Iceland Eclipse Festival 2026: Music, Art, and Magic

The upcoming solar eclipse, which will take place on the 12th of August next year, is already causing a lot of excitement. I don’t think I’m exaggerating to say that Iceland is already sold out. After all, the western part of the country is prime real estate for experiencing the total eclipse. However, I am fascinated to see what creative people around the country are thinking up to create unique experiences for the legions of travelers who will be in Iceland in August 2026. One of those main events will undoubtedly be the Iceland Eclipse festival.

One of the festival’s organizers is Kári Viðarsson. He is no stranger to big ideas. As the founder of The Freezer—an award-winning cultural hub in a repurposed fish factory in the village of Rif—he’s spent over a decade breathing artistic life into the Snæfellsnes Peninsula.

Now, Kári is turning his attention skyward as one of the key organizers behind Iceland Eclipse, a once-in-a-lifetime festival taking place at the village of Hellissandur. Hellissandur is in a beautiful spot, on the northwestern coast of the stunning Snæfellsnes Peninsula. To the north is the bay of Breiðafjörður, and the Atlantic Ocean, to the south is the stunning Snæfellsjökull glacier. Music festival fans will be excited to learn that the crew behind the Secret Solstice music festival joins Kári in organizing the event.

Set against the dramatic backdrop of Snæfellsjökull, the festival will blend music, art, wellness, and celestial awe. About 5.000 tickets will be sold. This will be a curated, low-impact experience focused on sustainability and community. The four-day event will begin with the eclipse itself—two minutes of total darkness over the peninsula—followed by an eclectic program of music, workshops, visual art, stargazing, and meditation. Think Burning Man meets Arctic serenity.

Hey Kári, thank you for taking the time for this interview. What inspired you to bring the Iceland Eclipse festival to Hellissandur?

I am not going to take credit for bringing the festival here. The team behind the festival got in touch with me after having decided to bring it to our area and asked me to be part of the project as a sort of local liaison. As this kind of stuff is right up my street and I´m inclined to help out, I could not really say no. So I joined the team and am doing what I can to make it as good as possible. With my experience in the field of community building and creation, I hope I can add some positive things to the festival and bring as many locals on board as possible

How did your experience with The Freezer influence the vision for Iceland Eclipse?

I feel that Iceland Eclipse’s vision lines up really nicely with my vision for the Freezer: to make it about the community and focus on community involvement. The makers of Iceland Eclipse have been very thoughtful and respectful in all their approaches, and this is why I wanted to take part. I see this as a great opportunity for my area to create something completely unique and beautiful together.

What do you hope festivalgoers take away from this experience beyond the eclipse itself?

I hope they get to really experience the energy and the variety that this area has to offer.

Can you share how the local community has responded to the festival plans?

It feels like there is a real positive buzz about it in town… I´ve not heard any negative voices so far. I believe this is mainly because we have been transparent. I have personally spoken to people, had town meetings, and contacted many who want to be involved. The more people get involved from the start, the better the festival will be.

What kind of performances or installations are you most excited about?

I´m super excited about the talks… I hear astronauts might be coming. That would be amazing.

How would you describe the atmosphere you’re trying to create during and after the eclipse?

I want the feeling to be open, inviting, uplifting, and cosmic.

What has been the biggest challenge so far in organizing this event?

So far, we have not had significant challenges. It seems to be running smoothly. Having said that, I´m just one puzzle in a big jigsaw. I´m sure there are significant challenges that I´m not taking on, such as backend stuff like marketing, programming, etc. I´m more of a man-on-the-ground in this project. Therefore, I cannot speak to this on the whole.

Why do you think Hellissandur and Snæfellsnes are the perfect locations for this festival?

The people and the nature. The most hardworking and helpful people, the most beautiful nature. Simple.

What other activities do you recommend for people visiting Iceland to attend the festival?

Wander around Snæfellsjökull National Park. I´m sure the international guests are in touch with their spiritual side. Therefore, there is no better place to be during their stay than under the glacier. After all, this is precisely where the festival is going to be. Snæfellsjökull is one of the primary energy sources of our planet. We who live there know this. I hope our guests use the opportunity to get charged by it during their stay.

You’ve led many creative projects—how does this one compare personally and professionally?

In this one, I´m not the boss. In all my previous ones, I´ve been coming up with ideas and producing more or less of them by myself. This is a new experience for me. It is a large-scale project. I am learning so many new things by being a fly on the wall in the various groups working on the festival. Still, there is a lot at stake. I´m very invested because this eclipse will only happen once in our lifetime, and we should make it unforgettable.