Happy Friday, everyone! Though our weather isn’t exactly exhibiting it, it is now officially summer. If you’re finding it difficult to focus at work after having yesterday off, well, you’re not alone. Thanks for checking out the Grapevine as you procrastinate.
If you’re looking for events to fill your calendar this weekend, you’re in luck. Here are our recommendations:
Today (April 24), from 15:30 to 18:00, the Iceland-based Japanese tea company yuyu will host a matcha tasting workshop at Hyalin (Skólavörðustígur 4A). They emphasise there’s no prior experience required — so if you only know what your algorithm has fed you about matcha, yuyu & Hyalin will still welcome you with open arms.
This evening, SAMPL‘s monthly showcase at Iðnó welcomes Icelandic artists Jónfrí, Lucas Joshua, and Stína Ágústsdóttir, alongside Faroese musician Elínborg and UK-based Revenge of Calculon. SAMPL, as always, starts at 20:00 and is free to enter. Concurrently, musicians Bjarni Daníel (Supersport!), Johnny Lo Vano (Tanz Akademie), and Dagur Kristinn will perform together in THE SITUATION at Smekkleysa.
Later tonight, the party can be found at Prikið. DJs SAKANA, Giovanna Del Dio, matrw b2b Rraph, and Petikou + Werem come together at Rave 4 Refugees, which starts at 21:00 and is pay what you can, with a suggested donation of 2.000 ISK.
On Saturday (April 25), the Reykjavík City Library at Grófin hosts Lesum og spjöllum (read and chat), their free Icelandic practice event, at 11:30. At 16:00, OPEN opens (haha, had to) Work for an intern, with artists Ivanna Nejelski, Margrét H. Blöndal, Unnar Örn, & Unndór Egill Jónsson joining in an exhibition put together for OPEN’s first Erasmus intern. Later, the jazz trio Brenninetla, rockers Juno Paul, and electronic/dance musicians LiteFun perform at Smekkleysa, which begins at 19:00. Afterwards, experimental-pop musician lúpína performs at Kaffibarinn at 21:30.
On Sunday (April 26), the group exhibition Sambland/Combi-nation celebrates its last day in Ásmundarsalur. The show is the work of seven artists, born out of a 2024 exhibition at Gallery Port. In the show, the artists reflect on their different backgrounds, how life has led them to call Iceland home, and what calling Iceland home means to them. From 15:00 to 16:00, artist Pola Sutryk will lead a Tea Ceremony, and then from 16:00 to 17:00 the rest of the artists will join for the finnissage.
In the evening, Masaya Ozaki performs as Port9’s first guest in their new Sunday series. Starting at 20:30, the artist will work with water to create a soundscape, using ice, liquid water, dry ice, and hot water as his only sound materials.
Looking for something else? Just scroll down. Got an event? Add it to the calendar at events.grapevine.is, or go there to check out what’s already happening around town.
Barnamenningarhátíð (Children’s Culture Festival)
April 20 to 26 — All over town! — Free events!
The annual Children’s Culture Festival has already kicked off, but there are still many exciting events on the schedule. Bands consisting of members aged 12 to 17 will perform in City Hall on Friday at 17:00, Rán Flygenring will host a workshop based on her book Sketching Bathing in Iceland in the city library at Gerðuberg on Saturday at 12:00 (and you can read our interview with her about the book here), and the C-band of the Vesturbær and Miðbær School Concert Band (SVoM) will premiere a piece about recycling by Ólafur Björn Ólafsson at Góði hirðirinn on Saturday at 11:30 and 13:00. You can check out the festival’s full schedule of workshops, performances, and other fun events here. ISH
April 25 & 26 — Bergþórugata 20 — Free events!
Andrými, the yellow-walled house on the corner of Bergþórugata and Vitastígur, is a beloved space for community and organising. This weekend, they’ll host a full programme of events for a twofold celebration: to mark the coming of summer, and to remember the late Jamie McQuilkin (also known as Magnús Sumarliði), a cofounder of Andrými, on what would have been his 37th birthday. Attendees can expect a presentation and storytelling on Andrými’s history, an open bike workshop, a fry-up, and more. ISH
Petra Hjartardóttir — My Garden
April 25 — Opening from 17:00 to 19:00 — Á milli space — Free entry
Project and exhibition space Á milli presents the solo show of Petra Hjartardóttir, titled My Garden. Petra creates delicate works which often explore the immediate world around her, striking a balance between taking subjects seriously and presenting them with a certain playfulness. The artist often works with traditional crafts, such as silvercraft and embroidery. If you can make it to the opening, fear not; the exhibition will be open every day, from 12:00 to 18:00, through May 4. ISH
Wacken Metal Battle Iceland 2026
April 25 — 18:30 — Iðnó — 4.900 ISK, available online
Seven bands will compete for one slot at the Wacken Metal Battle, an international band competition that aims to promote the metal scene and find the bands of the future. An international jury, alongside audience votes, will decide who will represent Iceland in the world’s biggest heavy metal festival. To kick off the night, mainstays of the scene Múr and Gaddavír will perform, and then the competition begins. ISH
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