Upcoming Holidays and Festivals in Iceland
- Before planning a trip around a festival, verify the festival dates at the festival's website or with a local tourist information office. For more information about these and other events, visit the official tourism site for Iceland.
- This list includes selected festivals, plus national holidays observed in Iceland. Many sights and banks close down on national holidays — keep this in mind when planning your itinerary. Note that this isn't a complete list; holidays can strike without warning.
- See upcoming holidays and festivals across Europe
2022
July 29–31: Þjóðhátíð National Festival, Herjólfsdalur, Westman Islands (fireworks, bonfires, singing)
July 29–31: Innipukinn Music Festival, Reykjavík (indie rock)
August 1: Commerce Day, a.k.a. "Shop Workers' Day Off"
August 2–7: Reykjavík Pride
August 13–19: Reykjavík Jazz Festival
August 20: Culture Night, Reykjavík (free admission to museums, other free events)
September: Réttir (sheep roundup across Iceland)
September 29–October 9: Reykjavík International Film Festival
October 9: John Lennon's birthday and lighting of Imagine Peace Tower on Viðey Island, Reykjavík
November 2–5: Iceland Airwaves music festival, Reykjavík
November 26–December 18 (weekends): Christmas market in Heiðmörk woods (near Reykjavík)
Late November–December 23: Christmas Village, Hafnarfjörður
Mid-December: Yule Lads Bath, Mývatn Nature Bath (Christmas festival with swimming yule lads)
December 23: St. Þorlákur's Day (Christmas shopping, evening strolling, traditional meals of fermented skate)
December 24: Christmas Eve (businesses close at noon)
December 25–26: Christmas Day and Second Day of Christmas (closures)
December 31: New Year's Eve (bonfires, fireworks, businesses close at noon)
2023
January 1: New Year's Day (closures)
January 6: Thirteenth Day of Christmas (Epiphany; bonfires and fireworks)
Mid-January–mid-February: Þorri (midwinter celebration from old Norse calendar)
January 24–28 (likely): Dark Music Days, Reykjavík (contemporary music festival)
January 28–February 5 (likely): Reykjavík International Games
February 2–5 (likely): Reykjavík Winter Lights Festival
February 10–11 (likely): Art in the Light, Seyðisfjörður
February 28–March 2: Carnival (Bun Day, a.k.a. Bolludagur, on Monday; Blast Day, a.k.a. Sprengidagur, on Tuesday; parades and costumes on Ash Wednesday, a.k.a. Öskudagur)
April 6–10: Easter weekend (Maundy Thursday through Easter Monday; closures)
April 11 (likely): Reykjavík Blues Festival
April 14–15 (likely): Aldrei Fór Ég Suður music festival, Ísafjörður, Westfjords
April 18–23: Children's Culture Festival, Reykjavík
April 20: Sumardagurinn fyrsti (first day of summer on old Norse calendar; parades, sports, closures)
May 1: Labor Day (closures)
May 3–7: DesignMarch, Reykjavík (design festival)
May 18: Ascension (closures)
May 28 & 29: Whitsunday and Whit Monday (closures)
June 4: Fishermen's Day (maritime festivals across Iceland; Reykjavík celebrates the Festival of the Sea all weekend)
June 14–18 (likely): Viking Festival, Hafnarfjörður
June 17: Icelandic National Day (parades, theater; closures)
June 22–24: Arctic Open, Akureyri (golf tournament)
June 23–July 2 (likely): Reykjavík Fringe Festival (eclectic performances)
June 30–July 3 (likely): Goslok Festival, Vestmannaeyjar (commemorates end of 1973 volcanic eruption)
July 2–8 (likely): Icelandic horse convention, Reykjavík
July 5–9 (likely): Siglufjörður Folk Festival (Icelandic, Scandinavian, and world music)
July 16–17 (likely): Medieval Trading Weekend, Gásir (near Akuyreri, recreation of a medieval trading village)