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
2018
September 27–October 7: Reykjavík International Film Festival
October 8: John Lennon's birthday and lighting of Imagine Peace Tower on Viðey Island, Reykjavík
November 7–10: Iceland Airwaves music festival, Reykjavík
Late November–mid-December: Christmas market in Heiðmörk woods (near Reykjavík)
Late November–December 25: Christmas Village, Hafnarfjörður
December 1: Centenary of Icelandic Independence (celebrations all over Iceland)
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)
2019
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–February 3: Reykjavík International Games
January 31–February 2: Dark Music Days, Reykjavík (contemporary music festival)
February 4–6: Reykjavík Folk Festival
February 7–10: Reykjavík Winter Lights Festival
February 15–16: Art in the Light, Seyðisfjörður
March 4–6 (likely): Carnival (special foods; parades and costumes on Ash Wednesday)
March 7–10: Rainbow Reykjavík Winter Pride
March 22–24: Iceland Winter Games, Akureyri
March 28–31: DesignMarch, Reykjavík (design festival)
April 9–14: Children's Culture Festival, Reykjavík
April 18–22 (likely): Aldrei Fór Ég Suður music festival, Ísafjörður, Westfjords
April 18–22: Easter weekend (Maundy Thursday through Easter Monday; closures)
April 25: First day of summer on old Norse calendar (parades, sports, closures)
April 25–27: Sónar Reykjavík (electronic music in Harpa)
May 1: Labor Day (closures)
May 30: Ascension (closures)
June 9–10: Whitsunday and Whit Monday (closures)
Late May–early June (weekend): Vaka Folk Festival, Akureyri
June (18 days): Reykjavík Arts Festival
June 2: Seaman's Day (maritime festivals across Iceland)
Mid-June (6 days): Viking Festival, Hafnarfjörður
June 17: Icelandic National Day (parades, theater; closures)
June 19–22 (likely): Arctic Open, Akureyri (golf tournament)
June 20–23 (likely): Secret Solstice Festival, Reykjavík (contemporary and electronic music)
July 3–7 (likely): Siglufjörður Folk Festival (Icelandic, Scandinavian and world music)
July 4–7: Goslok Festival, Vestmannaeyjar (commemorates end of 1973 volcanic eruption)
July 13–15 (likely): Medieval Trading Weekend, Gásir (near Akuyreri, recreation of a medieval trading village)
August 2–5 (likely): Þjóðhátíð National Festival, Herjólfsdalur, Westman Islands (fireworks, bonfires, singing)
August 5: Commerce Day, a.k.a. "Shop Workers' Day Off"
August 6–11 (likely): Reykjavík Pride
August 24: Culture Night, Reykjavík (free admission to museums, other free events)
September: Réttir (sheep roundup across Iceland)
September 4–8 (likely): Reykjavík Jazz Festival