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For a country with one of the smallest total populations, there is a surprisingly big number of Icelandic festivals celebrated throughout the year. They feature different aspects of culture, be it music, the arts or old folk traditions. And it’s not just Reykjavík that’s big on events, every region or village has some customary gathering that shows you just how lively and rich the country truly is. Here are some that you should definitely try to plan a tour around.
Apart from festivals & events mentioned below, there are other celebrations too, like local ethnic ones that you’d only ever hear about if your visit happens to coincide. Still, these popular choices give you something to look forward to when signing up for a Iceland packages with SOTC.
Iceland has a rich legacy of producing world-famous musicians, like Sigur Rós or Björk. Naturally, some of the best festival experiences you can have in the country are music ones. The biggest of them are Iceland Airwaves in November, Secret Solstice in Juke and Sónar Reykjavík in February. All of these are hosted in the capital, but you can easily find many smaller shows and performances in other parts of the country.
If you like the arts, you’ll love the many Iceland events dedicated to it. There’s the Reykjavík Fashion Festival, Reykjavík Fringe Festival, Iceland Improv Festival and the really popular Culture Night in Reykjavík too. They give you the perfect glimpse into the rich artistic tradition of the country as well as its contemporary charm.
If you’re looking for a truly special Icelandic festival experience, there’s no better time to visit the country than the week of Verslunarmannahelgi in August. This bank holiday weekend offers the perfect occasion to host the country’s biggest camping activity across various festivals and locaitons. Ein með öllu in Akureyri or the Westman Island celebrations are the biggest.