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
2019
November 6–9: Iceland Airwaves music festival, Reykjavík
November 25–December 17 (weekends): Christmas market in Heiðmörk woods (near Reykjavík)
Late November–December 25: 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)
2020
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 25–February 1 (likely): Dark Music Days, Reykjavík (contemporary music festival)
January 27–February 3: Reykjavík International Games
Early February (3 days): Reykjavík Folk Festival
February 6–9: Reykjavík Winter Lights Festival
Mid-February (3 days): Art in the Light, Seyðisfjörður
February 23–26 (likely): Carnival (special foods; parades and costumes on Ash Wednesday)
March 13–15 (likely): Rainbow Reykjavík Winter Pride
March 26–29 (likely): DesignMarch, Reykjavík (design festival)
Late March (3 days): Iceland Winter Games, Akureyri
April 9–13: Easter weekend (Maundy Thursday through Easter Monday; closures)
April 21–26: Children's Culture Festival, Reykjavík
April 23: First day of summer on old Norse calendar (parades, sports, closures)
April 25–27 (likely): Sónar Reykjavík (electronic music in Harpa)
Late April (2 days): Aldrei Fór Ég Suður music festival, Ísafjörður, Westfjords
May 1: Labor Day (closures)
May 21: Ascension (closures)
May 29–31 (likely): Vaka Folk Festival, Akureyri
May 31–June 1: Whitsunday and Whit Monday (closures)
June (18 days): Reykjavík Arts Festival
June 6: Seaman's Day (maritime festivals across Iceland)
June 11–14 (likely): Viking Festival, Hafnarfjörður
June 17: Icelandic National Day (parades, theater; closures)
June 17–20 (likely): Arctic Open, Akureyri (golf tournament)
June 19–21 (likely): Secret Solstice Festival, Reykjavík (contemporary and electronic music)
July 1–5: Siglufjörður Folk Festival (Icelandic, Scandinavian and world music)
July 6–12: Icelandic horse convention, Reykjavík
July 9–12 (likely): Goslok Festival, Vestmannaeyjar (commemorates end of 1973 volcanic eruption)
July 18–19 (likely): Medieval Trading Weekend, Gásir (near Akuyreri, recreation of a medieval trading village)
July 31–August 2: Þjóðhátíð National Festival, Herjólfsdalur, Westman Islands (fireworks, bonfires, singing)
August 3: Commerce Day, a.k.a. "Shop Workers' Day Off"
August 4–9: Reykjavík Pride
August 22: Culture Night, Reykjavík (free admission to museums, other free events)
September: Réttir (sheep roundup across Iceland)
September 2–6 (likely): Reykjavík Jazz Festival
September 24–October 4: Reykjavík International Film Festival
October 8: John Lennon's birthday and lighting of Imagine Peace Tower on Viðey Island, Reykjavík
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)