Nowruz 2027: Persian New Year Date, Traditions and Travel

Nowruz, the Persian New Year, begins at the spring equinox. In 2027 the new year 1406 begins at about 23:54 Iran time on Saturday 20 March, so Nowruz Day, 1 Farvardin, falls on Sunday 21 March 2027. Families clean their homes, set the Haft-sin table, visit relatives and end the holidays with a picnic on the 13th day. Below are the 2027 dates, the customs, and what the holiday means for anyone travelling in Iran that fortnight.

When is Nowruz?

Nowruz is 1 Farvardin, the first day of the Iranian solar calendar. The year turns at the exact moment of the spring equinox, called tahvil-e sal. If the equinox falls before noon Iran time, that day is Nowruz; if it falls after noon, Nowruz is the next day. That is why the date moves between 20 and 21 March.

In 2028 the year turns at about 05:47 Iran time on Monday 20 March, so Nowruz Day is 20 March 2028. Exact times are published each year by Iran’s calendar authority, so check them close to the date.

What is Nowruz?

Nowruz means “new day” in Persian. It welcomes spring and the renewal of nature, and it is celebrated by Iranians of every faith and by many peoples from the Balkans to Central Asia. UNESCO first added Nowruz to its list of intangible cultural heritage in 2009, and the shared listing was extended in 2024 to thirteen countries, including Iran, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, India and Turkey. In 2010 the United Nations General Assembly declared 21 March the International Day of Nowruz.

The festival is far older than the modern calendar. In the 11th century, astronomers working for the Seljuk sultan Malik-Shah, Omar Khayyam among them, reformed the Iranian calendar so that Nowruz would stay fixed to the spring equinox. For the festival’s earlier history, read about Nowruz in pre-Islamic times.

How Iranians prepare for Nowruz

Khaneh tekani: shaking the house

In the weeks before the new year, families give their homes a thorough spring clean, called khaneh tekani, literally “shaking the house”. Carpets are washed, curtains changed and cupboards emptied, so that the new year starts fresh.

New clothes and the Nowruz bazaars

Bazaars and shopping streets are at their busiest in the last weeks of the year, as families buy new clothes, sweets, goldfish, hyacinths and Haft-sin items. Many cities hold special new year bazaars for crafts and festive goods.

Hajji Firuz, the herald of the new year

In the streets before the holiday you may meet Hajji Firuz, a performer in red with a tambourine who sings to announce the new year. The character has become controversial because of the blackened face, and many performers now leave it out. Read more about Hajji Firuz.

Nowruz through history

Spring festivals in Iran are ancient, and the grand reliefs of tribute bearers at Persepolis are often linked with the new year, although no inscription there names the festival. Medieval writers such as Biruni described the royal Nowruz of the Sasanian kings, and the Safavid shahs received envoys and gifts at court during the holiday. Through every change of dynasty and faith, the festival survived as the shared celebration of the Iranian world.

Chaharshanbe Suri: the fire festival

On the evening of the last Tuesday of the year, people light bonfires and jump over the flames, singing zardi-ye man az to, sorkhi-ye to az man, “my sickly yellow to you, your healthy red to me”. Fireworks have made the night noisy and, in places, dangerous, so travellers should watch from a distance. Our guide to Chaharshanbe Suri explains the customs.

The Haft-sin table

The heart of the celebration at home is the Haft-sin, a table of seven items whose Persian names begin with “s”, such as sabzeh (sprouts), samanu (sweet wheat pudding) and sib (apples), set beside a mirror, candles and painted eggs. Families gather around it at the turn of the year. Our full guide to the Haft-sin and its seven items explains each one.

The turn of the year and the first days of Nowruz

At the turn of the year, families sit together around the Haft-sin, often watching the countdown on television, and elders give eidi, gifts of new banknotes, to the younger generation. The traditional dinner on the eve of the new year is sabzi polo ba mahi, herbed rice with fish; try our sabzi polo ba mahi recipe. Other holiday dishes include kuku sabzi, a thick herb omelette, and reshteh polo, rice with toasted noodles, which some families eat on the first day of the year for good fortune.

The following days are for did-o-bazdid, visiting and returning visits. Younger relatives call on their elders first, and every home keeps tea, fruit, nuts and pastries ready for guests.

Sizdah Bedar: the 13th day

The holiday ends on 13 Farvardin with Sizdah Bedar, also called Nature Day, when families leave the house for a picnic in parks and the countryside. Many take their sabzeh and leave it in running water, and young women traditionally tie blades of grass and wish for a good marriage. See our guide to Sizdah Bedar.

Nowruz around Iran

Customs vary from region to region. Kurdish communities, as in the village of Palangan, greet the new year with fires and traditional dress; read about the new year in Palangan. Nomads in Fars celebrate with music and dance, and large crowds gather at Persepolis and Pasargadae. On Qeshm Island, fishermen keep their own new year, Nowruz-e Sayyad, at the start of the main fishing season in late July; see the fishermen’s new year.

Beyond Iran, the festival is celebrated from Azerbaijan to Tajikistan and by diaspora communities worldwide; explore celebrations around the world. For a playlist, see our list of new year songs.

Travelling in Iran during Nowruz

The new year is Iran’s main holiday season. In 2027 the official public holidays are 29 Esfand (Saturday 20 March, Oil Nationalisation Day), 1 to 4 Farvardin (Sunday 21 to Wednesday 24 March), Islamic Republic Day on 12 Farvardin (Thursday 1 April) and Nature Day on 13 Farvardin (Friday 2 April). Schools close for about two weeks and millions of Iranians travel, which shapes the experience for visitors:

• Book early. Hotels, domestic flights, trains and buses fill up weeks in advance, especially in Isfahan, Shiraz, Yazd, Kashan and on the Caspian coast and Kish. The busiest travel days are usually just before 1 Farvardin and around Sizdah Bedar. Leave time for your Iran tourist visa as well.
• Expect crowds at the big sites. Naqsh-e Jahan Square, Persepolis and the tombs of Hafez and Saadi are at their busiest. Go early in the morning or late in the afternoon.
• Enjoy a quieter Tehran. Many residents leave the capital, so traffic falls and museums and parks are easier to visit; see Tehran during Nowruz.
• Check opening hours. Many shops and some offices close in the first days of the year, while museums and historic sites usually stay open, often with extended hours.
• Look beyond the classics. Smaller cities and villages keep their own new year customs and are less crowded, and spring in Shiraz shows the city at its most fragrant.
• Mind the lunar calendar. In 2027 Ramadan ends shortly before Nowruz. Eid al-Fitr is expected on 19 and 20 Esfand (10 and 11 March), subject to the sighting of the moon, and those days are also holidays; see visiting Iran during Ramadan.

Spring is one of the best times to see Iran. Plan your trip with our Iran tours or a private tour, and see Iran public holidays for the rest of the calendar.

Frequently asked questions about Nowruz