Christmas and New Year in Akureyri
Visitors coming to Akureyri during Christmas and New Year can enjoy the cultural festive celebrations of the holidays along with colourful Christmas lights & decorations. New Year´s Eve is greatly celebrated in Iceland and you can attend an enormous town bonfire and watch a fantastic firework display that lights up the night sky above the town. Every year the atmosphere is amazing. For Event Calender click here.
Hotel Kea and Icelandair Hotel offer accommodation and restaurant service during the holidays and many smaller guesthouses and apartments offer accommodation with self-catering facilities. Note that the hotel restaurants must be pre booked for dinner over Christmas and New Year´s Eve.
Opening hours in other restaurants, shops etc. varies during the holidays, most close around noon on the 24th December and reopen on the 26th December the same applies to New Year´s Eve. For further details - see the overview for Christmas and New Year.
The largest ski area in Iceland Hlíđarfjall ( www.hlidarfjall.is/en ) is open during most of the winter holidays and most of the tour operators in town offer various tours during the holidays.
For information on available activities and opening hours on general basis during the winter season.
How to get there:
Icelandair (www.icelandair.com) flies to Keflavik Airport in south Iceland from many European and North American destinations. These flights can easily be combined with a domestic flight from the domestic airport in Reykjavik to Akureyri. The domestic flights take about 45 minutes and are offered several times a day (http://www.airiceland.is/). It is also possible drive between Reykjavík and Akureyri a distance of approx 400 km along the main road no 1. Scheduled busses run daily www.straeto.is and the bus ride takes about 6-7 hours. By private car the drive takes about 5 hrs.
Related to the Christmas also visit The Christmas Cat at Ráđhústorg Square.
Events of the advent festival 2019:
Saturday 23rd November
10.00-11.30 Old oak boat Húni II open for visitors at Fiskihöfn Pier
10.00-16.00 Christmas crafts market at Skógarlundur
11.00-17.00 Pop Up Christmas Market at Símey, Ţórsstígur 4. Handcrafts, design, local food etc.
13.00-15.00 Art workshop for adults with Ađalsteinn Ţórsson at Akureyri Art Museum
14.00-17.00 The Dawning of Night. Exhibition by Matt Armstrong at Deiglan
14.00-17.00 Art exhibition Tryggvi Zophonías Pálsson at Mjólkurbúđin Gallery
15.00 Opening of exhibition Not an Idea, Final Projects 2019 at Akureyri Art Museum
16.00 Christmas tree in town square will be lit
16.00 Söngvar Daníels – Classical concert with choirs and soloists at Akureyri Church
22.00 Concert with Jónas Sig at Grćni Hatturinn
Sunday 24th November
14.00-17.00 The Dawning of Night. Exhibition by Matt Armstrong at Deiglan
14.00-17.00 Art exhibition Tryggvi Zophonías Pálsson at Mjólkurbúđin Gallery
19.30 Swan Lake. St Petersburg Ballet with North Iceland Symphonic Orchestra at Hof Cultural Center
Monday 25th November
17.00 Walk of light from Hof Cultural Center. 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence
Thursday 28th November
12.30-13.00 Guided tour on the exhibition Workers at Akureyri Art Museum
21.00-23.00 Jazz at R5 Bar - Local musicians Ösp Eldjárn & Örn Eldjárn
22.00 Rock concert with the bands Skepna, Lost & Nýríki Nonni at Grćni Hatturinn
Friday 29th November
16.00-16.45 Flögr. Poetry reading and micro musical compositions at Flóra
20.00 Opening of art exhibition "I miss the days chasing lights" by Mak Jürgen at Kaktus
Saturday 30th November
10.00-11.30 Old oak boat Húni II open for visitors at Fiskihöfn Pier
12.00-17.00 Christmas market at Laugarborg, Hrafnagil. Crafts, art and local food.
12.00-17.00 Art and crafts market at Deiglan
14.00-17.00 Art exhibition by Hallgrímur Ingólfsson at Mjólkurbúđin Gallery
14.00-17.00 Art exhibition "I miss the days chasing lights" by Mak Jürgen at Kaktus
14.00-18.00 Advent at Freyjulundur - Artists' open studio
22.00 Christmas concert with the band Á Móti Sól at Grćni Hatturinn
Sunday 1st December
12.00-17.00 Art and crafts market at Deiglan
14.00-17.00 Art exhibition by Hallgrímur Ingólfsson at Mjólkurbúđin Gallery
14.00-17.00 Art exhibition "I miss the days chasing lights" by Mak Jürgen at Kaktus
14.00-18.00 Advent at Freyjulundur - Artists' open studio
17.00 Classical concert at Akureyri Church
Monday 2nd December
17.30 Christmas Concert with Akureyri Music School Brass bands at Hof Cultural Center
Tuesday 3rd December
20.00-22.00 Christmas Concert with Ţrymur VMA's music club at Verkmenntaskólinn á Akureyri
Thursday 5th December
12.30-13.00 Guided tour on the exhibition Selected Works at Akureyri Art Museum
21.00 Concert with vocalist Ţórkatla Haraldsdóttir at R5 Bar
21.00 Christmas concert with Ragnheiđur Gröndal, Kristjana Stefáns & Svavar Knútur at Grćni Hatturinn
Friday 6th December
20.00-22.00 Candlelight night in the town center and Art Street
21.00 Concert with Prins Jóló at Grćni Hatturinn
21.30 Live music - Viljar Niu at Akureyri Backpackers
22.00 „Norđurljós“ Christmas concert at Hof Cultural Center
Saturday 7th December
11.00-18.00 Advent at the Botanical Garden
11.00-17.00 Advent Market at Hlíđarbćr - Design, crafts and local food
12.00-18.00 Christmas market at Holtsel, Eyjafjarđarsveit - local food and crafts
13.00-17.00 Christmas Market at Vaglaskogur forest
13.00 Pastelrit book releasing party at Flóra
13.00-15.00 Art workshop for adults with Björg Eiríksdóttir at Akureyri Art Museum
14.00-17.00 Opening day at Art Street
14.00-17.00 Art exhibition at Deiglan
14.00-17.00 Christmas sales exhibition at Mjólkurbúđin Gallery
15.00 Art exhibitions HEIMAt & Light Beyond/ Light of Spirit open at Akureyri Art Museum
19.00 Christmas concert with Eyţór Ingi with local choirs at Glerárkirkja church
19.00 & 22.00 „Norđurljós“ Christmas concert at Hof Cultural Center
22.00 Concert with the band Vintage Caravan at Grćni Hatturinn
Sunday 8th December
11.00-18.00 Advent at the Botanical Garden
11.00-17.00 Advent Market at Hlíđarbćr - Design, crafts and local food
11.00, 12.30, 15.00 & 16.30 Christmas Show by Steps Dancecenter at Hof Cultural Center
12.00-18.00 Christmas market at Holtsel, Eyjafjarđarsveit - gourmet food and crafts
14.00-17.00 Art exhibition at Deiglan
14.00-17.00 Christmas sales exhibition at Mjólkurbúđin Gallery
Monday 9th December
17.00 Make your own Christmas Sweater at The Municipal Library
Wednesday 11th December
18.00 Christmas concert with Akureyri Music School‘s Rhythmic students at Hof Cultural Center
Thursday 12th December
12.30-13.00 Guided tour on the exhibition Light Beyond/ Light of Spirit at Akureyri Art Museum
19.00-21.00 Advent evening at Nonni's House and Akureyri Museum - Free admission
20.00 „Ćskujól“ Christmas concert with Ari Ólafsson, Karolína Sif & Pétur Ernir at Akureyri Church
21.00 Christmas concert with Andrea Gylfa at Grćni Hatturinn
21.00 Christmas concert with Stebbi Jak & Andri Ívars at Grćni Hatturinn
Friday 13th December
20.00-23.00 Opening of art exhibition by Kaktus and market at Kaktus
21.00 „Jólastund“ Christmas concert with Gréta Salóme & Dađi Freyr at Akureyri Church
22.00 „Lúđar og létt jólatónlist“ Christmas concert with local musicians at Grćni Hatturinn
Saturday 14th December
11.00-18.00 Advent at the Botanical Garden
13.00-15.00 Art workshop for adults with Eiríkur Arnar at Akureyri Art Museum
14.00-17.00 Christmas sales exhibition at Mjólkurbúđin Gallery
14.00-17.00 Art exhibition by Rögnvaldur Rögnvaldsson at Deiglan
14.00-17.00 Art exhibition by Kaktus and market at Kaktus
16.00, 19.00 & 22.00 „Heima um jólin“ Christmas concert at Hof Cultural Center
22.00 „Lúđar og létt jólatónlist“ Christmas concert with local musicians at Grćni Hatturinn
Sunday 15th December
11.00-18.00 Advent at the Botanical Garden
14.00-17.00 Christmas sales exhibition at Mjólkurbúđin Gallery
14.00-17.00 Art exhibition by Rögnvaldur Rögnvaldsson at Deiglan
14.00-17.00 Art exhibition by Kaktus and market at Kaktus
16.00 „Heima um jólin“ Christmas concert at Hof Cultural Center
17.00 & 20.00 Christmas carols at Akureyri Church - Choir concert
Wednesday 18th December
16.00-16.30 Christmas concert with Akureyri Music School‘s students at Hof Cultural Center
21.00 „Jóla-Góss“ Christmas concert with Sigríđur Thorlacius and Sigurđur Guđmundsson at Grćni Hatturinn
Thursday 19th December
12.30-13.00 Guided tour on the exhibition HEIMAt at Akureyri Art Museum
19.00 „Stjörnublik“ Christmas concert with male choir Karlakór Eyjafjarđar at Glerárkirkja Church
21.00 Christmas concert with KK & Ellen at Akureyri Church
21.00 Charity concert with students from Akureyri Music School at R5 Bar
Friday 20th December
20.00 Opening of art exhibition by Georg Óskar at Kaktus
22.00 Christmas concert with Valdimar & family at Grćni Hatturinn
Saturday 21st December
13.00-22.00 Advent market – Icelandic design and handcraft at Giliđ Studios
13.00-18.00 Beate & Helgi's Christmas Shop by Flóra. Local handcraft, art and more.
14.00-17.00 Christmas sales exhibition at Mjólkurbúđin Gallery
14.00-17.00 Art exhibition by Georg Óskar at Kaktus
20.30 Concert with singer/songwriter Bubbi at Hof Cultural Center
22.00 Christmas concert with Valdimar & family at Grćni Hatturinn
Sunday 22nd December
14.00-17.00 Christmas sales exhibition at Mjólkurbúđin Gallery
14.00-17.00 Art exhibition by Georg Óskar at Kaktus
16.00 & 19.00 Christmas concert with Jóhanna Guđrún & Eyţór Ingi at Hof Cultural Center
21.00 Christmas concert with choir Hymnodia at Akureyri Church
Monday 23rd December
14.00-17.00 Christmas sales exhibition at Mjólkurbúđin Gallery
20.00 Peace walk from Akureyri Theatre to Ráđhústorg Town Square
Tuesday 24th December - Christmas Eve
18.00 Christmas Evensong at Akureyri Church
18.00 Christmas Evensong at Glerárkirkja Church
23.00 Midnight Mass at Glerárkirkja Church
23.30 Midnight Mass at Akureyri Church
Wednesday 25th December - Christmas Day
13.30 Christmas Mass at Glerárkirkja Church
14.00 Christmas Mass at Akureyri Church
Thursday 26th December - Boxing Day
22.00 Concert with the band Hvanndalsbrćđur at Grćni Hatturinn
Friday 27th December
22.00 Killer Queen tribute concert at Grćni Hatturinn
Saturday 28th December
14.00-17.00 Art exhibition by Anna Cecilia Seaward at Deiglan
22.00 Concert with Auđur at Grćni Hatturinn
Sunday 29th December
14.00-17.00 Art exhibition by Anna Cecilia Seaward at Deiglan
22.00 Concert with Auđur at Grćni Hatturinn
Monday 30th December
22.00 Concert with Helgi & Hljóđfćraleikararnir at Grćni Hatturinn
Tuesday 31th December
17.00 New Year's Eve Bonfire at Hrísey Island
20.00 New Year's Eve Bonfire at Grímsey Island
20.30 New Year's Eve Bonfire and Fireworks at Réttarhvammur by the road to Hlíđarfjall Ski Resort
Akureyrarstofa
