2026 Children's Culture Festival – Empathy and community
During the Children's Culture Festival, April 20–26, children leave their mark on the city's cultural life. Nearly 10,000 children participate in the Children's Culture Festival in some capacity over the course of the event.
All events are free!
A wide range of events takes place at primary schools, preschools, recreation centers, cultural institutions, arts schools, and beyond throughout the festival. It's time for all of us to enjoy and experience everything, and no one has to pay a single króna because it's all free!
Visitors can find all festival events at barnamenningarhatid.is.
"Sama hver það er" – the Children's Culture Festival song
VÆB performs this year's Children's Culture Festival song, "Sama hver það er," a duet by brothers Matthías Davíð Matthíasson and Hálfdán Helgi Matthíasson.
This year's Children's Culture Festival theme is "empathy and community," and organizers asked fourth-grade students across the city to respond to various questions about what those concepts mean to them. The song's lyrics draw directly from the children's responses.
Matthías and Hálfdán wrote both the music and lyrics, noting that collaborating with the children was incredibly fun and deeply rewarding. They look forward to performing the song at the Children's Culture Festival opening event in Eldborg at Harpa to a full house of children on April 20th
Söngvavor
On Tuesday, April 21, 1,300 preschool children take the stage in Eldborg at Harpa to perform songs by Dr. Gunni. The children eagerly rehearsed the songs at preschools across Reykjavík and now come together on stage to sing. This remains one of the most popular and well-attended Children's Culture Festival events, packing Eldborg with parents, grandparents, and extended family.
Icelandic houses
This winter, 10th-grade students at Norðlingaskóli each chose an Icelandic building they found beautiful or interesting. They researched their chosen buildings and recreated them as small clay sculptures. Some students also glazed the buildings they created. The buildings include churches, lighthouses, airport terminals, and other notable structures like the Alþingi, Iceland's parliament building. Students at the youngest level of the school are learning about Iceland's land, people, and architectural history. These students chose one of the 10th graders' buildings and created their own illustrations of it. Floral wreaths made by students at the school will also be on display. The works are on display at the Reykjavík City Library in Árbær.
Glowing ghosts, magic wands, and troll rings
The House of Collections is currently displaying an exhibit born from a collaborative project involving four Reykjavík preschools, all of which used the museum as a learning environment. The preschool children visited the National Gallery of Iceland and the House of Collections three times, drawing inspiration from the exhibit "Stattu og vertu að steini!" Folk tales in Icelandic fine arts. The children examined two artworks in depth, focusing on building visual literacy, active expression, and listening skills. The children also worked on creative projects in art workshops inspired by three exhibit themes: ghosts, elves and hidden people, and trolls. The children then created their own artworks, which are now on display at the House of Collections.
Pool disco
To mark the Children's Culture Festival, Dalslaug and the Reykjavík City Library in Úlfarsárdalur are teaming up to offer a fun-filled program. The fun starts with a family disco where everyone can dance and have a great time. An energetic disco will take over the indoor pool, providing the perfect excuse to slip into pajamas afterward for a cozy storytime session at the library. Free swimming for children 15 and under.
Adventures come to life
Families will celebrate the first day of summer in the enchanting surroundings of Elliðaárstöð. We invite families to enjoy a day of fun at Elliðaárstöð, where kids and adults of all ages can play and have a great time. The beloved Waterspray Park turns on, the Elliði café and the Elliðaárstöð visitor center open their doors, and DJ music fills the area; additionally, Hugmyndasmiðir hosts a family workshop in the visitor center from 1 to 3 p.m., and visitors can join a cycling program organized by Reiðhjólabændur.
Creative shoe workshop
Children and families are invited to a creative shoe art workshop at Reykjavík City Library Gróf, where imagination leads the way. Bring an old shoe and transform it into a fun piece of shoe art. Your shoe says something about you — your interests, your dreams, and the footprints you want to leave behind. All kinds of decorating materials will be available on-site, though you are welcome to bring your own.
Music across the city
A wide variety of musical performances will run throughout the Children's Culture Festival. Highlights include kids' baroque music at Fella- og Hólakirkja, langspil experiments at Reykjavík City Library Spangin, and school bands performing at venues across Reykjavík.
BIG BANG — the music festival
The BIG BANG music festival takes center stage on the first day of summer. The festival is a remarkable European music celebration designed for young audiences. The Festival's goal is to increase children's access to music, with free admission to all events. The program includes Dans Afríka Iceland, Míní Rave, Múrbalasláttur, Bernskubrek, and much more. The festival runs at Reykjavík City Library Gerðuberg and Sigursvein's Music School in Hraunberg, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Adventure Palace in Breiðholt
The Children's Culture Festival's Adventure Palace will be held the weekend of April 25 and 26th The Adventure Palace has traditionally rotated among different city neighborhoods, and this year it lands at the Reykjavík City Library in Gerðuberg, Breiðholt. A diverse program for children and their immediate family will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days.
Expect a truly lively atmosphere during the Children's Culture Festival — and admission is free.
Everyone is welcome!