Akre Newroz Celebrations

Akre (also spelled Aqrah) is a striking hilltop town in Duhok Governorate, its old stone buildings climbing a limestone cliff that rises dramatically from the valley below. This extraordinary setting makes its Newroz celebration unlike anything else in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq — and one of the great spectacles of the wider Middle East. While Newroz is celebrated everywhere across the region on the same dates, Akre has become the place pilgrims of the festival aspire to reach at least once, and the images of its fiery ridgeline have made the small town famous far beyond Kurdish circles.

What sets Akre apart is geography. Most towns light their fires on flat ground or low hills; Akre lights them along sheer cliffs that loom directly over the inhabited valley, so the flames appear stacked vertically above the crowd. The result is less a bonfire and more a wall of fire suspended in the night sky.

The eve of Newroz

On the evening of 20 March, residents and visitors carry torches and fire up to the clifftops above the old town in long, snaking processions. As darkness falls, dozens of bonfires are lit almost simultaneously across the ridgeline, visible for kilometres in every direction, and many participants carry flaming torches as they climb so the whole mountainside seems to move with light. Crowds gather to drum, sing, and dance around the flames while fireworks burst overhead. Looking up from the valley floor as the fires ignite, the effect is genuinely unforgettable, and the roar of the crowd when the first torches reach the summit is a moment worth travelling for.

21 March in the old town

The following day, celebration continues through the narrow lanes of the old quarter. Residents wear traditional Kurdish clothing — embroidered gowns and the men's *shal u shapik* — and form huge *halparke* circle dances in every open space, while families picnic on the green slopes around the town. Visitors are warmly invited to join the dancing — and you should, even if you do not know the steps, because learning them on the spot is part of the fun.

A photographer's dream

The combination of ancient stone architecture, firelight, traditional costume, and mountain landscape makes Akre's Newroz one of the most photogenic events you can attend in the region. For the best results, scout a vantage point on the valley floor in daylight, set up before dusk, and use a tripod for the long exposures the torchlit cliffs deserve.

A simple plan

Arrive in Akre or nearby Duhok by the afternoon of 20 March, find your viewing spot well before sunset, watch the fires and fireworks into the evening, then spend 21 March wandering the old town and joining the daytime dancing before heading on. Two days is enough to see the festival at its best without the worst of the crowds.

A town built into the rock

Akre is an ancient settlement with roots said to stretch back thousands of years, its stone houses layered up the hillside over centuries of continuous habitation. The dramatic topography that makes daily life here so distinctive — steep alleys, stacked rooftops, and terraces clinging to the slope — also gives its Newroz a stage like no other: a natural amphitheatre of cliffs and terraces in which the whole town can watch the fires together.

Why the fire matters

As across the Kurdish world, the Newroz fire in Akre carries the legend of Kawa the Blacksmith, who according to tradition defeated a tyrant and lit a mountainside fire to announce that the people were free. The themes of freedom, renewal, and cultural identity are felt keenly here. In Akre, the sheer scale of the clifftop bonfires has turned the town into a living symbol of the celebration itself, drawing visitors from across the Kurdistan Region, the wider Kurdish diaspora, and growing numbers of international travellers each spring.

A modern gathering

In recent decades Akre's Newroz has grown into one of the most photographed and attended celebrations in the region, with organised torch processions and fireworks adding to the spectacle. Yet it remains rooted in genuine community tradition rather than staged spectacle: the people climbing the cliffs are largely locals continuing a custom their families have kept for generations, and the festival has never lost its sense of being a homecoming rather than a show.

Plan to arrive early

Akre is small and accommodation is very limited, so the town fills up completely for Newroz. Arrive on 20 March, or ideally the day before, to find a place to stay and to secure a good vantage point for the evening bonfires. Many visitors base themselves in Duhok and travel in for the evening; if you do this, set out early because the approach roads become heavily congested toward dusk.

Where to watch

The valley floor and lower streets give the best overall view of the fires climbing the cliffs and are the easiest place to set up a camera. The atmosphere in the old town itself is more intimate and lively, with close-up dancing and drumming, though the views of the full ridgeline are better from below. If you want both, watch the lighting of the fires from the valley, then move up into the lanes for the dancing.

Accessibility note

This is a demanding setting for anyone with limited mobility: the old town is steep, the lanes are cobbled and uneven, and the crowds after dark are dense. Travellers using wheelchairs or with young children in strollers will find the level city-park celebrations elsewhere in the region far more comfortable.

Practical tips

• →Wear sturdy, closed shoes — the old town is steep and uneven, and there are sparks near the fires
• →Bring warm layers and perhaps a hat and gloves; March nights in the hills are genuinely cold
• →A camera with strong low-light or night capability, plus a tripod and spare batteries, is well worth packing
• →Carry cash for food stalls and parking, and keep some water and snacks with you
• →Expect large crowds and very limited parking; patience and an early arrival pay off
• →Dates follow Newroz (20–21 March) every year, but local arrangements such as road closures and fireworks timing are subject to change — verify with your hotel or the organiser before travel

Akre sits in Duhok Governorate, roughly 90 minutes by car from Duhok and about 2.5 hours from Erbil, along generally good and scenic roads.

From Erbil, hire a car or driver for the day, or take a shared taxi toward Duhok and connect onward. Because of Newroz crowds, many visitors base themselves in Duhok and make the trip to Akre for the evening, returning late at night. A pre-arranged private driver who knows the area is the least stressful option, as he can drop you near the centre and wait while you watch the fires.

From Duhok, the drive is straightforward and scenic, winding through hills that are green and dotted with spring wildflowers at this time of year. Set out with plenty of time to spare on 20 March, as traffic builds steadily toward dusk when the bonfires are lit and the final approach can crawl.

The nearest airports are Erbil International (EBL) and Duhok; Erbil has by far the widest international connections, so most visitors fly into Erbil, spend a night in Duhok, and continue to Akre. Confirm current visa-on-arrival rules for the Kurdistan Region before you travel, as entry requirements can change.