National Arena
A new and impressive National Arena will rise in Laugardalur. The National Arena is a multipurpose sports facility built to modern standards, offering exemplary amenities for national teams, sports clubs, and the general public for athletic activity, spectating, and community gatherings.
Greatly improved facilities
The new National Arena will transform conditions for national team athletes across various sports, greatly improve facilities for children, young people, and other athletes, and serve as a multipurpose venue for the entire nation.
The new facility will stand in the heart of Laugardalur, south of Laugardalshöll Arena, offering strong connections to the city's bus rapid transit line, walking and cycling routes, and existing structures: Laugardalshöll and Frjálsíþróttahöll. Service users will include sports clubs, national team groups from sports federations for training and competition, nearby schools, universities for physical education, and various event organizers.
The National Arena will welcome everyone as a venue for public health initiatives and a hub for athletes and the public, featuring food and beverage services connected to the spectator area.
Images
Size
The National Arena will cover up to 19,000 square meters, with seating for 8,600 and total event capacity for up to 12,000 attendees.
Cost
The estimated construction cost is 16.8 billion króna.
Timeline
Construction is scheduled to begin this fall and be completed in the spring of 2030.
How will the National Arena benefit Reykjavík residents?
A new National Arena in Laugardalur will serve as a major catalyst for sports and cultural life in Reykjavík. It will reinforce Laugardalur's standing as Iceland's center for elite sports while also providing a venue for a wide range of cultural events.
The National Arena will serve nearby sports clubs, schools, national federations, the general public, and operators for a variety of purposes, including instruction, training, competitions, events, and other supporting activities.
The National Arena will be open to the public and will advance public health goals through approaches developed collaboratively with stakeholders during the design process.
Team selection
In 2024, teams were solicited to take on the project. This team-based approach sought to engage a group of parties to oversee the entire development from start to finish — from the initial design to the completed structure. A prequalification process selected three teams to participate in competitive bidding. The competitive bidding process yielded two final bids — one from the Ístak hf. team and one from the Íslenskir aðalverktakar hf. team.
During the bid evaluation, a 13-member assessment committee reviewed 32 detailed criteria based on requirements that the national government and the City set for the structure. The project aimed to ensure exemplary quality in the design, construction, and operation of National Arena, prioritizing functionality, appearance, finish, accessibility, sustainability, and cost-effectiveness. Ultimately, the Íslenskir aðalverktakar hf. team — alongside ASK Architects, COWI, LPO Architects, Ísloft, EOH, and Landhönnun — won the final selection.