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

November 7–9:  Iceland Airwaves music festival, Reykjavík

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–April 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 (likely):  Iceland Airwaves music festival, Reykjavík

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

Late November–December 23:  Christmas Village, Hafnarfjörður

December 6 (likely):  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)