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 Theatre
Tjarnarbíó
Tjarnargata 12
From a fresh rendition of Midsummer’s Night Dream, to release concerts, comedy shows, and bold productions, the theatre stands out and remains one of the more English-speaker-friendly venues, especially for “edgy,” grassroots work. “Snæbjörn [Brynjarsson] was probably one of the best things that could happen to Tjarnarbíó after the [embezzlement] scandal,” one panellist notes, describing how the new director helped turn things around.
Runner Up:
National Theatre of Iceland
Hverfisgata 19
The National Theatre of Iceland is a cornerstone of Icelandic performing arts, renowned for its ambitious productions, while also embracing more “fringe stuff” like cabaret and improv. The theatre hosts the country’s most diverse programme, with select shows offering English captioning. Panellists are delighted to see smaller productions like Sund from Tjarnarbíó, now thriving on the National Theatre stage.
Runner Up:
Reykjavík City Theatre
Listabraut 3
Reykjavík may not boast the most diverse theatre ecosystem, but the Reykjavík City Theatre (Borgarleikhúsið) remains a serious contender. One panellist specifically highlights stupendous dance productions by the Iceland Dance Company, while also noting the theatre’s solid lineup of plays. Another panellist singles out the new Moulin Rouge show, saying it far exceeded expectations, “It was really well produced. It felt like Broadway or something.”
Previous Winners:
2025: National Theatre of Iceland
2024: Tjarnarbíó
2023: Tjarnarbíó
Buy subscriptions, t-shirts and more from our shop right here!
