Reykjavik Arts Festival will take place 30 May-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

Vigdís Jakobsdóttir concluded her role as the artistic director of the Reykjavík Arts Festival on 30 September, after eight successful years in the position.

Vigdís' guiding principle in her work was that art and culture should not be the privilege of the few but the right of all. These were certainly not empty words, as she let her actions speak for themselves. During her tenure, she led an important strategic direction for the festival, focusing on accessibility and environmental issues, inspiring her colleagues to work towards this vision. She constantly sought new ways to bring high-quality cultural events to as many people as possible and emphasized that the artists and events at the festival should reflect the diversity and beauty of society in all its forms.

Vigdís demonstrated ambition, courage, and creativity in her role. These qualities shone brightly during the 2020-2021 pandemic when the program for the 2020 Festival was extended over a year, and events were carried out as public health restrictions allowed. It drew significant attention when the festival announced that it would not be canceled, unlike many festivals and events at that time. Towards the end of 2020, ArtGifts were delivered to the public across the country, an initiative that brought joy to both the people and the artists, who had hardly been able to perform for months.

The board and executive director of Reykjavík Arts Festival thank Vigdís for her generous and successful collaboration and for showing ambition, courage, and warmth in her work. We wish her all the best in whatever she takes on next and express our gratitude for the valuable legacy she leaves behind at the festival.

Photograph of Vigdís Jakobsdóttir was taken by Golli for Heimildin.

Vigdís concludes her role as Artistic Director

Sea Monsters - New Icelandic Street Theater Touring the Country This Summer!

What's happening at the harbour? On the opening day of the Reykjavik Arts Festival on June 1, incredible creatures will appear around Reykjavik harbour when circus group Hringleikur and Pilkington Props come together in a new and large-scale Icelandic street theatre production for the whole family.

The Sea Monsters will go on the move after the opening ceremony, continuing their journey around the country and visiting four additional locations.

June 1 at 3:00 PM - Reykjavik (Miðbakki)

June 4 at 5:15 PM - Akranes (Small Boat Harbor v/Faxabraut)

June 8 at 3:00 PM - Ísafjörður (Westfjords Heritage Museum)

June 12 at 5:15 PM - Húsavík (Naustagarður, Húsavík Harbor)

June 15 at 3:00 PM - Neskaupstaður (Norðfjarðarkirkja)

Salka Guðmundsdóttir, editor of the Reykjavik Arts Festival, recently interviewed Eyrún Ævarsdóttir from Hringleikur and playwright Hildur Knútsdóttir. The podcast is in Icelandic.

Warning: Sea Monsters!

More news

Dates for the Reykjavík Arts Festival 2026 Announced!

Katrín Jakobsdóttir new Chairman of the Board

Vigdís concludes her role as Artistic Director