EVENT CALENDAR

Fishermen’s Day | June 7 Fishing boats stay docked in the harbour so that sailors can spend the day with their families. The whole town celebrates the fishermen’s hard work and sacrifices with live music, boat tours, rowing competitions, children’s entertainment, and plenty of other events.

Akureyri Motorsport Festival | June 16-18 One of Iceland’s largest motorsports events, it’s the Motorsport Festival is an annual celebration of cars, motorbikes, and all motorsport vehicles from around Iceland. The programme features races, drag racing, displays, and much more.

Icelandic National Day | June 17 The day the republic of Iceland was founded in 1944. The town is decorated with flags, and a celebratory programme, suitable for all ages, starts at 13.00 and runs until midnight.

Hiking week | June 21-24 Hiking week is an event celebrating and making the most of the great hiking trails in the area. On the programme are short (between two and three hours) walks suitable for most people. Hosted by the local hiking club and guided by local guides, the hiking week is a perfect opportunity to get to know Iceland’s beautiful landscapes.

The Arctic Open | June 23-25 Around the summer solstice, one of the world’s northernmost 18-hole golf courses hosts the annual Arctic Open Golf Tournament. It’s an international event that attracts golfers from various parts of the world, eager for a chance to play golf underneath Iceland’s midnight sun. Summer Solstice in Grímsey | June 17-19 The inhabitants of Grímsey, Iceland’s northernmost inhabited island, and the only part of the country that lies above the Arctic Circle, will celebrate the summer solstice on June 21 by hosting a festival open to visitors.

Two big Icelandic football tournaments, N1 and Pollamót | June 29-July 2 The N1 tournament is Iceland’s most prominent annual football tournament, with up to 2,000 participants. The games have taken place annually for more than three decades, and the whole town fills up with young athletes, their trainers and parents. The “Pollamót” is an annual sporting event held by Icelandair and Þór football club. The contestants are adults who want to show they haven’t lost their touch.

Akureyri Art Summer | June 11-July 23 On the menu are pop and rock concerts, visual art, exhibitions, various happenings and outdoor art. Akureyri Art Summer is an ideal platform for artists, young and old, to promote themselves.

Thorvaldsdalur Terrain Run | July 2 Terrain running enthusiasts gather in Þorvaldsdalur in Eyjafjörður every year to run the 25km (16mi) length of the Þorvaldsdalur valley. Runners can expect to run over streams, marshes, and lava fields.

Folk Music Festival | July 6-10 Siglufjörður is home to the Folk Music Centre, and every year, they put on a festival celebrating the traditional music of Iceland. Many of Iceland’s best musicians perform at the festival, be they folk, jazz, traditional, or classical musicians. Guests can enjoy a variety of workshops and seminars for children and grown-ups. 89

Hrísey Festival | July 8-10 Enjoy a family-friendly festival at Hrísey, known as the pearl of Eyjafjordur, with rich birdlife and excellent hiking trails. Catch the ferry from Árskógsströnd for a 15-minute trip over to the island.

Family Festival in Siglufjörður “Trilludagar” | July 23 A local town festival featuring events and entertainment for the whole family.

Family festival “Ein með öllu” | July 29-August 1 During Merchants’ Weekend, the town of Akureyri hosts the “Ein með öllu” family festival: where live music, pop-up amusement parks, and theatrical performances fill up the streets of Akureyri.

Súlur Vertical | July 30 Súlur Vertical is a trail run from the highest peaks around Akureyri down to the central heart of town. There are three trails, a 55km ultra trail race with 3,000m in elevation gain, a 28km trail run with 1,400m in elevation gain, and an 18km trail run suitable for beginners and more experienced trail runners.

Hiking Week | August 27-29 Hiking week is an event celebrating and making the most of the great hiking trails in the area. On the programme are short (two up to three hours) walks suitable for most people. Hosted by the local hiking club and guided by local guides, the hiking week is a perfect opportunity to get to know Iceland’s beautiful landscapes.

Akureyri Town Festival | August 26-28 Rich of cultural events, the Birthday of Akureyri celebrations. Annual highlights include the opening ceremony in the Botanical Garden, a spooky evening in the old town, concerts in the centre of town and events along Art Street. Every year has a unique theme.

Cosy Days | October 6-9 Treat yourself during Cosy Days with concerts, exhibitions, and various events. Many stores offer discounts and organise events.

A! Performance Festival | October 6-9 A four-day performance festival with performance art and theatre-based projects.

Advent Festival | December 1-23 December in Akureyri is a Christmas wonderland. Visit the quaint Christmas Garden, only a ten-minute drive from Akureyri, check out exhibitions, concerts, theatre and markets or explore the fantastic winter landscape around Akureyri. On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, you can enjoy a traditional Icelandic Christmas dinner at some of the best restaurants in town and taste local Icelandic delicacies.

New Year’s Eve | December 31 In Akureyri, the New Year is celebrated in the traditional Icelandic way, which, of course, calls for an enormous bonfire, great music, dancing, and a whole lot of fireworks. The bonfire at Réttarhvammur (way up on Hlíðarfjall ski resort, which is open during New Year) kicks off the celebration at 20:00, and an hour later, a beautiful fireworks display follows. In town, there are concerts and dances way into the early hours of the morning, and leading up to the midnight hour, thousands of fireworks will light up the sky above Akureyri, creating a unique atmosphere and welcoming a New Year.

EARLY 2023

Iceland Winter Games | March/April One of the biggest winter festivals in Europe, with events ranging from ski- and snowboard competitions to the Icelandic national dog sledding championship. Outdoor and winter sports enthusiasts will find a great variety of events to enjoy or in which to participate!

Easter Adventure in Akureyri | April Easter in Akureyri is an unforgettable experience. Whether you fancy going to a concert, a trip down the ski slopes of Hlíðarfjall, a swim in one of the best pools in the country, or treating yourself to a good meal or drink, Akureyri is the right place.

Ak Extreme Snowboarding Competition | April For three days, the best snowboarders/skiers in Iceland get together to organise this event, and hundreds of people turn out to watch the show. The main event is a competition and exhibition of jumps in the centre of Akureyri, and contestants jump from a 16m high ski ramp built for the occasion.

Museum Day | April 20 The Eyjafjörður area has a rich cultural history, and on Museum Day, all the museums in the area organise different events and open their doors to the public, free of charge. The museums in Akureyri are lovely, but don’t forget to explore the other museums in the region, such as the Herring Era Museum in Siglufjörður or the Sundry Collection in Eyjafjarðarsveit.

Donald Duck Ski Competition | April Taking place on Mt. Hlíðarfjall in April (since 1976), the biggest ski event in Iceland is for kids aged 6-15. Each year, about 800 kids from all over Iceland compete in cross-country skiing, alpine skiing, and snowboarding. Social events and prize ceremonies are hosted downtown every night. 91