The programme of the Reykjavík Arts Festival will be announced at Iðnó on Friday, 27 March 2026 at 4:00 pm.

Programme launch for Reykjavík Arts Festival 2026

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The performance of Mahler's 8th Symphony is without a doubt a major event in the Icelandic music scene and marks a milestone in the history of the Iceland Symphony Orchestra. This masterpiece of musical history has never before been performed in Iceland, and now there is no expense spared. The symphony was nicknamed “the Symphony of Thousands” early on, because its performance calls for an unusual high number of performers, both singers and instrumentalists. On stage will be nearly four hundred performers, an unusually large orchestra, eight soloists, a choir and a children's choir. Mahler composed this moving piece of music in just six weeks in 1906, a towering celebration of love and humanity, full of optimism and faith in humanity. Mahler was convinced that the work's message applied to the whole world, and even today, the performance of the work is a truly international musical event every time.

This concert will also be Eva Ollikainen's farewell as principal conductor. She has been the principal conductor and artistic director of the Iceland Symphony Orchestra since 2020.

The concert is a collaborative project between the Reykjavík Arts Festival and the Iceland Symphony Orchestra.

The Reykjavík Art Museum is pleased to welcome the German artist Karin Sander, who has been in residence in Iceland, developing a major exhibition of her work. Opening on the 30th of May at Reykjavík Arts Festival in 2026, the exhibition traces her artistic career and highlights works inspired by her connection with Iceland over the past three decades.

Karin Sander is renowned for her conceptual approach to material and space, where she reimagines everyday objects, architecture, and digital media in innovative and thought-provoking ways. Among the new works to be featured are her Patina Paintings – paintings created by exposing untreated canvas to the natural environment over an extended period. Instead of traditional brushwork, these works evolve through a natural process of weathering, becoming spontaneous “landscapes” of the sites in which they are placed.

For this exhibition, new Patina Paintings are being produced at various locations around Iceland, reflecting Sander’s interest in the interplay between material, time, and place. During her recent stay, Sander travelled around the country and installed canvases in Arnarfjörður, Kerlingarfjöll, and on the north side of Hafnarhúsið.

Further information on the exhibition opening and related events will be announced later.

Metamorphlings is the first museum retrospective of the artist’s work. Comprising over 80 artworks, the exhibition offers a window into the evolution of Merry’s artistic output over the past decade. During this time, he has developed a body of work centered on the mask – operating as a conduit for transformation, a catalyst for performance, and a portal through which identity can mutate. The exhibition focuses on the moment of metamorphosis when form and self are fluid.

The masks on view showcase Merry’s craftsmanship, which uniquely blends traditional techniques with contemporary, avant-garde expressions. Visitors encounter works in a range of mediums: embroidery, metalwork, 3D printing, jewelry, and interactive digital displays. Collectively, these works – the Metamorphlings – form a family of shape-shifting creations that can offer a deeper insight into Merry’s unending fascination with the natural world, as well as his abiding interest in archaeology and ancient ritual. Many of the masks included in the exhibition were created for Björk Guðmundsdóttir as part of their long-standing artistic collaboration. The exhibition will also include commissions made for other notable collaborators, among them Tilda Swinton and Iris van Herpen. While many of these works have appeared in live performances and high-fashion contexts, this exhibition offers a rare opportunity to engage with them as standalone artworks.

The National Gallery presents echolalalia, an exhibition of works by Björk, the visionary singer, songwriter, performer, and poet, whose work over the past five decades has consistently pushed beyond conventional musical boundaries, interweaving art, nature, and technology with restless experimentation. Echolalia focuses on Björk as the creative force behind multimedia projects she has developed in collaboration with communities of musicians, artists, designers, dancers, filmmakers, and studio technicians. In three immersive installations, the public is given a rare opportunity to engage intimately with works of phenomenal visual, aural, and emotional depth.

The first gallery contains a new installation pulled from Björk’s forthcoming album. The work offers an introduction to the latest chapter of the artist’s ongoing explorations of transformation and collaboration. 

Two elegiac works each command their own galleries. Ancestress and Sorrowful Soil honor Björk’s mother, environmental activist Hildur Rúna Hauksdóttir, who passed away in 2018. Released alongside Björk’s 2022 album Fossora, composed and arranged by Björk, the works are presented at the museum on a theatrical scale. 

Ancestress reckons with the cyclical nature of life. Set in a remote valley in Iceland, the lamentation is staged as a ritualistic procession of musicians and dancers, including Björk herself, who is accompanied by her son, Sindri Eldon, in the chorus. The film was made in close collaboration with many of Björk’s longstanding creative partners, including the filmmaker Andrew Thomas Huang, and James Merry, co-creative director with Björk, and designer of the masks and ritual objects that adorn the musicians. 

The polyphonic 9-part choral work Sorrowful Soil is a requiem expressing the loss of the mother as a life force. The oval-shaped video, directed by Viðar Logi and Björk as creative director, speaks to both human and geological time, filmed at the site of the erupting Fagradalsfjall volcano. Thirty speakers arrayed through the gallery each transmit a single voice from the Hamrahlíð choir, conducted by Þorgerður Ingólfsdóttir. As one walks through the gallery, the experience moves between singular and synergistic voices, invoking a sense of humanity that is at once individual and collective.

Information about the entrance fee can be found on the museums website

Rót is a new poetic puppet play for families from Handbendi Puppet Theatre, about roots, empathy, and the stories that make us whole. The piece takes place in the summer of 1995 when a young boy in a small Icelandic town meets his grandmother, his abuelu, for the first time. She arrives from Paraguay like a burst of colour and song, bringing with her a suitcase filled with stories, memories, and a touch of magic. 

Through music, puppetry, and visual enchantment, the story travels between Iceland and South America, past and present, reality and imagination. Rót is about growing up between different worlds, carrying stories from two cultures, and discovering that no one is half of anything—we are all whole. It is a heartfelt, colourful, and visually rich show celebrating family, heritage, and the beauty of being oneself.

Handbendi is an award-winning puppet theatre based in rural Northwest Iceland. The theatre specialises in original, impactful productions for audiences of all ages and tours widely abroad to great acclaim. Founded in 2016 by director, performer, and puppeteer Greta Clough, Handbendi has established itself as one of Iceland’s most original performing arts groups. 

Handbendi received the Eyrarrósin Award in 2023. Rót will premiere at the Akureyri Theatre Company on 25 April and will then be performed at the Reykjavík Arts Festival with exhibitions in Kassinn at the National Theatre of Iceland in May and June.

Stefán was Principal Flute of the Metropolitan Opera in New York from 2008 to 2016 and of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra from 2015 to 2025. This past autumn, he took up the position of Principal Flute with the Berlin Philharmonic. In addition, he regularly performs as a soloist and visiting tutor around the world.

It is a great pleasure to welcome Stefán Ragnar as he now performs for the first time at Reykjavík Arts Festival, with concerts taking place in Reykjavík and in East Iceland where Stefán grew up. This is a unique opportunity to hear Stefán Ragnar perform with his dear musical friends, cellist Sigurgeir Agnarsson and pianist Liam Kaplan. The programme will feature works by composers such as Prokofiev, Villa-Lobos and Mendelssohn.

June 4th, The Iceland Symphony Orchestra and the Reykjavík Arts Festival present a fascinating evening with composer Hildur Guðnadóttir, showcasing images from her work in recent years. Hildur is one of the leading film composers of our time and has won many awards for her work, including an Emmy and Grammy Award in 2019 for the score in the TV series Chernobyl and an Oscar in 2020 for the score for the film Joker.

At the concert, the artist herself hosts a program where she talks about her work, influences, and the struggle to strengthen a film's narrative with moving music. The program features Hildur’s own compositions alongside works that have influenced her over the years.

The Akureyri Art Museum will open an exhibition at the Arts Festival on June 4 featuring the Swiss artist Zimoun.

The Swiss artist Zimoun creates sound installations and sculptures made from recycled materials from everyday life and industry.

His installation will reveal a dense and hypnotic atmosphere, connecting with nature but also touching on social criticism, automated processes, the world's power structures and progressive robotisation.

Through a handmade mechanical process, he activates local materials and with scratching, clawing, knocking, and vibrating, he makes the exhibition hall resonate and transform into a living environment that are intended to move us to examine ourselves and the world around us.
The exhibition runs until September 6, and we encourage everyone to visit this remarkable artist’s exhibition.

No holds barred at the Festival Hub as nationally renowned verse-makers take to the stage and improvise witty ditties about whatever, and whoever, happens to be in the spotlight. The unique musicians of Tríó Zimsen will also sing and play. It is rare for such an event to be held in Reykjavík, and unprecedented at the Reykjavík Arts Festival. This is a splendid opportunity for Reykjavík residents and poetry lovers from all over the world who want to experience this vibrant, living tradition.

Perfumery is a harmony of notes from top to bass, fresh to bold, lilting and persisting. This harmony runs parallel to the sounds of Fischersund, where carefully crafted musical notes create a transportive atmosphere. For the first time, Fischersund brings its signature scented concert to Reykjavík. During this special evening, perfume, music, and visual art fuse together to tickle the nose, ears, and eyes, creating a memorable sensory journey. Musicians Jónsi from Sigur Rós, Sindri Már Sigfússon, and Kjartan Holm play their musical compositions that reflect the ethereal Fischersund fragrances and, through sound, bring them to life. The concert leaves an impression that transcends the physical space – an imprint in memory for all to take home. Video works are by Ingibjörg Birgisdóttir, and the host of the evening is Lilja Birgisdóttir.

Bountiful programme of Arabian culture granting anyone an opportunity to experience and enjoy diverse cultures through music, dance, cuisine and language. The highlight of the programme is a concert and storytime with the Palestinian drum queen Simona Abdallah. Simona is a percussionist who plays the Arabian drum darbuka, traditionally a male instrument. Simona is one of the first female musicians of Arabian origin to break tradition and has attracted international attention. The evening ends with a dance party until midnight.

13:00 - 15:00
Darbuka drum workshop - bring your own drum (not necessarily darbuka, e.g. djembe)

15:00 - 16:00
Dabke - wear comfortable clothes to sweat in

16:00 - 17:00
Jallabina and belly dance - wear comfortable clothes to sweat in

19:00 - 20:00
Bazaar, Arabic food tasting & chat

21:30
Dance party: Belly dance, dabke & Jallabina

Where to From is commissioned by Reykjavík Arts Festival, Barbican Centre, Vienna Konzerthaus and Holland Festival. In addition to Hildur, who sings and plays cello, the performance features Liam Byrne on viola da gamba, vocalists Peyee Chen and Nina Guo, violist Sarah Saviet, and cellists Constance Ricard and Clare O’Connell. Lighting design is by Theresa Baumgartner and sound design by Francesco Donadello.

On Saturday 6 June at 20:00, a concert will take place in Harpa’s Silfurberg, where Hildur and her ensemble perform Where to From for the first time in Iceland, along with Hildur's earlier works. 
She says of the piece:

“I have a fairly constant stream of music in my head. Sometimes I record this stream, and it becomes a kind of snapshot of my emotions at that moment. Where to From is my audio diary. I’m excited to open it up to the audience at Harpa, together with good friends.”

The 2026 Artist-in-Residence is Hildur Guðnadóttir. Three events will showcase her and her music during the festival.

Where to From: Hildur Guðnadóttir and friends

As a part of Reykjavík Arts Festival, the Choir of Hallgrímskirkja invites you to a concert where two influential Icelandic composers will be brought together: Hildur Guðnadóttir, the festival’s artist-in-residence, and Jón Nordal, who would have turned 100 in the spring of 2026.

The concert will feature several of Hildur’s works written for choir, alongside Jón’s major work Óttusöngvar á vori (1993) for choir, soprano, countertenor, organ, cello, and percussion. Among the performers is Álfheiður Erla Guðmundsdóttir, with Steinar Logi Helgason conducting.

Reykjavík Arts Festival proudly presents a concert with musician John Grant in Harpa’s Eldborg on Saturday, June 13. This will be John’s first major concert in Iceland in many years, making it a truly special occasion.

John Grant has been based in Iceland for many years. He has played a prominent role in the national and international music scene, both as a songwriter and performer, with a career spanning over two decades. He is a multifaceted artist whose music spans several genres and is marked by deep sincerity and sharp wit. John’s powerful lyrics have resonated with audiences worldwide; he is known for writing about his own personal life experiences in an honest and unflinching way. His albums have received widespread critical acclaim, placing him among the most distinctive artists of his generation.

At his concert in Eldborg, John will perform a selection of songs from across his career, including tracks from his latest album, The Art of the Lie. The album was released in 2024 and received outstanding reviews from critics.

John Grant is known for his unique voice and strong stage presence. Through powerful yet intimate performances, he connects deeply with the audience, making every concert an unforgettable experience.

John has a special connection with Iceland and has collaborated with numerous artists based in the country. We look forward to deepening this connection when he performs at Reykjavík Arts Festival together with his band of outstanding musicians.

The Icelandic singer-songwriter RAKEL will open for John Grant. In recent years, she has gained recognition in the Icelandic music scene with her unique voice and layered compositions. In addition to writing her own music, she has collaborated with some of the country’s leading musicians.

The American soprano Angel Blue, one of the most influential opera singers of our time and a two-time Grammy Award winner, will perform on the closing day of the 2026 Arts Festival on June 14, together with pianist Bryan Wagorn.

In recent years, Angel has gained worldwide acclaim, singing in many of the world’s leading opera houses, including the Metropolitan Opera, the Royal Opera House in London, the Opéra National de Paris, and the Arena di Verona. She has also performed in over forty countries in solo recitals and as a soloist with renowned symphony orchestras.

Angel is known for the remarkable range of her interpretations and for her uniquely honey soprano. At the Reykjavík Arts Festival, Angel and Bryan will present a varied program in which all music lovers should find something to enjoy. The program includes works by Fauré, Debussy, and Strauss, songs from Gershwin musicals, and African American spirituals such as Ride on King Jesus and Deep River..

This is a rare opportunity to experience the exceptional talent of an outstanding singer who captivates audiences with both her voice and her warm presence.

Programme

Programme launch for Reykjavík Arts Festival 2026

Mahler 8

Karin Sander 1957-2057

Björk og James Merry

Rót

Stefán Ragnar

Close up

Akureyri Art Museum

Fischersund: A Night of Scent & Music

Where to From

Generations in Harmony

John Grant

Angel Blue

Festival Hub

Klúbbur Listahátíðar

Verse Night & Tríó Zimsen

Arabian Nights