Þorrablót

Perhaps not the most inviting festival for the faint-stomached. In either January or February, Icelanders celebrate the ‘feast of Þorri’, which is a midwinter festival named after a month in the Old Icelandic Calendar. The tradition is to gather somewhere cosy with friends and family, to eat some truly revolting national delicacies. From manuscripts of the Middle Ages, we know that this festival has a long history, but it is unclear exactly how the feast of ‘blót’ was celebrated back then. Even so, records point to a similarly styled party with a lot of food and drink enjoyed.

The Food and Fun Festival

In February or March, there is an annual event in which you can actually enjoy your meals: the Food and Fun Festival. Many of the world’s greatest chefs come to Iceland to collaborate with Reykjavík’s finest restaurants―and together create ingenious dishes to the delight of the taste-buds of those attending. Each chef is assigned to one of the participating establishments, where they prepare a menu that is crafted from Icelandic ingredients and products, and inspired by their own international experience.

The Reykjavik Art Festival

Throughout the years, the festival has featured some of the best-known artists in the world. Among them are Vladimir Ashkenazy (who’s also the festival’s honorary president), Led Zeppelin, Nina Simone, Andy Warhol, Jaqueline du Pré, Bob Dylan, Goran Bregovic, Ingmar Bergman, Benny Goodman, Mstislav Rostropovich, Luciano Pavarotti, Human League, Doris Lessing, The Shadows, Leonard Cohen, Pulp, Madness, The Stranglers, Björk, Sigur Rós, David Bowie and many more.

Independence Day in Iceland

Icelanders took a referendum on May 20th to 23th in 1944 and voted overwhelmingly to become an independent, sovereign state. Independence day, however, is celebrated on the birthday of the man who led the movement, Jón Sigurðsson, on June 17th.

The celebration traditionally takes the form of parades throughout the country, with horses leading it and a big brass band. Several speeches are held out in open spaces, and most events have one done by Fjallkonan, the mythical personification of Iceland, also called the Woman of the Mountain. Festivities throughout the country promise music, food and all-round-celebration, and when night comes around, you can expect fireworks and a lot of partying.

Summer Solstice in Iceland

On June 21st, the summer solstice occurs, where Icelanders and visitors alike gather to celebrate the year’s longest day, as in the pagan tradition. In Iceland, this is particularly special due to the fact that the sun never sets. The midnight sun, in fact, lasts for the week before and after the summer solstice, and the sky is bright throughout the night from May to August.

To celebrate this time, bonfires are lit, there are interesting walking tours, and those who still follow the Old Norse Faith (Ásatrúarfélagið) have one of their main feasts at Þingvellir National Park.

The Secret Solstice music festival is held over a long weekend during this time, an open-air camping festival in Laugardalur Park in the heart of Reykjavík, which has boasted such headliners as Radiohead, Foo Fighters, Massive Attack, Chaka Khan, and Die Antwort.

The Folk Festival in  North Iceland

In early July, the fishing town of Siglufjörður hosts its annual Folk Festival, introducing Icelandic culture to outsiders, and foreign culture to locals. Due to Iceland’s small size, it would not be unreasonable to believe Reykjavík is the only place here where culture can flourish, yet small towns such as Siglufjörður entirely disprove this notion. This folk festival is not just a place of concerts, there are also courses and lectures going on across the town, both in the musical style as well as other traditional Icelandic art forms, such as handicrafts.

Music festivals in Iceland

There are many great outdoor and indoor music festivals in Iceland, and this article would be many times its length if it were to list all of them. One of most popular, however, is the outdoor festival Þjóðhátíð í Eyjum, held annually in the Westman Islands in the first weekend of August.

Reykjavík Pride

Iceland’s leading pop singer slash gay icon, the forever fabulous Páll Óskar. The struggle for LGBTQ+ rights in Iceland has come on leaps and bounds over the past forty years, thanks to a long and arduous struggle, led by groups such as Samtökin ’78 and individuals like Hörður Torfason. While there are still hurdles to overcome, Iceland is now one of the most progressive countries in the world regarding LGBTQ+ rights.

Culture Night in Iceland

Menningarnótt, or Culture Night, is one of the biggest calendar events of the year and occurs in mid-August. Across the city, be it in parks, galleries, bars or the streets, cultural celebrations of all kinds are going on. Thousands of people contribute, collaborate and perform, with many more coming to watch, listen and enjoy. If you love theatre, music, art, cabaret or any other kind of performance, this festival blends them all into one whirlwind of a day. Those travelling to Iceland in summer to make the most of the midnight sun and nature should at least reserve the evening to get their full dose of culture too.

The Northern Lights in Iceland

The Northern Lights dancing over rural Iceland is a sight most people would love to see. From September to April, when the sky is dark and clear, you have a great chance of seeing the Aurora Borealis in Iceland. This ethereal natural phenomenon is the reason why many visitors come in the first place, and, so long as you plan well and have a little bit of luck, you have a great chance of seeing the lights dance in the sky.

There are many ways in which you can admire the Northern Lights. You can, for example, head to dark parts of the city, such as at Grótta lighthouse or Laugardalur Park, and keep an eye on the sky. This, however, provides you with no mobility, so even a small cloud could spoil your viewing.

The Reykjavík Literary Festival

An old Icelandic manuscript, written in Old Norse which is so alike modern Icelandic that most locals can read it. In September, Reykjavík hosts its Literary festival, featuring Icelandic and international authors. With free seminars and interviews, conducted in English and held all around the city, and many readings from notable authors, it is one of Europe’s leading celebrations of the world of the written word.

The Reykjavík International Film Festival

Reykjavík International Film Festival, or RIFF, takes place every year in late September for eleven days, having established itself firmly on the international map. It features a wide range of fiction and non-fiction films from over 40 countries, all of which push the envelope in some way, drawing refreshing attention to independent, rather than blockbuster, filmmaking.

There are screenings across town, interviews and seminars from those in the industry, and opportunities for aspiring filmmakers to make connections. Not only that, but the festival offers concerts, exhibitions and shows to encourage a celebratory atmosphere.

Iceland Airwaves

In October, Iceland’s largest showcase of musical talent occurs; the Iceland Airwaves festival. Pretty much everyone writing about music has lauded it, with the Rolling Stone magazine calling it, ‘the hippest long weekend on the annual music-festival calendar’. It is, therefore, drawing international attention more and more every year.

Christmas in Iceland

In Reykjavík, we recommend walking through the main street, Laugavegur, on Þorláksmessa, December the 23rd. The street becomes filled with people, there is a warm and friendly atmosphere and you’ll find solo singers, brass bands, charol singers and the likes.

In Reykjavík, Akureyri and Ísafjörður, people light candles, sing carols and march for peace at 6 pm in the evening. In Reykjavík, this walk starts at Hlemmur and trails down Laugavegur.