Reykjavik Arts Festival will take place 30 May-14 June 2026.

On Saturday, 30 May, the 35th edition of Reykjavík Arts Festival was officially opened with a celebratory ceremony at Reykjavík Art Museum – Hafnarhús. A large crowd gathered for the opening festivities, which featured music, dance, visual art, and a variety of performances offering a glimpse of the programme ahead. The day was marked by excitement, anticipation, and vibrant cultural activity throughout the city centre.

The festival now embarks on 16 days of artistic events, presenting around 60 programmes and performances of all kinds. Nearly 1,300 artists from Iceland and abroad are participating, creating a unique opportunity to experience contemporary art, music, performing arts, and creative projects for audiences of all ages.

One of the highlights of the day was the world premiere of Loftvægi by Samúel Jón Samúelsson at Harpa Square, where four Reykjavík school bands joined forces in a powerful performance involving nearly 600 young musicians. Visitors also enjoyed the aerial dance performance The Air Between Us, exhibitions in museums across the city, and a diverse programme that marked the beginning of the festival.

The day concluded with the opening of the Reykjavík Arts Festival Hub at Iðnó. Outside the venue, the participatory artwork Fragile (Brothætt) began, inviting visitors to transform broken objects into a collective artwork throughout the duration of the festival. Inside the Festival Hub, the dance work Move With Pride by Rebecca “Ondina” Hidalgo, created in collaboration with the Iceland Dance Company, received its premiere. Combining dance, music, and personal storytelling, the performance was a spectacular and moving experience that captivated audiences. The venue was packed and the atmosphere electric as the work set the tone for a lively opening night and an exciting programme at the Festival Hub throughout the festival.

Reykjavík Arts Festival 2026 has started

Reykjavík Arts Festival will open for the 35th time on Saturday, 30 May, with a day full of exciting and diverse events.

The opening celebration begins at the Reykjavík Art Museum – Hafnarhús, where guests will be treated to excerpts from several festival events, speeches, and light refreshments. At the same time, a retrospective exhibition of works by Karin Sander will be on view. Following this, the Reykjavík School Bands will lead festival guests and city residents to Harpa Square, where the world premiere of the musical work Loftvægi by Samúel Jón Samúelsson will take place. The piece brings together all four Reykjavík school bands, involving nearly 600 young performers.

The premiere of the aerial dance performance The Air Between Us begins at 15:30 at Harpa Square and will be shown again at 17:00. At 17:00, the Iceland Symphony Orchestra will perform one of the largest symphonic works in history, Mahler’s Symphony No. 8, while Fischersund presents the festival’s immersive scent world in the greenhouse at Lækjartorg. Exhibitions by James Merry and Björk open at the National Gallery of Iceland at 18:00, and the day concludes with the Reykjavík Arts Festival Club opening party at Iðnó, where the dance performance Move with Pride takes place at 21:00.

Thank you for a great Festival!

More news

Thank you for coming to Reykjavík Arts Festival 2026

Reykjavík Arts Festival 2026 has started

Reykjavík Arts Festival starts 30 May