Arbaeen pilgrimage draws nearly 4.9 million visitors to Karbala, Iraq

Each year the Arbaeen pilgrimage marks the end of the 40‑day mourning period after Ashura, commemorating the martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali at Karbala in 680 CE. In 2026, the event attracted an estimated 4,887,660 pilgrims from Iraq and abroad, making it one of the world’s largest religious gatherings. Visitors arrived from Iran, Lebanon, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and other countries, traveling on foot, by road and by air to the holy city of Karbala.

Iraqi authorities coordinated extensive security and service plans, overseen by the Prime Minister and the armed forces, to ensure smooth border crossings and safe movement along the main routes. Volunteer caravans provided food, water and rest areas for the crowds. The massive turnout highlights the pilgrimage’s social and humanitarian dimensions, drawing participants of diverse sectarian backgrounds and reinforcing a shared cultural heritage across the region.