New Year’s Eve bonfires are held in ten locations in Reykjavík, managed directly by the City of Reykjavík staff or an association. There is no formal schedule for the bonfires but many people sing carols to add to the festive atmosphere. The staff ensures that the bonfires are properly loaded and monitored.

Where are the bonfires?

The bonfires will take place at ten locations in Reykjavík on New Year’s Eve. They are all scheduled to start at 20:30. These are the bonfire locations in Reykjavík:

• Ægisíða in Vesturbær, a small bonfire at 20:30
• Skerjafjörður, opposite Skildinganes 48-52, a small bonfire at 20:30
• Suðurhlíðar, below Fossvogur Cemetery, a small bonfire at 20:30
• Laugardalur, below Laugarásvegur 18, a small bonfire at 20:30
• Geirsnef, on the north side, a large bonfire at 20:30
• Stekkjarbakki, a small bonfire at 20:30
• Rauðavatn, on the north side of the lake, a small bonfire at 20:30
• Gufunes by Gufunesbær, a large bonfire at 20:30
• Kléberg in Kjalarnes, a small bonfire at 20:30
• Úlfarsfell on the lot of Fisfélagið at Lambhagavegur, a small bonfire at 20:30

Here you can see the bonfire locations on a map.

Other bonfires in the capital area

There will also be bonfires in a few other spots in the capital area, in neighbouring towns. These are as follows:

• Sjávargrund in Garðabær, starting at 21:00
• Álftanes at 20:30
• Holtahverfi in Mosfellsbær, starting at 16:30
• Valhúsahæð in Seltjarnarnes at 20:30

RÚV English lists bonfires in other locations around Iceland.

Important information & traffic restrictions

Please be aware that it is not allowed to bring fireworks and flares to the bonfires but you can bring sparklers and torches without sparks. Make sure to bring protective goggles and gloves. Drone flying over the bonfire areas is forbidden. As the weather forecast indicates still weather, heavy pollution from fireworks is expected in the last hours of 2025 and into the first hours of 2026. The fireworks pollution is bad for health and exposure for extended periods is not recommended. Iceland has long been known for a lot of fireworks and 600 tonnes have been imported annually in recent years.

Attendees are strongly recommended to walk to the bonfires, as vehicle access is limited. For the bonfire at Ægisíða, Ægisíða street between Forhagar and Sörlaskjól/Hofsvallagata will be closed to vehicle traffic during the event. For the bonfire at Geirsnef, vehicles will not be permitted to enter Geirsnef from Bílshöfði. Parking is available at Hitt Húsið Youth Center on Rafstöðvarvegur and at Endurvinnslan in Knarrarvogur. At Rauðavatn, pedestrians are advised to use the underpass beneath Vesturlandsvegur instead of crossing the road. In Skerjafjörður, drivers should take Einarsnes and park at the old Shell station at Skeljanes instead of driving through the neighborhood.

Access to the hill of Hallgrímskirkja will be closed to car traffic from 22:00 on December 31 until 01:00 AM on New Year’s Day. Streets affected include Kárastígur, Bjarnarstígur, Baldursgata, Týsgata, Óðinsgata, and Vegamótastígur. Skólavörðustígur street will close at 22:00 on New Year’s Eve and reopen on January 2.

Happy new year!