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Reykjavík punches well above its weight when it comes to festivals. For a city of around 140,000 people, the capital packs its calendar with an extraordinary number of cultural events. These range from the depths of winter darkness right through the endless summer light. Here is your month-by-month guide to the festivals and special days lighting up Reykjavík in 2026.

Hallgrímskirkja church in Reykjavík illuminated with vibrant rainbow-colored light projections across its iconic stepped façade against a dark winter night sky, with a bright star shining above the tower's peak.
Hallgrímskirkja, Reykjavík’s most iconic landmark, comes alive in a dazzling display of color during the Reykjavík Winter Lights Festival (Vetrarhátíð). Each February, the festival brightens the darkest months with light installations, pool nights, and cultural events across the city — and the illumination of Hallgrímskirkja’s striking basalt-inspired façade is always a highlight.

Winter and Spring Reykjavik festivals and Special days

The year kicks off with Dark Music Days in January, an adventurous music festival that has been pushing the boundaries of contemporary and classical music for over 40 years. It is followed closely by the Winter Lights Festival (February 5–8), one of the city’s most magical events. More than 150 free events celebrate light and darkness, culminating in Museum Night with free admission to around 40 museums and Pool Night with free swimming at geothermal pools across the city.

The traditional Icelandic calendar brings three days of fun in mid-February: Bolludagur (Bun Day), Sprengidagur (Shrove Tuesday), and Öskudagur (Ash Wednesday), when children dress up in costumes and sing for candy in shops — think of it as Iceland’s quirky version of Halloween meets Carnival.

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Easter weekend (April 2–6) sees the city slow down, with most shops and services closing from Maundy Thursday through Easter Monday. Later in April,

Sumardagurinn Fyrsti (First Day of Summer, April 24) marks the old Norse beginning of summer. On this day there are parades and outdoor festivities. The First Day of Summer a wonderfully optimistic celebration, even if the weather does not always cooperate.

April also sees the follwing festivals: Reykjavík Children’s Culture Festival, the Stockfish Film Festival, and DesignMarch, which has now been elevated to a permanent Reykjavík City Festival. The biannual Reykjavík International Literary Festival also returns in 2026.

Páll Óskar on his swan float during gay pride in Reykjavik
Páll Óskar on his Swan float during Reykjavik Pride.

Summer Celebrations in Reykjavik

Food and Fun typically livens up March, bringing international chefs together with Icelandic ingredients for a culinary adventure. As summer approaches, Iceland Innovation Week fills late May with forward-looking events.

The Reykjavík Arts Festival (May 30–June 14) is the crown jewel of the spring-to-summer transition — a biennial multidisciplinary arts festival featuring new commissions and international talent across the city’s venues.

Fishermen’s Day on June 7 turns the Old Harbour into a family-friendly celebration of Iceland’s maritime heritage. National Day on June 17 is the big one — Icelanders celebrate their independence with parades, live music, and festivities in the city centre.

The summer heats up with the Hafnarfjörður Viking Festival (June 12–17). The epic Reykjavík Pride is held on the August 4–9. This wonderful celebration draws tens of thousands for its joyful parade and week of events. There there is the indie rock festival Innipúkinn (August 7–9). This is followed by the Culture Night, and the Reykjavik Marathon on August 22. The Culture Night is Reykjavík’s largest city festival, with free events from morning to evening and a spectacular fireworks finale.

Faroese singer Elinborg performs on a stage with her band.
Faroese singer Elinborg was the surprise hit for me at Iceland Airwaves 2023.

Autumn and the Holiday Season

The Reykjavík Jazz Festival rounds out August, followed by the Réttir sheep roundups in September and the Reykjavík International Film Festival (September 24–October 4). The Imagine Peace Tower on Viðey Island is lit on John Lennon’s birthday, October 9.
>Iceland Airwaves (November 5–7) closes the festival season in style — a globally renowned music festival spread across intimate venues throughout the city. The year ends with Advent Christmas markets. It also brings the arrival of Iceland’s 13 mischievous Yule Lads in the lead-up to Christmas.

No matter when you visit Reykjavík, something extraordinary is happening.