Nowruz 2026: ‘You can’t smell Nowruz in the air’ as Iranians prepare under threat of strikes
nowruz 2026 is arriving under the shadow of war as Iranians prepare for the Persian new year on 20 March ET, with many anticipating a muted festival in cities and towns across the country because of ongoing bombardments and the risk of further strikes. Families are buying essentials and cleaning homes but say the mood is different this year; fear, grief and concern for the country’s infrastructure are common. The backdrop is a campaign of strikes that began on 28 February ET and has produced heavy casualties and cross-border responses.
Nowruz 2026: Celebrations under threat
Most critical: Iran has been under bombardment since 28 February ET, and Tehran has responded with attacks on Israel and US-allied states in the Gulf. The US-based group Human Rights Activists in Iran reports 3, 114 people have been killed in Iran, including 1, 354 civilians and at least 207 children. Communities that usually gather for the spring equinox are instead coping with displacement, job loss and damage to basic services.
In the days before the holiday many say routine preparations have been upended. Markets still sell traditional sweets and new clothes, and people are buying essentials to observe the festival, but the usual bustle is tempered by uncertainty and the threat of further strikes.
Immediate reactions from affected families
“We’d be busy getting ready … cleaning the house, shopping for new clothes, sweets and snacks, ” says Mina, a woman in her 50s in Damavand, who is in tears describing how this year feels different. “This year? Every day feels so long. It’s like I’ve lost track of time, ” she adds, voicing a fear shared by many.
Amir, Mina’s son who moved from Tehran to Damavand with his family, says: “People are losing their jobs with the war. My biggest worry is our country’s infrastructure. ” He warned, “At this rate, there might not even be much left of Iran. I don’t want this to be our last Nowruz. ” These personal accounts underline how ordinary rituals — deep-cleaning homes to sweep away misfortunes and welcome a fresh start — are being carried out under anxiety.
Quick context
Nowruz, meaning “new day, ” is a millennia-old festival marking the spring equinox and the start of the new year in Iran and other countries; it falls on 20 March ET, with the following day marking the start of the Iranian new year. The last time many Iranians marked the festival during wartime was in the 1980s, during the eight-year conflict with Iraq.
What happens next
Authorities, aid groups and families will watch for further strikes and the humanitarian fallout as communities head into the holiday period; preparations and movements of people are likely to shape how the holiday is observed across Iran. Expect continued shopping for essentials alongside cautious gatherings, and continued reporting on civilian casualties and infrastructure damage as the situation evolves up to and beyond nowruz 2026.
