Iceland has a festival for almost every season. Iceland Airwaves fills Reykjavík in early November, Bræðslan and Eistnaflug bring music to East Iceland in July, and Þjóðhátíð takes over the Westman Islands on the first weekend of August. Dates below are confirmed for the 2026–2027 season where the organisers have published them.
Iceland music festivals at a glance
Most festivals here are small, friendly and easy to reach. Several sit in tiny towns, so accommodation and transport fill up months ahead. Book your bed first and buy tickets second.
Dates change from year to year, so check the organiser's website before you book flights.
- Dark Music Days, Reykjavík: 28–30 January 2027 (contemporary and classical music)
- Aldrei fór ég suður, Ísafjörður: 26–27 March 2027 (rock, pop and folk in the Westfjords)
- Reykjavík Blues Festival: around Easter, listed as 31 March–1 April 2027
- Siglufjörður Folk Music Festival: early July, North Iceland
- Eistnaflug, Neskaupstaður: second weekend of July, East Iceland (metal and rock)
- LungA, Seyðisfjörður: mid-July, East Iceland (art and music)
- Bræðslan, Borgarfjörður eystri: Saturday 24 July 2027
- Þjóðhátíð, Westman Islands: 29 July–2 August 2027
- Reykjavík Jazz Festival: late August (listed as 24–29 August 2027)
- Iceland Airwaves, Reykjavík: 4–8 November 2026
Iceland Airwaves (November, Reykjavík)
Airwaves is the festival most visitors have heard of. In 2026 it runs 4–8 November, with the main programme on 5–7 November. More than 100 Icelandic and international acts play across seven central venues, including Kolaportið, Reykjavík City Hall, Iðnó, Nasa and Fríkirkjan. There are also separate ticketed shows in Harpa, and a music industry conference.
Three-day passes started at 17,400 ISK in the early-bird period and one-day passes at 11,900 ISK. Prices rise as the festival gets closer. Venues are small and fill quickly, so arrive early for the acts you care about.
November is also a good month for the Northern Lights and hot springs. Our Iceland in November guide covers weather, daylight and what is open. Between concerts, our Northern Lights private tour from Reykjavík fits easily into a free evening, and our Reykjavík tours fill the days.
Þjóðhátíð (first weekend of August, Westman Islands)
Þjóðhátíð is Iceland's biggest outdoor festival, held in Herjólfsdalur valley on Heimaey in the Westman Islands. About 15,000 people attend. It has been held every year since 1916, with roots going back to 1874. Guests sleep in white tents, and the festival ends on Sunday night with a bonfire, fireworks and the Brekkusöngur, a mass singalong with thousands of red flares.
The 2026 festival ran from 31 July to 3 August. The 2027 festival is listed for 29 July–2 August. Tickets are sold through tix.is. Reach the island by ferry from Landeyjahöfn or by domestic flight, and book your crossing well ahead. To see the islands on a quieter day, try our Westman Islands day tour from Reykjavík or our other Westman Islands tours.
East Iceland in July: Bræðslan, Eistnaflug and LungA
East Iceland has a run of small festivals in July, and they pair well with a road trip along the fjords. See our East Iceland tours for things to do in between.
Bræðslan is held in Borgarfjörður eystri, a village of about 100 people at the end of a mountain road. It takes place on a Saturday evening in late July, with Icelandic artists and a family atmosphere. The 2027 edition is on 24 July and marks the festival's 20th year. Ticket sales are due to start in April 2027. If you arrive a day early, our Puffins and Borgarfjörður Eystri tour visits the same village.
Eistnaflug is a four-day metal and rock festival in Neskaupstaður, held on the second weekend of July. More than 60 bands play, and its motto is a polite request that everyone behaves well towards each other and the town.
LungA is an art festival in Seyðisfjörður in mid-July, with workshops through the week and exhibitions and concerts on the final weekend. In July the Blue Church in Seyðisfjörður also hosts Wednesday evening concerts. For a day out from the town, see our Stuðlagil Canyon tour from Seyðisfjörður.
Winter and spring festivals
Dark Music Days (Myrkir músíkdagar) started in 1980 and is held in the darkest part of the year. It presents new Icelandic and international contemporary music, mainly in Reykjavík. The 2027 dates are 28–30 January.
Aldrei fór ég suður, meaning "I never went south", is a free rock and pop weekend in Ísafjörður at Easter time. It was held on 26–27 March in 2026 and is scheduled for the same dates in 2027. The town is small and the Westfjords roads can be icy in March, so allow extra travel time.
The Reykjavík Blues Festival is held around Easter, with blues acts from Iceland, Europe and North America, jam sessions and after-parties. Check the organiser's site for the final programme.
Folk, jazz and other summer options
The Siglufjörður Folk Music Festival is held in early July in Siglufjörður, a fishing town on the north coast. It has around 18 concerts, workshops, and a focus on Icelandic and Nordic folk music, including rímur, the traditional chanted poetry.
Reykjavík Jazz Festival takes place in late August, mostly in and around Harpa. Innipúkinn is an indie festival in central Reykjavík on the Verslunarmannahelgi weekend, so it suits anyone who wants to skip the camping.
You will also find village festivals, brass bands and free outdoor concerts in most towns on 17 June (National Day) and through the summer. Ask at the local information centre.
Planning tips for festival travel
Pick your region first, then the festival. A single festival makes a good anchor for a longer trip, whether that is a Ring Road loop in July or a few days in Reykjavík in November. Our 6-day summer Ring Road tour passes through East Iceland and makes a good frame for a July festival trip.
In July and early August, book a rental car or a tour package early. In November, keep a spare day in case of weather. We can help you build a trip around a festival date, with tours between concerts.
- Book accommodation as soon as dates are announced, especially in Borgarfjörður eystri, Neskaupstaður and Ísafjörður.
- Check ferry and flight times to the Westman Islands before buying Þjóðhátíð tickets.
- Bring waterproofs and warm layers even for July festivals.
- Confirm dates on each festival's own website, as they can move.
Tours to book
These tours fit well around the main festival dates.
- 6 Day Iceland Ring Road Tour (summer): a July loop of the country, East Iceland included.
- Northern Lights Private Tour from Reykjavík: an aurora hunt on a free night during Iceland Airwaves.
- Westman Islands Day Tour from Reykjavik: Heimaey without the festival crowds.
Questions people ask
When is Iceland Airwaves in 2026?
Iceland Airwaves runs 4–8 November 2026 in Reykjavík, with the main festival days on 5–7 November. Over 100 acts play across seven central venues.
When is Þjóðhátíð in the Westman Islands?
Þjóðhátíð is held on the first weekend of August, over the Verslunarmannahelgi long weekend. The 2026 festival ran 31 July–3 August and the 2027 festival is listed for 29 July–2 August.
What is the best Iceland music festival for a first-time visitor?
Iceland Airwaves suits city breaks and is easy to reach from Reykjavík hotels. Bræðslan and Eistnaflug suit road trippers who want small-town settings in East Iceland.
Is Secret Solstice still running?
We could not confirm any current dates for Secret Solstice, so we have left it out. Check its official website if you are planning around it.
