Scottish Water Employee to Lead Europe’s Biggest Fire Festival as Guizer Jarl Up Helly Aa

A Scottish Water employee will take centre stage at one of Europe’s most iconic cultural events when Lynden Nicolson leads the 2026 Lerwick Up Helly Aa as Guizer Jarl.

Held annually in Lerwick, Shetland, Up Helly Aa is Europe’s largest fire festival, attracting international attention and welcoming thousands of visitors each January. Rooted in Viking heritage and dating back more than 100 years, the festival sees nearly 1,000 guizers take part in a day-long celebration of tradition, community and history.

Lynden, who has worked for Scottish Water for 25 years, has dedicated 18 years of service to the Up Helly Aa committee. He has progressed through its ranks before being elected to the role of Guizer Jarl. The position represents the highest honour within the festival and is awarded only after years of voluntary commitment, leadership and service.

As Guizer Jarl, Lynden will lead the procession through Lerwick on the morning of the festival, wearing a bespoke Viking suit that his squad has spent the last three years designing and building. Each Guizer Jarl squad member personally funds their costume, with Lynden and his squad investing close to £3,000 each, using metal and leather sourced from local businesses. While materials are supplied locally, the suit is handcrafted by the Guizer Jarl squad themselves, with final details kept secret until the morning of the march. 

Talking about his suit, Lynden said; 

“There’s been plenty of speculation about green in the suit, and as a proud Glasgow Celtic supporter that’s fair- but I think people will still be surprised.”

Weighing close to two stone and worn for more than 24 hours, it reflects both the craftsmanship and physical commitment of the role.

Lynden’s squad will consist of family members, friends and members of his usual guizing squad.  Making a total of 65 men, woman and children, his two sons, aged 27 and 30, will march at the front of the ranks alongside him. The youngest member of the squad will be his six-year-old grandniece, highlighting the inter-generational nature of the festival.

Up Helly Aa begins at 6am on the last Tuesday in January and continues until Wednesday morning. The Jarl squad all dressed in their identical Viking suits will march through Lerwick, visiting local schools, hospitals, hotels and nursing homes, before finishing with the torchlit procession and burning of the Viking galley. Around 1000 torchbearers made up of 48 other squads take part in the final march, before all joining the celebrations which will continue through the night across Lerwick’s halls and clubs with live music and traditional songs. 

With a local population of approximately 7500, Lerwick welcomes up to 1500 visitors during the festival period, including cruise liner passengers. The event costs around £30,000 each year to deliver and is supported by local businesses and volunteers.

Speaking ahead of the event, Lynden said:

“Up Helly Aa is about service, community and tradition – values that reflect my work with Scottish Water. As a meter technician, I am used to working in the community, but I am looking forward to hanging up my work gear and putting on my Viking suit.  It’s an honour to represent both the festival and the organisation I work for at such an important cultural event for Shetland.”

Scottish Water supports colleagues who contribute to the communities they serve, recognising the vital role cultural events like Up Helly Aa play in bringing people together and showcasing Scotland’s heritage on a global stage.