Reykjavík City awarded for digital services
Reykjavík City's Department of Service & Innovation has won the Ský UT Award 2026 for best public digital services. The awards, now well-established, were presented for the 17th time at the UT trade show at Harpa on Friday, Feb. 6. The awards are given annually to solutions that stand out in digital development and services.
This prize recognizes the city's robust and ongoing digital transformation guided by user-centered civic design and data-driven approaches. Óskar J. Sandholt, Director of the Department of Service & Innovation, is grateful for the recognition that comes with the UT Award and says the award is a powerful incentive to continue developing accessible, efficient, and user-centered services for residents.
The department has simplified processes, increased accessibility and strengthened cross-functional collaboration, ensuring residents receive high-quality and efficient services.
The UT Award recognizes Reykjavík City's dedication and ambition in providing modern, high-quality services, reflecting the success achieved in developing the City's digital public services in recent years.
Heart of digital transformation
In its official statement, Ský noted: "The Department of Service & Innovation is the heart of Reykjavík City's digital transformation, guided by civic design, user-centered development and data-driven decision-making. The department has simplified processes, increased accessibility and strengthened cross-functional collaboration, ensuring residents receive high-quality and efficient services. In 2025, the department developed and implemented numerous digital solutions that improve continuity and self-service while shifting staff time from administration to creating value for service users. These include Veita, a unified application system for financial assistance; SkólaBúi to promote children's prosperity; user-friendly AI assistance on the website that has significantly eased the burden on the service center; and digital workforce automation for repetitive tasks."
Real impact for people
"In 2026, the awards focus on those who use technology safely and confidently, transforming artificial intelligence, automation and digital solutions to have real impact for people, workplaces and society as a whole. Technology is no longer about showing what's possible but about showing what matters," says Arnheiður Guðmundsdóttir, CEO of Ský.
The district commissioner offices received this year's honorary awards, and additional awards were given in four other categories. Congratulations to all award recipients!