Iran plans 1,000 heritage sites, markets for expanded Nowruz festivities
Persian New Year to rebuild social morale, widen public participation: Minister
Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts Reza Salehi-Amiri said on Saturday that the upcoming Nowruz, which begins on March 20, 2026, will serve as a platform to rebuild social morale and widen public participation, outlining a nationwide program of cultural events and expanded heritage access at a meeting of senior cultural officials in Tehran.
Speaking at the Ministry’s Cultural Council session held at the Fajr Hall of the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts, the minister cast the Persian New Year as a “national and civic project” designed to strengthen social capital through coordinated public celebrations, artistic programing and community-led initiatives, IRNA reported.
The ministry will activate 1,000 designated Nowruz sites across the country, alongside 1,000 handicrafts markets, in what officials described as the largest organized seasonal rollout of its kind. Ceremonies marking the exact turn of the year will be staged at selected heritage venues, each operating under capped visitor quotas to manage crowd flow and protect historic fabric.
A summit of tourism ministers from Nowruz-celebrating countries is scheduled to convene in Tehran during the holiday period, adding an international dimension to the domestic program. National-level performances will include concerts by the Iranian National Orchestra and a dedicated Nowruz symphony, while provincial theater troupes and street carnivals are set to animate urban centers and regional capitals.
Programs are also planned at Tehran’s landmark palace complexes, including Niavaran Palace Complex and Golestan Palace, where curated exhibitions and formal ceremonies will accompany public celebrations.
Deputy minister Ali Darabi said governors would oversee implementation at provincial level, with the central government acting as coordinator. Municipal authorities have been tasked with preparing public squares, parks and pedestrian zones for high visitor volumes, while national travel service headquarters will operate throughout the holiday to streamline logistics and safety arrangements.
Officials said the overlap of Nowruz with the holy month of Ramadan in 2026 would be addressed through tailored cultural programing intended to accommodate both observances without disrupting travel and public events.
Nowruz, inscribed by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity and observed across parts of West, Central and South Asia, remains Iran’s busiest travel season. Authorities expect millions to take to the roads and visit historical sites during the two-week break, making crowd management and heritage protection central to this year’s operational blueprint.