For a city the size of Reykjavík, there’s definitely a lot going on (per capita, of course), and luckily for you, you’re holding (or scrolling through) an exhaustive list of hotspots worth your attention. Our cultural experts keep tabs on the town’s happenings, but not in a pretentious, professional way — they live here, so they are nothing but upfront about what’s a hit or a miss. 2025 was a great year for culture, with multiple new galleries popping up in Reykjavík, museums seriously levelling up, and some institutions going into hibernation. If you’re going to do anything cultural in Reykjavík, start with some of these.
Best Event Space
Ásmundarsalur
Freyjugata 41
We wanted to give Ásmundarsalur a shoutout so much we had to create a new category for it. It’s not a museum, not a gallery, and not just a coffeehouse (though we’ll never say no to Reykjavík Roasters), but it is a must on the culture-curious radar. Last year’s highlights include the colourful, sense-activating dance performance Venus and the bold yet vulnerable exhibition Sex Tape by artist couple Viðar Logi and Miles Greenberg.
Runner Up:
The Nordic House
Sæmundargata 11
“The Nordic House has been doing such great things,” one panellist says. From family-friendly events like craft workshops and storytelling hours, to a library where you can borrow books or art free of charge, well-curated exhibitions, summer concerts in the greenhouse, readings with guests from across the Nordics, and more, this cultural hub keeps a pulse not only on Reykjavík but the wider Nordic region. Plus, there’s a vegan bistro on site.
Runner Up:
Salurinn
Hamraborg 6, Kópavogur
The first proper concert hall built in Iceland, Salurinn in Kópavogur, has been keeping tabs on what’s up in this town with consistent and good programming. The space hosts regular release concerts, a series for grassroots musicians, and has become a home for foreign-born comedy nights Belonging? We thought you should know about it. Sometimes, to have a good night, you just have to go to Kópavogur. Ugh.
Previous Winners:
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