Iceland Airwaves has announced it will return to Reykjavík from 4th to 7th November 2026. The confirmation of future dates comes immediately after the conclusion of its 26th edition, which took place from 6th to 8th November and has been widely praised as one of the most successful instalments of the music showcase to date.
The 2025 festival marked a significant regrowth for the event, asserting itself as one of Europe’s most vital music gatherings. Over 8,000 attendees from more than 40 countries descended on the Icelandic capital to witness 110 artists from 20 different countries perform across eight official venues. The event earned acclaim from the President of Iceland, Halla Tómasdóttir, The City of Reykjavík, and numerous music bodies.
A key focus of the festival was platforming Iceland’s thriving creative scene. The Iceland Airwaves Plus Award was presented to local artist RAKEL, who received a grant of 500,000 ISK and secured performance slots at two international partner festivals in 2026: New Colossus in New York and FOCUS Wales in the UK. RAKEL became a star of the 2025 programme with multiple acclaimed performances throughout the weekend.
Other Icelandic acts securing new international fanbases included the genre-defying electronic artist Knackered, the high-energy duo CYBER, and lúpína, who impressed with a blend of electronic and traditional Icelandic choir music. Rapper Alaska1867 was also a major talking point, setting the Gaukurinn venue alight with her hit track ‘Chat GPT’ during a highly anticipated Saturday night set.
Alongside the strong local contingent, Iceland Airwaves hosted some of the year’s brightest global rising stars. Highlights included a chaotic performance from British alt-punks Fat Dog, US internet rap sensation ian, and a surprise cover of La Roux’s ‘In For The Kill’ from Kenya Grace. Further standout sets came from Joey Valence & Brae, Saya Gray, and Mexican songwriter Silvana Estrada, whose poignant lyricism left festival-goers in awe.
Ísleifur Þórhallsson, Festival Director of Iceland Airwaves, commented on the event’s success. “Iceland Airwaves 2025 has been one for the books—not just for the artists and audiences, but for the incredible community behind the scenes,” he said. “This festival has always been about discovery, connection, and shared experiences, and this year felt especially meaningful. Thank you to everyone who made it possible.”
Beyond the music, the festival’s acclaimed two-day conference programme, curated with Iceland Music, featured over 40 industry professionals. The schedule opened with a landmark conversation between Rolling Stone’s Althea Legaspi and Halla Tómasdóttir, President of Iceland, marking 50 years since the first Iceland Women’s Strike. Other panels explored topics ranging from AI and music trends to the needs of the next generation of music fans.
A shining moment of the conference was the ‘Sköpunargleðin: The Storm-Soaked Joy of Making Things’ panel. The session, which featured artists and producers including Páll Óskar and Ísadóra Bjarkardóttir Barney, was an emotional celebration of Iceland’s creative spirit and drew a packed-out crowd that included Björk.
Music fans can now look forward to the 2026 edition of Iceland Airwaves, taking place from 4th to 7th November. You can sign up for the latest news, information, and tickets via the official Iceland Airwaves website.
Image credits:
Aron Getsson
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