Every year in early August, a group gathers by Leirutjörn Pond in Akureyri's old town to commemorate the victims of the atomic bombings in Japan in 1945, when several hundred thousand people were killed or maimed in an instant, leaving two cities in ruins.

"The gathering also serves as a warning against new wars, as perhaps the world has never been closer to nuclear conflict than it is in August 2024," states a press release from the Peace Cooperation Group, which organizes the event.

This year’s event will take place on Friday night, August 9th, marking the anniversary of the bombing of Nagasaki. Candles will be lit in various locations across Iceland.

At 10 p.m., Ragnar Sverrisson, a humanist, will deliver a speech against war and militarism on the west side of Leirutjörn Pond. Candles will be available for purchase on-site, and after the ceremony, they will be floated on the pond to burn as a symbol of peace.