Competition for light art at Winter Lights Festival 2027

Ritstjórn
The light art installation Ljóslifandi at Austurvöllur
The light art installation Ljóslifandi at Austurvöllur

Reykjavík City is holding a competition for light artworks in public spaces across the city during the 2027 Winter Lights Festival. The festival runs Feb. 4-7.

Reykjavík's Winter Lights Festival was first held in 2002 with the goal of brightening the dark winter days and giving residents and visitors a chance to experience the city's unique atmosphere.

Goals and priorities

The competition aims to encourage innovation and Icelandic creativity that supports a creative and vibrant city.

The competition is open to everyone: fine arts, music and lighting professionals, designers, computer scientists or others who work with electricity, light and art in any form. Participants can suggest locations or get advice from organizers.

Originality is key, and various materials can be used. Remember to consider the outdoor winter setting in making the proposal. Interactive works or installations in public spaces are preferred.

Two projects will be selected and receive support of 1,000,000 Icelandic króna each. This amount is intended for both the development of the work and the remuneration of the artists.

Selection Committee criteria

The Committee will consider:

  • Overall concept strength.
  • Artistic merit of the proposal.
  • Impact on public space.
  • Feasibility and cost of implementing the concept.

Timeline

  • Oct. 21, 2026 // Competition announced, applications open.
  • Nov. 15, 2026 // Application deadline.
  • Results announced in late November 2026
  • Feb. 4-7, 2026 // Winter Lights Festival in Reykjavík.
Ljóslistaverk á Vetrarhátíð 2026
Ljóslistaverkið Í nýju ljósi á göngubrúnni við Ráðhús Reykjavíkur

Submission and delivery

Proposals should include:

  • Images and report explaining the overall concept and artistic merit of the proposal.
  • Cost estimate for creation and winner's fee.
  • Submit proposals as PDFs or digital presentations via WeTransfer or a similar service to vetrarhatid@reykjavik.is by midnight on Nov. 15, 2026.
  • Entries remain anonymous and proposals must include a six-digit identification number that participants choose themselves. Include a separate file with the same identification number containing participant information, including contact name, email, and phone number of the group's contact person. Only a selection committee staff member has access to that information. A proposal is accepted if it is received within the stated deadline and anonymity is maintained.

Send inquiries to: vetrarhatid@reykjavik.is

Results

Once the selection committee completes its work in late November, participants' identities will be revealed, and they will be notified of the committee's decisions.

If no suitable proposals are received, the Committee may reject all entries. The Committee's decision is final.

Reykjavík City reserves the right to contact non-winning participants about potential collaboration.