Iceland Airwaves - the music festival starts tomorrow

The festival began in 1999 when concerts were held in an airplane hangar at Reykjavík Airport and at locations throughout the city. The festival was created to support young musicians and put Iceland and Icelandic music on the map.

Today, Iceland Airwaves is one of Reykjavík's major annual festivals. The music festival has become a cornerstone of the city's music scene, helping promote Icelandic music beyond the country's borders and creating a unique atmosphere that draws visitors from around the world.

The city center buzzes with life and music

Part of what concertgoers love is being able to hop between venues, trying to see and hear as much as possible during the festival. The city center comes alive with music echoing everywhere from small record shops and art museums to trendy bars and historic churches to nightclubs and major concert venues.

This year's festival features 100 bands performing at a wide range of venues, including Reykjavík Art Museum – Hafnarhús, Nasa, Lemmy, Bird, Kolaportið and Fríkirkjan.

Additionally, Harpa will host two special concerts in Eldborg on Thursday and Friday. The first is a collaboration between the Iceland Symphony Orchestra and Mugison, while the second pairs the orchestra with the band múm.

There will be plenty to choose from, and the complete schedule is available on the Iceland Airwaves website.