Reykjavik Arts Festival will take place 30 May-14 June 2026.

Tinna completed a Master's degree in Project Management from the Reykjavik University in 2023 and a BA degree in Contemporary Dance from the Oslo National Academy of the Arts in 1998. She has held the position of Executive Director of Dansverkstæðið since 2012 and was a project manager at the most recent Reykjavík Arts Festival, where she amongst other was responsible for organising the work of volunteers. From 2012 to 2022, Tinna was an Artistic Director of the performance group Bíbí & Blaka and is a regular lecturer at the Iceland University of the Arts since 2016. In 2023-2024, Tinna participated in the making of a performing arts policy organised by the Ministry of Culture.

“The Reykjavík Arts Festival is a unique event that has brought us incredible experiences, both big and small, for over 50 years. Being able to participate in the organisation and preparation of the festival is a privilege, and I am extremely grateful to Lára Sóley and the board of the festival for the opportunity,” says Tinna.

“I am very much looking forward to working with Tinna. Her experience in management, planning, grant applications, and staff management will be invaluable in the role of Executive Director. She has important insight into the country’s cultural life and strong connections with both Icelandic and international artists. There are exciting times ahead, where the festival’s strategy will be reviewed and the program for the next festival, taking place from May to June 14, will be completed. I know that together, we will work hard to have a successful collaboration with outstanding artists and offer the public unique opportunities to enjoy outstanding art events,” says Lára Sóley Jóhannsdóttir, Artistic Director.

Tinna is taking over the position from Fjóla Dögg Sverrisdóttir, who has worked as Executive Director since 2017 with outstanding success. The Artistic Director and Board of the Reykjavík Arts Festival thank Fjóla for all of her excellent work in support of the festival.

The application deadline for the position of Executive Director of the Reykjavík Arts Festival was December 12th, and a total of 27 individuals applied for the position.

The Reykjavik Arts Festival will next take place from 30 May to 14 June, 2026.

The festival‘s new artistic director, Lára Sóley Jóhannsdóttir, is currently working on shaping the program for the upcoming festival. In the new year, we will review and further develop the festival's vision in collaboration with a diverse group of festival partners. After that, a call for proposals for new projects for the festival will be made.

Mark your calendars for May 30 to June 14, 2026, and stay tuned to the Reykjavik Arts Festival's channels so you don't miss anything!

Photograph: Dancers from the Iceland Dance Company perform an excerpt from While in battle I am free, never free to rest at the opening of Reykjavík Arts Festival on 1 June 2024 at Reykjavík Art Museum. 
Photographer: Juliette Rowland

Dates for the Reykjavík Arts Festival 2026 Announced!

The annual meeting of the Reykjavík Arts Festival Council of Representatives took place at the Culture House on Thursday, November 14, and was very well attended. Membership in the  Council includes all major cultural institutions in the country and professional associations of artists.

Mayor Einar Þorsteinsson assumed the chairmanship of the Council of Representatives from Minister of Culture Lilja Dögg Alfreðsdóttir, as the positions of chairman and vice-chairman are alternated between the minister and the mayor every two years.

Margrét M. Norðdahl, who had served on the Reykjavík Arts Festival Board on behalf of the mayor since 2014, stepped down, and her dedicated contributions to the festival were acknowledged with warm applause. The mayor's new representative on the board is Katrín Jakobsdóttir, who will chair the board for the next two years, while the outgoing chairman, Sigtryggur Magnason, assumes the role of vice-chairman and continues as the minister's representative. Tryggvi M. Baldvinsson remains on the board representing the Council of Representatives.

As usual, the meeting featured several presentations that provided an overview of the past year’s activities at Reykjavík Arts Festival.

Chairman of the board, Sigtryggur Magnason presented the board's yearly report.

Outgoing Artistic Director Vigdís Jakobsdóttir delivered a report on the recently concluded 2024 festival, which was also her final one. This year’s festival was exceptionally well attended, involving around 900 artists. Vigdís took the opportunity to thank the Council of Representatives  for invaluable collaboration over the years, having started with the festival in 2016 and been reappointed in 2020.

The Executive Director, Fjóla Dögg Sverrisdóttir presented the 2023 financial statements, a summary of the festival's accounts, and the budget for 2024–2025. The festival’s financial standing is strong, and this year’s results were in line with projections.

Newly appointed Artistic Director Lára Sóley Jóhannsdóttir shared her vision for the festival’s future, saying, among other things:

“It is a great honour for me to have the opportunity to contribute to Reykjavík Arts Festival and to build upon the tireless, selfless, and outstanding work that has characterized the festival. Above all, I envision a festival where we all feel we belong to an open, inclusive, and progressive community, where the arts deepen and broaden our humanity.”

The mayor presented flowers to both Margrét M. Norðdahl and Vigdís Jakobsdóttir as a gesture of gratitude for their outstanding contributions to the festival and the city’s cultural life. The meeting attendees echoed his sentiments with enthusiastic applause.

Katrín Jakobsdóttir new Chairman of the Board

Applications are now open for the Eyrarrósin Award and the Eyrarrósin Encouragement Award. 

Eyrarrósin is an award for outstanding cultural projects in the rural areas of Iceland, handed out regularly since 2005. 

Applications are received until 4 PM on 13 April 2023. More information and the application form can be found here: https://www.listahatid.is/en/eyrarrosin

The award is a collaboration between Reykjavik Arts Festival, The Icelandic Regional Development Institute and Icelandair. The patron is First Lady Eliza Reid.

Eyrarrósin Award 2023

More news

Tinna appointed new Executive Director

Dates for the Reykjavík Arts Festival 2026 Announced!

Katrín Jakobsdóttir new Chairman of the Board