Event Details
Iceland Airwaves 2026 – The World's Northernmost Music Festival
From 5 to 7 November 2026, downtown Reykjavik comes alive as Iceland Airwaves transforms the Icelandic capital into a city-wide musical playground. Founded in 1999 in an airport hangar, the festival has grown into one of the most celebrated music discovery events on the planet. It remains the most important launch platform for Icelandic music while simultaneously showcasing the most exciting emerging international artists across genres ranging from electronic and hip-hop to folk, rock and ambient.
Highlights 2026
- Official festival program from 5 to 7 November 2026 across multiple downtown venues
- Special Events on 4 and 8 November with major international headliners
- Shygirl (UK) on 4 November at Silfurberg – experimental pop, club music and hip-hop
- Daði Freyr & Sinfó on 5 November at Eldborg – synth-pop meets the Iceland Symphony Orchestra
- The Streets on 8 November at Eldborg – landmark album A Grand Don't Come for Free performed in full for the first time ever
- Over 70 confirmed artists from Iceland, Europe, the Americas, Australia and Asia
- Free daytime off-venue shows in record stores, bars and cultural spaces
- International music industry conference running alongside the festival program
2026 Lineup (Selection)
The official program includes: MAMMÚT (IS), Axel Flóvent (IS), Júníus Meyvant (IS), RAKEL (IS), Skeler (AU), Adult DVD (UK), Pollyfromthedirt (UK), KOIKOI (RS), Joe & the Shitboys (FO), Arima Ederra (US), Heartworms (UK), Jamie Woon (UK), Emmsjé Gauti (IS), Úlfur Úlfur (IS) and many more. The full and continuously updated lineup is available on the official website.
Venues & Atmosphere
What makes Iceland Airwaves unique is its multi-venue format: all official stages are located within walking distance of one another in downtown Reykjavik. Performances take place in intimate record stores, art museums, bars, historic churches and larger concert halls. Official evening shows begin at approximately 19:00 and continue late into the night. During the day, free off-venue shows by local artists take place at selected bars and cultural spaces, open to all visitors without a festival ticket.
Tickets
Tickets for the official festival program are sold via tix.is. The 3-day festival pass starts from ISK 7,900 (approx. €57) at Early Bird pricing; prices increase as the festival approaches. Festival pass holders receive a 10 % discount on Special Event tickets and access to an exclusive pre-sale. Adding a Plus Upgrade increases the Special Event discount to 20 %. Day passes and the Airwaves Pro Pass with conference access are also available. Travel packages combining Icelandair flights and hotel accommodation can be booked directly through the official festival website.
Visitor Tips
- Buy tickets as early as possible – Early Bird allocations are limited and sell out before prices increase.
- The festival is strictly 18+ for all official venues.
- Pack sturdy footwear and waterproof clothing – November in Reykjavik is cold, windy and wet.
- Your wristband for all official venues is collected on site against a valid photo ID.
- Tickets are transferable: the new holder's name and ID must be updated through tix.is.
- Book accommodation well in advance – hotel availability in Reykjavik is limited during festival week.
- The free daytime off-venue shows are a perfect way to discover new Icelandic music without a festival pass.
