Events and Festivals

All year around there’s something happening in Akureyri. Here you can find information about the annual events and festivals that takes place in Akureyri and surroundings. On the list below is an introduction of every event/festival alphabetically. For a timeline please click “READ MORE”.

The first snowboarding event of AK Extreme was held in 2002 and each year the jump ramp that is built in Akureyri near to the swimming pool seems to get higher and higher. A collection of diehard snowboarders and skiers jump, twist and summersault in a bid to be the champion of this awsome event!

Bíladagar (The Akureyri Car Event) 2013 will be held in Akureyri, from June 14th to 17th Drag Races, displays and much more...

The Akureyri Town Festival is celebrated during the last weekend in August every year. It is the end of The Summer Arts Festival which is a joint project by all those who are engaged in promoting cultural activities in Akureyri during the summer.

About 100 individuals are selected to sell their exclusive handcraft, art and design that often is based on the old Icelandic traditions.

This international golf tournament takes place at the end of June around Summer Solstice.

Art Without Borders is an annual event where disabled and able-bodied artists meet with in their shared love of art.

The Akureyri Aviation Museum Flight Day is held at the end of June.

An annual motorbike meeting is held in Akureyri in late July. The motorbike club Tian (The Ten) organises this event , it offers a diverse programming to suits all who have a passion for motorbikes.

Visitors coming to Akureyri during Christmas and New Year can enjoy the fascinating festive celebrations of the holidays with colourful decorations and lights during Christmas followed by an enourmouse bonfire and fireworks show that lights up the night sky above the town during New Year.

The Donald Duck Ski Competition has been hosted in Mt. Hlidarfjall in Akureyri at the end of April every year since 1976. It is the biggest ski event in Iceland and are intended for kids at the age of 6-15.

Easter in Akureyri is an unforgetable experience. Whether you fancy going to a concert, a trip down the ski slopes of Hlíðafjall, a swim in one of the best pools in the country or treat yourself to an excellent night out of wining and dining , Akureyri is the right place.

"Ein med ollu" is a family oriented festival which takes place in the first weekend in August each year. The festival 2013 will take place from Thursday, the 2nd of August to Sunday, the 5th of August.

All you can eat - for free ! The Great Fish Day of Dalvík - everybody is invited to a sea food buffet – nobody has to pay.

This event takes place on the first Sunday in June. Fishing has always been very important to the Icelandic way of living and as Akureyri houses one of the largest fishing companies in Iceland the day is celebrated with various events. Fishing vessels stay docked in the harbour during the celebrations, so that the sailors can spend the day with their families. See www.visitakureyri.is

The inhabitants of Grímsey, Iceland’s northernmost inhabited island and the only part of the country that lies above the Arctic Circle, will celebrate the summer solstice on the 21th June with a festival , offering visitors a chance to participate in the celebrations.

This event takes place at the beginning of June each year. An annual fest focusing on old traditions from Grímsey. Collecting eggs, boat tours, childrens games, seek out the eggs of the Artic Tern, enjoy meals of specialities of the season, music etc.

Annual hiking week with different hikes in and around Akureyri. Varied levels ranging from easy 2-4 hours walks to difficult 24 hours hikes (the 24 mountain tops in 24 hours).

A varied 4 day hiking program organised by The Iceland Touring Association in and around Akureyri.

A weeks program of short local hiking in and around Akureyri. Suitable for all abilities. Hikes 2/3 hrs long.

This festival takes place in the middle of July each year. Enjoy a family friendly festival which includes a "surprise tour of the island" beach tour, campfire and songs. Hrísey is the pearl of Eyjafjordur with a rich birdlife and excellent hiking.

The National Day of Iceland which is on the 17th of June is a very important celebration for the people of Akureyri as it is to all the people of Iceland, as this is the day the Republic of Iceland was formed. The town is decorated with flags and a full celebratory program starts at 13.00 and runs until midnight, suitable for all ages.

Get pink and shimmery and enjoy Ladies Days with concerts, exhibitions and everything women love. www.visitakureyri.is Even in the harshest time of winter it’s nice to have a reason to celebrate. On' konudagur/Ladies day ' men must remember to treat their partners to something nice; flowers and chocolates are always popular.

Local Food is one of the most dynamic food show in the country. The overall goal of the exhibition is to present food and food culture from the northern parts of Iceland, ranging from small producers to the largest, catering services and other service related to the industry .

Each summer in July on the old medieval trading site Gásir a medieval trading village is re-created. The interactive medieval market event takes place over four days. Daily demonstrations in medieval crafts and games. www.gasir.is

The first Saturday in May every year is 'Museum Day' in Eyjafjord: The numerous and interesting museums in the fjord organize different programs. Entrance on this day is free to all the museums. See www.minjasafnid.is

N1 Football Tournament Youth boys football tournament (age 12).

The New Year in Akureyri is celebrated in the traditional Icelandic way. An enourmouse bonfire at Réttarhvamm (area on the way up to Hlíðarfjall ski centre) kicks off the celebrations around 8pm and then at 9pm a wonderful fireworks display follows, hosted by the local search and rescue organisation Súlur.

The “Pollamót” is an annual sporting event held by Icelandair and Þór football club at the beginning of July. It is a football tournament for adult people who want to show they haven’t lost their touch. Both men and women compete in the tournament, in age groups of 30+, 40+, and 45+ for men, and 20+ and 30+ for the women.

The annual Siglufjörður Folk Music Festival received a special award recognizing outstanding cultural events in the countryside of Iceland. Icelandic folk ballads, folkdance, courses and lectures are available during the festival since 1999.

The 24 peaks in 24 hours is an ambitious annual hiking event set in July. This event covers 24 mountains in 24 hours, a great challenge for any hiker.

January 6th. (Twelfth Night) is celebrated as the last day of Christmas in Iceland. The 13 Yule lads start going back up to the mountains on Christmas day, one by one, the last one leaving on 6th. of January, marking the end of the Christmas season. This day is celebrated in a similar way to New Year's Eve, but on a smaller scale with festive dinners, bonfires and fire-works.

An annual winter festival taking place in the beginning of February. All kinds of winter sports, Mountain hiking, Cross-country skiing, snow-boarding, downhill skiing, snow scooters, super jeeps, exhibition on new equipment related to winter sports, concerts and much, much more. See www.eljagangur.is

Icelandic schools have half term breaks in both February and October.