investors in on and offshore wind energy.

SSE commits to green power investment and net zero as earnings charge up

The Scotsman Top Stories

Scotland has failed to meet its latest target for reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, the latest official figures show. Picture: John Giles/PA Wire

Fail: Scotland misses climate target

Pro-independence protesters with Scottish Saltire flags (top) march for Scottish independence. Picture: Andy Buchanan/AFP via Getty Images

Yousaf: Growing popular support for Yes the only way to Scottish independence

Nadine Dorries. Picture: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

SNP MP cleared of bullying Nadine Dorries