Last updated: September 2026. We re-checked the FCDO’s Iraq advice on gov.uk on 25 September 2026. Newroz dates come from the Kurdistan Regional Government’s official 2026 calendar; the Newroz Capital plan, the castle and visitor numbers from Kurdistan24 (August 2025 to January 2026); access and sights from Shafaq News (May 2025).
Akre’s name, Kurdistan24 reports, comes from agir, the Kurdish word for fire, and one night a year the town lives up to it. On the eve of Newroz, the Kurdish new year, a line of torches zigzags up the mountain behind the old town while bonfires burn on the rooftops below. For the rest of the year it is a hillside town of stacked stone houses, and it is one of the places in our Iraqi Kurdistan travel guide that rewards a visit in either mood.
Akre (Aqrah in Arabic) is a hillside town in Duhok governorate, about 100 km south-east of Duhok and 140 km from Erbil by Shafaq News’s figures, built up the slope of a mountain beneath an old castle. The KRG named it the official “Capital of Newroz” in 2025, and its Newroz fire celebration on the evening of 20 March is the Region’s largest, by Invest Kurdistan’s account.
This guide covers what the festival involves and when it happens, the town’s map problem, the sights for the other 364 days, the US$150 million plan to redevelop it, and what we could not confirm.
The short answer
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Where is it? | Akre district, run by the KRG as part of Duhok governorate; one of three districts listed as under “de facto” KRG control |
| Distance | About 100 km from Duhok and 140 km from Erbil (Shafaq News, May 2025); no official drive times |
| Newroz dates | 21 to 23 March is the public holiday; the torch climb is on the evening of 20 March |
| Status | Official “Capital of Newroz” since 2025, with the KRG Prime Minister attending |
| FCDO (25 September 2026) | All but essential travel to the Kurdistan Region; the town is not named, and its disputed status is worth checking with your insurer |
| Visitors | 496,233 to the district in 2025 (local tourism directorate) |
| Where to stay | Guesthouses and small hotels; a new hotel and motels are part of the development plan |
Where is Akre, and which map is it on?
Akre climbs the flank of a mountain, with its old quarter on the slope and newer districts spreading across the flatter ground below. It is run by the Kurdistan Regional Government as part of Duhok governorate, and the Erbil to Duhok highway passes through the area on its way to Ba’adre.
On paper, though, Akre is one of the disputed districts. Duhok governorate’s own district list files Akre, Bardarash and Shekhan as areas “under de facto control” of the KRG rather than inside the Region proper, the same category as the district that holds the Yazidi sanctuary at Lalish. The FCDO advises against all travel to Ninawa province and against all but essential travel to the Kurdistan Region, and it names neither the town nor its district.
| Source | What it says | What it actually measures |
|---|---|---|
| Kurdistan Regional Government | Akre is a district of Duhok governorate | Who runs the town day to day |
| Duhok governorate’s district list | Akre is “under de facto control” of the KRG, alongside Bardarash and Shekhan | The unresolved dispute with Baghdad over these districts |
| FCDO travel advice, 25 September 2026 | Against all but essential travel to the Kurdistan Region; against all travel to Ninawa; the town not named | A UK risk band; the FCDO warns that travelling against it could invalidate insurance |
We don’t think this changes much on the ground: the town is Kurdish-run, Kurdish-policed and celebrated by the KRG as a national symbol. But if your insurance depends on following FCDO advice, ask your insurer in writing how it treats the district, and keep the answer. Our guide to travel insurance for Iraq explains what to ask.
Is Akre safe to visit in 2026?
As of 25 September 2026, the FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the whole Kurdistan Region; its page was last updated on 22 July 2026 and was unchanged when we checked. Its safety page, when we read it in August, noted intermittent Iranian strikes on Iranian-Kurdish opposition groups in parts of the Region, including around Rawanduz and Koya; this town was not named. Rudaw counted 19 drone and missile attacks on the Kurdistan Region in the first two weeks of August 2026. The US State Department rates Iraq Level 4, Do Not Travel, reissued on 2 March 2026.
The FCDO’s insurance line applies here too: “Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).” And the European aviation regulator’s bulletin telling airlines not to operate in Iraqi airspace was valid to 30 September 2026 when we checked, so confirm your flights in the week you travel.
Newroz itself brings its own, more ordinary risks: a crowd in the dark on a steep hillside, open flames, fireworks and heavy traffic on mountain roads. Keep clear of the torch line unless you are part of it, wear shoes with grip, and agree a meeting point with your group before dusk. For the wider picture, see our assessment of safety in Kurdistan and the dated summary on our Iraq travel advisory page.
What is Newroz in Akre, and when is it?
Newroz, or Nowruz, is the new year at the spring equinox, celebrated across Kurdish, Persian and Central Asian cultures and inscribed on UNESCO’s list of intangible cultural heritage in 2010. On 21 March 2026, according to Kurdistan Chronicle, Kurds entered the year 2726. For Kurds the festival carries a political charge as well as a seasonal one: its central story is the legend of Kawa the blacksmith, who in Kurdish tradition overthrew the tyrant Zahhak and lit fires on the hilltops to spread the news. Fire is the point.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Public holiday | 21 to 23 March, “Nawroz: Kurdish New Year”, on the KRG’s official 2026 calendar |
| The torch climb | At dusk on 20 March, the eve of Newroz |
| Where in Akre | Up the mountain behind the old town; the official celebration site is known as Sare Gri |
| Who attends | The KRG says the Prime Minister, Masrour Barzani, will attend officially each year |
| Nearby dates | 16 March is Halabja Day and 20 March the anniversary of the 1991 uprising |
Kurdistan24’s account from 20 March 2026 describes the scene: thousands of people lit by bonfires, young torch-bearers winding up the mountain paths, fireworks overhead, and circles of dancers doing the govend, the linked-arm line dance of Kurdish celebrations, to drums and the zurna, a shrill double-reed pipe. Invest Kurdistan said in May 2025 that Newroz draws hundreds of thousands of visitors to the Region, “with Akre hosting the region’s largest and most iconic celebration”. Kurdistan Chronicle calls the town “the capital of Newroz” and “the starting point for the age-old tradition of igniting fires”.
In 2025 that informal crown became official. By order of the KRG Prime Minister, Akre was designated the “Capital of Newroz”, and the town’s tourism director, Amin Salim, told Kurdistan24 that the annual celebration would from now on be held officially in Akre, with Prime Minister Masrour Barzani attending. The plan includes a large hall for official proceedings and a statue of Kawa the blacksmith at the Sare Gri celebration site.
2026 was a strange year for it. Eid al-Fitr fell on 20 to 22 March, so the KRG calendar produced an effective four-day holiday from 20 to 23 March, and Newroz fell in the middle of the regional conflict that closed Iraqi airspace from 28 February to 8 April. We could not confirm how large the 2026 gathering here was, or whether it went ahead at full scale.
How to do Newroz in Akre well
Arrive by early afternoon on 20 March rather than at dusk: this is the Region’s biggest Newroz gathering, and the roads in are mountain roads. Find a vantage point on the lower slopes or a rooftop or terrace with a view of the mountain, and stay put: the spectacle is the whole zigzag of fire, and you see it best from a distance. If you want to join the climb, do it with local friends who know the route; the path is steep and crowded, and the torches are real fire. Expect music and dancing. Book a bed well ahead or stay in Duhok or Erbil and plan for a late drive back, and remember that for Kurds this is a national and political occasion as much as a party; our guide to Iraqi and Kurdish culture covers the etiquette.
A few words help. The table covers the ones you will hear most on the night.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Newroz | “New day”: the new year at the spring equinox |
| Agir | Fire, and by Kurdistan24’s account the root of the town’s name |
| Govend | The linked-arm line dance at every Kurdish celebration; newcomers are often pulled in |
| Zurna | The shrill double-reed pipe that leads the dancing, usually with a drum |
| Kawa | The blacksmith of the Newroz legend, whose statue is planned for the celebration site |
| Sare Gri | The name of the town’s official celebration site |
What is there to see in Akre the rest of the year?
Outside March, this is a town for walking, looking and eating rather than ticking off monuments. Shafaq News’s 2025 profile lists the main draws, and Kurdistan24 has added detail on the castle.
| Sight | What it is | What we know |
|---|---|---|
| Old town | Stone houses stacked up the mountainside | Free to wander; the core of any visit |
| Akre Castle (Qalla Akre) | A fortress on a rocky outcrop above the town | About 450 m above the valley; a steep, rocky climb |
| Old synagogue | A remnant of the Jewish community | Condition and access unconfirmed |
| Sipa Bjeel waterfall | A waterfall among orchards near town | Distance and fees unpublished |
| Trails, caves and springs | The mountain behind the town | No marked-trail map published |
| Bazaar | Handwoven rugs, dried mountain herbs, honey | Normal market hours; none published |
The old town
The pleasure of the place is its shape. The old quarter rises in tiers up the slope, with lanes and stairways between the houses. It is a working neighbourhood, not a museum, so walk it as you would any residential street, greet people, and ask before photographing anyone’s house or family. Kurdistan24 describes the town as traditionally a mixed community of Muslims, Jews and Christians, and a local restaurateur told the outlet in 2025 that “these communities have been living here in peace”.
Akre Castle
Kurdistan24 reports the traditional account that the citadel “was constructed by the Kurdish Prince Zand in 580 B.C.”; we found no archaeological dating to support that, so treat it as local tradition. The outlet describes several levels: an upper tier known as the Prince’s Residence, a middle level used for food storage and a basement with a round meeting hall. The castle sits about 450 metres above the valley, and the hikers Kurdistan24 accompanied in 2025 met “difficult and rocky sections, demanding great caution and persistence”. Go with someone who knows the way, take water, and don’t attempt it in the heat of a summer afternoon. There is no published information on fees or restoration.
Waterfalls, springs and the Amada resort
Shafaq News points visitors to the Sipa Bjeel waterfall, set among greenery and fruit trees, and to the caves, cold springs and trails on the mountain. The KRG also lists the Amada resort in Dinarta sub-district, about 15 km from town. None of these publishes opening times or prices, and we couldn’t confirm their current state, so ask locally.
The bazaar
Akre’s market is where to buy the things the mountains produce: handwoven rugs, dried herbs and local honey, according to Shafaq News. Honey is the safe souvenir. Our guide to Iraqi and Kurdish food covers what to eat in the north.
What is changing: the Newroz Capital plan
The 2025 designation came with money. Kurdistan24 reported a US$150 million tourism project covering 446 dunams, with a first phase already under way on 88 dunams: a hotel, motels, restaurants, an aquapark and a car park, designed for 2,500 tourists. The plan also removes the old Akre Culture and Radio building and towers at the Sare Gri celebration site. Separately, an Italian archaeological mission from the University of Udine was reported working at Akre in July 2026.
Visitor numbers are already rising. The Akre Tourism Directorate counted 496,233 visitors to the district in 2025, up from 447,800 in 2024, and its director told Kurdistan24 that was “still not at the level of our ambition”. The numbers quoted around the town measure very different things, so they are worth setting side by side.
| Source | Figure | What it actually measures |
|---|---|---|
| Akre Tourism Directorate, via Kurdistan24 (12 January 2026) | 496,233 visitors in 2025; 447,800 in 2024 | Everyone counted visiting Akre district over a whole year |
| Invest Kurdistan (May 2025) | Newroz “draws hundreds of thousands of visitors” | Newroz visitors across the Kurdistan Region, not Akre alone |
| KRG Newroz Capital plan, via Kurdistan24 (August 2025) | Capacity for 2,500 tourists | The first phase’s planned facilities, not a crowd count |
Figures for the Newroz night itself circulate in the press, but we could not verify any of them; see the list below.
How do you get to Akre, and where do you stay?
According to Shafaq News, the road is paved and open all year, and private taxis and shared cars run from the major cities. From Duhok it is about 100 km and from Erbil about 140 km by the same source; no official body publishes drive times. Our guide to getting around Iraq explains shared taxis and hiring a driver, and our Duhok city guide and list of things to do in Erbil cover the two obvious bases.
| Option | What it suits | The catch |
|---|---|---|
| Day trip from Duhok | A first look at the old town and the bazaar | About 100 km each way, with no time for the castle climb |
| Day trip from Erbil | Combining the town with the Erbil to Duhok highway | About 140 km each way; a long day |
| A night in town | The castle hike in the cool of the morning and the old town at dusk | Beds are guesthouses and small hotels, so book ahead |
| Newroz night | The fire climb and the celebrations | Heavy traffic and scarce beds; stay nearby or plan a late drive |
You will pass checkpoints on the way; carry your passport and read our guide to Iraq’s checkpoints. A Kurdistan Region visa covers the trip, and the FCDO says such visas are “valid for travel in KRI only”; our Kurdistan visa guide has the fee and validity. We found no official statement on whether the district’s disputed status matters for a Kurdistan-only visa; in practice the town is fully KRG-run.
Shafaq News mentions guesthouses and small hotels in town, and the Newroz Capital plan adds a hotel and motels. We don’t quote rates: around 20 March demand peaks, and prices follow. Our guide to where to stay in Iraq explains the tiers, and our Iraq travel cost breakdown helps with budgeting.
When is the best time to visit Akre?
There are two answers. For Newroz, it is the evening of 20 March and the holiday that follows, with all the crowds that implies. For the town itself, spring and autumn are the easy seasons: the slopes are green in spring and the heat of the plains has eased by October. In summer, go early and late, and leave the castle climb for a cooler month.
March is a busy month in the Kurdish calendar generally. Halabja Day falls on 16 March and the anniversary of the 1991 uprising on 20 March, the same day as the Newroz eve fires, so a March trip can take in more than one commemoration. Our guide to the best time to visit Iraq sets out the seasons across the country.
What we could not confirm
- How big Newroz 2026 was. The celebration took place during the regional conflict; we found no verified attendance figure or confirmation that it ran at full scale.
- Newroz crowd counts in earlier years. A 964media headline reported “nearly 88,000” at Akre, probably in 2025, and other reports mention 75,000 people and representatives of 40 countries; we could not verify the counts or firmly date them.
- How many torches. Reports variously mention 350 and 700 torches in different years.
- The castle’s age. The 580 BC date for Prince Zand’s castle is a traditional claim; local historians also date a settlement to about 700 BC, and one account says the modern town was established in 1877. None is backed by published archaeology we could find.
- Distances and drive times. Shafaq News’s 100 km from Duhok and 140 km from Erbil are the only figures we have; no official body publishes them.
- The synagogue’s condition. Mentioned as a remnant; we could not confirm whether it can be visited.
- Castle access. No published route, fee or opening arrangement.
- The Newroz Capital project’s progress. The first phase was under way in August 2025; we could not confirm what has opened.
- How the FCDO treats Akre. The district is listed as disputed and the FCDO names neither Akre nor its district; only your insurer can tell you how it reads that.
Frequently asked questions
When is Newroz in Akre?
The torch climb and bonfires happen at dusk on 20 March, the eve of Newroz, and the KRG’s public holiday runs from 21 to 23 March. In 2026 the KRG calendar listed Eid al-Fitr for 20 to 22 March, making an effective four-day holiday. Arrive early on the 20th: the fires are lit at dusk, and the approach roads are mountain roads.
Why is Akre called the capital of Newroz?
Akre has long hosted the largest and best-known Newroz fire celebration in the Kurdistan Region, with a zigzag of torches climbing the mountain above the town. In 2025 the KRG Prime Minister made it official, designating Akre the “Capital of Newroz” and committing to attend the celebration there each year, alongside a US$150 million development plan.
How far is Akre from Erbil and Duhok?
About 140 km from Erbil and 100 km from Duhok, according to a 2025 Shafaq News profile; no official road table or drive time is published. The road is paved and open year-round, with private taxis and shared cars from the cities. Allow extra time on 20 March, when traffic into the town is heavy.
Is Akre safe to visit?
As of 25 September 2026 the FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the whole Kurdistan Region, and the US rates Iraq Level 4. The town is not named in either advisory, but it is one of the disputed districts, so check how your insurer treats it. At Newroz, the main risks are crowds, fire and traffic on steep ground.
What does the name Akre mean?
According to Kurdistan24, the name comes from the Kurdish word for fire, agir. Given the town’s role in Newroz, when fire is the whole point of the celebration, it is an apt derivation, though we have not seen a scholarly etymology to confirm it. In Arabic the town is Aqrah.
Can you climb to Akre Castle?
People do, but it is a steep hike with difficult rocky sections, according to Kurdistan24’s 2025 account of a group climb. The castle sits about 450 metres above the valley. No route, fee or opening arrangement is published, so go with someone local who knows the path, carry water and avoid the heat of summer afternoons.
Final thoughts
Akre is two places. For one night in March it is the most intense expression of Kurdish identity you can witness as a visitor: fire on the mountain, the Prime Minister in attendance, and a crowd that treats the new year as a statement. For the rest of the year it is a steep, lived-in town with a castle nobody has properly dated and a bazaar full of mountain honey. Both are worth the drive, but they are very different trips.
If you are going for Newroz, plan it like a festival: a bed booked months ahead, a local contact and a vantage point chosen before dark. If you are going any other time, pair it with a day in the mountains further north.
From Akre, Amedi on its mesa is the natural next stop, Erbil Citadel is the Region’s other great hilltop town, and the rest of our guide to the Kurdistan Region fills in the routes between them.
Photo credits
Newroz fire trail above Akre (featured image): Levi Clancy, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0). Akre old town: Ara Qadir, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0). Newroz fire walk, Akre: Levi Clancy, Wikimedia Commons (CC0). Newroz torches, Akre: Levi Clancy, Wikimedia Commons (CC0). Mosque and old town, Akre: Hamaredha, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0). All images via Wikimedia Commons under the licences shown.
