Iceland Airwaves has unveiled a third wave of 25 artists for its 2026 edition, with official showcase programming running from 5th to 7th November across downtown Reykjavík. The 27th edition of the city’s new music showcase and industry conference now includes Cobrah, Alien Chicks, Leith Ross, Spacestation, Dumbhead, Una Torfa, Sycamore Tree and Warhaus, with tickets and Icelandair travel packages already on sale.
Swedish experimental pop artist Cobrah will bring her self described “gag-worthy” live show to Iceland for the first time. UK trio Alien Chicks add a mix of punk, rap and jazz drawn from the South London scene, while Canadian singer-songwriter Leith Ross is booked for a more tender indie folk set. Belgian act Warhaus and Australian band Dumbhead are also among the international names added today.
The homegrown intake is led by Spacestation, whose mix of indie rock, shoegaze and psychedelia has quickly pushed them into the Icelandic spotlight. Vesturbær singer-songwriter Una Torfa, a two-time Iceland Music Award winner, joins the bill, as does reunited band Sycamore Tree, who are returning ahead of a fifth album.
They will play alongside previously announced acts including Dove Ellis, Heartworms, The Itch, knackered, RAKEL, Andervel, SCAM, Any Young Mechanic, Sex Week, Mar Pujol, Jamie Woon and Adult DVD. The third wave follows a successful 2025 edition that drew more than 8,000 people from over 40 countries to see 110 artists, with RAKEL taking the Airwaves Plus Award and knackered among the local breakouts now returning.
Airwaves is also selling discounted add-on tickets for three special shows around the official programme. Shygirl plays City Hall on 4th November, Daði Freyr and the Iceland Symphony Orchestra perform at Eldborg, Harpa on 5th November, and The Streets close the run at Eldborg, Harpa on 8th November.
Before Reykjavík, Taste of Iceland x Iceland Airwaves showcases will preview some of the city’s new acts in London and New York. Taste of Iceland London is at Colours, Hoxton on 10th September, with Taste of Iceland NYC at Pianos on 1st October.
The festival has long been used as an early platform, with Florence and the Machine, Young Fathers, James Blake, Fat Dog, Magdalena Bay, Saya Gray, Björk and Sigur Rós among those to have played its stages. Billboard has called it “an enriching, unforgettable experience to write home about,” while The London Standard described it as “the type of place that restores your faith in humanity.”
Launched in 1999 as a one-off in an airplane hangar, Iceland Airwaves is now promoted and produced by Sena Live, with support from founding sponsor Icelandair and the City of Reykjavík. It remains a three day, multi venue takeover of record shops, museums, bars, churches, clubs and larger rooms, and continues to work with Keychange on gender balanced line-ups.
Special events
- 4th November: Shygirl at City Hall
- 5th November: Daði Freyr and The Iceland Symphony Orchestra at Eldborg, Harpa
- 8th November: The Streets at Eldborg, Harpa
Iceland Airwaves 2026 line-up so far (A-Z)
Adult DVD (UK), Agent Fresco (IS), Alien Chicks (UK), Amor Vincit Omnia (IS), Andervel (IS), Any Young Mechanic (AU), Apex Anima & FRZNTE (IS), Arima Ederra (US), Arny Margret (IS), Axel Flóvent (IS), Bana Zahiti (XK), bed (JP), Bjarni Daníel (IS), Birnir (IS), Blood Harmony (IS), BKPM (IS), Bleech 9:3 (IE), BLUAI (BE), Brynja (IS), Brynja Rán (IS), CeaseTone (IS), Cell7 (IS), Cobrah (SE), David Bay (DE), Dove Ellis (IE), Dumbhead (AU), Einakróna (IS), Emma (IS), Emmsje Gauti (IS), Esmeralda Road (UK), Falinn Gjóður (IS), Flesh Machine (IS), Formal Sppeedwear (UK), Gosi (IS), Haukur Páll (IS), Heartworms (UK), HÉR (PL), Inspector Spacetime (IS), Jamie Duffy (IE), Jamie Woon (UK), JEFF3 (DK), Joe & the Shitboys (FO), Jónfrí (IS), Júníus Meyvant (IS), Juno Paul (IS), Kaktus Einarsson (IS), knackered (IS), KOIKOI (RS), Leith Ross (CA), Liim (US), LiteFun (IS), LÓN (IS), Lucy Dreams (AT), Mackenzie Leighton (FR), MAMMÚT (IS), Mar Pujol (ES-CT), Marsibil (IS), Nori (UK), Oyama (IS), PISS (CA), PIXY (UK), Pollyfromthedirt (UK), punktò (LT), RAKEL (IS), Revenge of Calculon (UK), Róshildur (IS), RSP (FO), Sævar Jóhannsson (IS), SAKARIS (FO), Sandrayati (ID/PH/IS/US), SCAM (IS), Sex Week (US), Skeler (AU), someshiit (TW), Spacestation (IS), Spouses (IS), State of Grace (IE), Sycamore Tree (IS), SYL (DK), TÁR (IS), The Gnomes (AU), The Itch (UK), Them Flying Monkeys (PT), Tunghoyrt (FO), Úlfur Úlfur (IS), Una Torfa (IS), Valborg Ólafs (IS), Vicky Sometani (UK), Victoryland (US), virgin orchestra (IS), Warhaus (BE), Worldpeace DMT (UK), Yaelokre (PH/IS), YARD (IE), 9m88 (TW)
Image credits: Cat Gundry Beck, Florian Trykowski
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