Upcoming Holidays and Festivals in Iceland

Before planning a trip around a festival, verify the festival dates at the festival's website or with a local tourist information office. For more information about these and other events, visit the official tourism site for Iceland.
This list includes selected festivals, plus national holidays observed in Iceland. Many sights and banks close down on national holidays — keep this in mind when planning your itinerary. Note that this isn't a complete list; holidays can strike without warning.
See upcoming holidays and festivals across Europe

2024

First three Advent weekends: Christmas market in Heiðmörk woods (near Reykjavík)

Late November–December 23: Christmas Village, Hafnarfjörður

December 7: Yule Lads Bath, Mývatn Nature Bath (Christmas festival with swimming yule lads)

December 23: St. Þorlákur's Day (Christmas shopping, evening strolling, traditional meals of fermented skate)

December 24: Christmas Eve (businesses close at noon)

December 25–26: Christmas Day and Second Day of Christmas (closures)

December 31: New Year's Eve (bonfires, fireworks, businesses close at noon)

2025

January 1: New Year's Day (closures)

January 6: Thirteenth Day of Christmas (Epiphany; bonfires and fireworks)

Mid-January–mid-February: Þorri (midwinter celebration from old Norse calendar)

January 23–27: Dark Music Days, Reykjavík (contemporary music festival)

January 25–28 & February 2–4: Reykjavík International Games

February 6–9: Reykjavík Winter Lights Festival

February 9–10: Art in the Light, Seyðisfjörður

February 12–14: Carnival (Bun Day, a.k.a. Bolludagur, on Monday; Blast Day, a.k.a. Sprengidagur, on Tuesday; parades and costumes on Ash Wednesday, a.k.a. Öskudagur)

March 29–30: Aldrei Fór Ég Suður music festival, Ísafjörður, Westfjords

April 17–21: Easter weekend (Maundy Thursday through Easter Monday; closures)

April 23–28: Children's Culture Festival, Reykjavík

April 24: Sumardagurinn fyrsti (first day of summer on old Norse calendar; parades, sports, closures)

April 24–28: DesignMarch, Reykjavík (design festival)

May 1: Labor Day (closures)

May 29: Ascension (closures)

June 8: Fishermen's Day (maritime festivals across Iceland; Reykjavík celebrates the Festival of the Sea all weekend)

June 8 & 9: Whit Sunday and Whit Monday (closures)

June 12–17 (likely): Viking Festival, Hafnarfjörður

June 16–22 (likely): Reykjavík Fringe Festival (eclectic performances)

June 17: Icelandic National Day (parades, theater; closures)

June 19–21 (likely): Arctic Open, Akureyri (golf tournament)

July 1–4 (likely): Goslok Festival, Vestmannaeyjar (commemorates end of 1973 volcanic eruption)

July 5–9 (likely): Siglufjörður Folk Festival (Icelandic, Scandinavian, and world music)

July 7–13 (likely): Icelandic horse convention, Reykjavík

July 31–August 3 (likely): Þjóðhátíð National Festival, Herjólfsdalur, Westman Islands (fireworks, bonfires, singing)

August 1–3 (likely): Innipuúkinn Music Festival, Reykjavík (indie rock)

August 4: Commerce Day, a.k.a. "Shop Workers' Day Off"

August 5–10 (likely): Reykjavík Pride

August 23 (likely): Culture Night, Reykjavík (free admission to museums, other free events)

August 27–30 (likely): Reykjavík Jazz Festival

September: Réttir (sheep roundup across Iceland)

September 25–October 5: Reykjavík International Film Festival

October 9: John Lennon's birthday and lighting of Imagine Peace Tower on Viðey Island, Reykjavík

November 6–8: Iceland Airwaves music festival, Reykjavík