Up Helly Aa

The Up Helly Aa Committee consists of 17 volunteers who have been elected by the Guizers who participate in the festival. Annually, at a 'mass meeting',  candidates present a case for their election and what they can do for the festival. There then follows a ballot of the guizers to determine who they wish to represent them on the Committee. The Committee consists of the Marshall, Guizer Jarl and 15 other serving members.

The Committee is responsible for organising the festival from year to year. This involves liaising with the emergency services, hosts and hostesses of the halls, the Shetland Islands Council and many other organisations to ensure all arrangements are covered.

The current Committee:

Marshal

The Marshal is in charge of Up Helly Aa on the last Tuesday in January. It is his responsibility to ensure the festival runs smoothly for the Guizer Jarl. After serving as Marshal he then steps down in October to provide a vacancy for the new Committee member.