Reykjavík City Festivals 2026-2028

Every three years, the Reykjavík City Cultural and Sports Council invites applications from festival organizers seeking to become official Reykjavík City Festivals.

Reykjavík City Festivals 2026-2028 

The council received applications from 20 diverse and ambitious arts and cultural festivals. A panel of cultural affairs experts reviewed and evaluated them based on criteria including artistic merit, visibility, accessibility, job creation, and community value. Reykjavík City's Cultural and Sports Council has chosen six festivals to be official Reykjavík City Festivals for 2026-2028, based on recommendations from the professional panel.

These selections reflect both the diversity of the city's cultural life and the importance of individual arts festivals that have demonstrated strong artistic merit, international connections, and a positive impact on public life.

Iceland Airwaves and DesignMarch will become permanent City Festivals. This ensures that two of the city's most vital cultural festivals, which bolster both Reykjavík's reputation and its local economy, will remain part of the city's cultural identity going forward. These festivals have proven to be cornerstones of Reykjavík's cultural life

• Iceland Airwaves – has been the backbone of the city's music scene for 25 years, promoting Icelandic music internationally and creating a unique atmosphere that draws visitors from around the world.

• HönnunarMars – has put Reykjavík on the map as a creative and forward-thinking city, where diverse design and architecture disciplines come together in a powerful and professional festival that benefits both business and community.

New and renewed City Festivals 

In addition, the council selected the following festivals to receive support as City Festivals for 2026-2028:

• Reykjavík Dance Festival – a key platform for Icelandic dance that emphasizes inclusion and social responsibility.

• Dark Music Days – (Myrkir Músíkdagar) a progressive music festival that raises the profile of Icelandic composers and adds diversity to the city's cultural calendar.

• Iceland Noir – Reykjavík – an international literary festival focusing on crime fiction and innovation in storytelling.

The special status of Reykjavík Pride

Reykjavík Pride has been a City Festival since 2017 and has received city support for much longer, but will now be awarded a permanent contract with Reykjavík City, as the festival uniquely combines culture, human rights, and the visibility of the city's diverse population. Reykjavík Pride is invaluable to the city's image and social unity. Along with Culture Night, this festival is one of the summer's highlights, with entertaining events that enrich public life in the city.

This year's selection of City Festivals highlights the importance of ensuring both stability and innovation in the city's festival offerings.

More about the City Festival fund