The Best Christmas Events in Reykjavík

Check out these Christmas events if you’re in Iceland this December!

7-8 December

Sigga Beinteins will perform Christmas songs and classical ballads in both Icelandic and English. Being one of Iceland’s most beloved pop singers, you might know her from Eurovision Song Contest, where she participated three times. During her concert, she will invite some of the best guest singers and musicians with her on stage. She will sing pop, rock, classical songs, and ballads, and her shows are known for theatrical stage design and visual effects. Christmas spirit guaranteed!

December 20-21

Icelandic pop sensation Jón Jónsson has held concerts during Christmastime every year since 2013, always selling out the venue. Jón has been compared to Jack Johnson, John Mayer, and Gavin DeGraw before, and his songs are characterised as a mix of pop and R&B. This year, there will be three concerts, all held at Háskólabíó. One concert will be on December 20 at 20:00, and two will be on December 21 at 20:00 and at 23:00.

December 2

For many locals, the lighting of the Christmas tree on Austurvöllur square in front of the Parliament building is the official start of Christmas. Norway has gifted Reykjavík with a Christmas tree since 1951, as a sign of the relationship between the two nations.

The lighting of this tree is always done on the first Sunday of Advent, and festivities start in the late afternoon. There will be hot chocolate and coffee, Christmas carols will be sung, and the Icelandic Yule Lads will make their appearance and entertain both adults and children.

December 7-9

Faroese singer-songwriter Eivør, known for her distinct and powerful voice, is performing four Christmas concerts in the Silfurberg hall of Harpa Concert Hall. There will be one concert on December 7, two on December 8 and one on December 9. Pursuing music since she was just 15, she sings pop, jazz, rock and folktronica songs in English, Faroese and Icelandic. Her Christmas shows are intimate concerts during which she will perform a mix of her own songs and her favourite Christmas songs.

December 14

Stína Ágústs and Marína Ósk, two Stockholm-based jazz vocalists, lyricists and composers, will perform a Christmas jazz concert together for the first time. They will play known and lesser-known Nordic Christmas songs with new Icelandic lyrics written by them. Their concert takes place at Múlinn Jazz Club in the Björtuloft room of Harpa Concert Hall. The concert takes place from 21:00 till 23:00.

December 19

Norwegian soprano Sissel will come to Iceland for the third consecutive year to perform a Christmas concert series in Eldborg hall of Harpa Concert Hall. She is known for singing the Olympic Hymn at the opening and closing ceremonies of the 1994 Winter Olympics. She performs pop songs, folk songs, classical vocals, and operatic arias. Her Christmas shows are sold out every year throughout all of Scandinavia. For her concert in Reykjavík, she will bring friends from Iceland, the UK, and Norway with her. Merry Christmas!