The organisers of the 2021 Up-Helly-Aa Viking festival have taken the difficult decision to postpone until 2022 due to the coronavirus outbreak.
The popular event, which takes place annually in Lerwick, draws huge numbers of tourists and visitors to the islands every January.
However, due to the recent coronavirus outbreak, and the fact that Shetland was hit particularly bad by the pandemic, the celebration of the island's Viking heritage will now be put back a year.
Originating in the 19th century, the festival celebrates Shetland's Norse traditions with torchbearers and guisers dressing in costumes including traditional Vikings.
The ceremony culminates in the evening with a galley being set alight and a firework show for the gathered crowds.
Committee secretary Robert Geddes released a statement stating that they had reached the “extremely hard” decision after discussions with everyone involved.
Mr Geddes said: “The festival going ahead in its current format would be difficult with any restrictions in place and with uncertainty surrounding what guidance would be in place in January meant there was no guarantee the festival could happen at all.
"The nature of Up Helly Aa, the numbers involved and the potential of large numbers of visitors to the isles are all risks that were taken into account.
"The health and safety of the community, participants and the many volunteers it takes to deliver the festival was the priority of committee members when making the decision."
Originally slated to take place on Tuesday 26 January 2021, the festival and associated events have now been moved to Tuesday 25 January 2022.
