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

Reykjavík Arts Festival is seeking project proposals from artists interested in participating in the festival program, which takes place May 30 – June 14, 2026. Ideas at all stages of development are welcome, but larger and more resource-intensive projects must have secured partial funding to be considered.

The theme of Reykjavík Arts Festival 2026 is connections. How do we connect as a society with the world? How do we connect with each other within our communities and environment? We want to connect artists and audiences, across different art forms, regions, and cultures. Connections have never been more important.

The festival emphasises original creations and events that appeal to diverse audiences. It is not limited to the capital area, and events may take place throughout the country.

Arts and culture are not the privilege of a few, but a right for all.

We welcome ideas from diverse artists for projects that fit in both traditional and unconventional spaces, ensuring the festival reflects the richness of our society.

Proposals must be submitted by filling out the online form here.

Submission deadline: Midnight, April 16, 2025.

If you have any questions regarding the application form or process, please send us an email at artfest@artfest.is.

Photograph: Dancers from the Iceland Dance Company perform an excerpt from While in battle I am free, never free to rest by Hooman Sharifi at the opening of Reykjavík Arts Festival on 1 June 2024 at Reykjavík Art Museum. 
Photographer: Juliette Rowland

Seeking Ideas for Reykjavík Arts Festival 2026!

Which outstanding cultural project will receive Eyrarrósin in 2025?

Reykjavík Arts Festival, the Icelandic Regional Development Institute (Byggðastofnun), and Icelandair have opened applications for Eyrarrósin for the nineteenth time, an award given to an outstanding cultural project in rural areas. To be eligible for Eyrarósin the project must have been established and in operation for more than three years, and had an impact on the cultural life in its region.

In 2023, the cultural activities at the Alþýðuhús in Siglufjörður received the Eyrarrósin, and previous award winners include Handbendi in Hvammstangi, Bræðslan in Borgarfjörður Eystra, Skaftfell, the Freezer in Rif, Aldrei fór ég suður, Ferskir vindar in Garður, List í ljósi in Seyðisfjörður, and Skjaldborg in Patreksfjörður.

Winner of Eyrarrósin will receive a prize of 2.5 million ISK. A special video will be made about the project, and there will be an opportunity to organise an event as part of the main program of the Reykjavík Arts Festival in 2026.

The Encouragement prize for Eyrarrósin will now be awarded for the third time to three projects that are either recent or still under development but show professional ambition both in their operations and artistic vision. Each encouragement prize is 750,000 ISK.

The patron of Eyrarrósin is Mr. Björn Skúlason, the partner of the President of Iceland.

The deadline for applications for Eyrarrósin and the Encouragement Awards is 16:00 on Monday, March 24.  

Further information and an application form can be found here: www.listahatid.is/eyrarrosin

Eyrarrósin - Open call for applications 


Fjóla Dögg Sverrisdóttir has now stepped down as the Executive Director of Reykjavík Arts Festival, a position she held with great success for 8 years. Fjóla had a close and successful collaboration with the festival's artistic directors as well as other staff. During Fjóla's tenure, the festival has undergone major changes and she took an active part in implementing the festival's policies, most recently with special emphasis on accessibility and inclusion and environmental issues. The board and artistic director of Reykjavík Arts Festival thank Fjóla for her excellent and fruitful collaboration and selfless contribution to the festival. We wish Fjóla all the best in her new role.

Fjóla Dögg concludes her role as executive director

Eyrarrósin, a recognition for outstanding cultural projects outside the capital area, was presented for the seventeenth time on Sunday 16 May.

Handbendi receives the Eyrarrósin Award 2021

Handbendi receives the Eyrarrósin Award 2021

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Seeking Ideas for Reykjavík Arts Festival 2026!

Eyrarrósin - Open call for applications

Fjóla Dögg concludes her role as executive director