Grapevine Events: Áfram Ísland!, Dark Music Days, Grapevine Music Awards, And More!

Áfram Ísland! Áfram Ísland!

If the streets are looking empty tonight at 19:30, then it’s because everyone is huddled around televisions, watching the Iceland vs. Denmark semi-final handball game. We’d venture to say almost every bar with a screen will be showing it, and every bar without a screen will tune in on the radio. Víkan’s cancelled, DJ sets are being pushed later — even if you’re not a handball fan, there won’t be much going on for that hour-or-so otherwise, so you might as well watch.

Afterwards, there will be much to do. Karítas will take the stage at Port 9, starting at 21:00. Izleifur, who just rolled out his latest album 100&EINN this week, is offering a free concert in Gamla Bíó. At Iðnó, the ninth iteration of the concert series SAMPL opens the doors at 21:00, presenting Bjarni Daníel, Faroese rapper Maríus DC, DJ Flugvél & Geimskip, and DJ Kollz.

Tomorrow, the annual Japan Festival, organised by students and teachers within the Bachelor’s in Japanese Language & Culture programme at The University of Iceland, begins at 13:00! There will be a film screening, a Manga workshop, a Karate demonstration, and much more.

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.

Dark Music Days 2026

January 29 to February 1 — Multiple locations — Ticket information at darkmusicdays.is

Amidst the dim horizons of winter in Iceland, Dark Music Days offers solace and creativity through their always impressive programme of experimental commissioned works, one-time-only performances, and wide-ranging collaborations. A sound bath and music workshop for children, open play of a computer game developed by Steinunn Eldflaug Harðardóttir (dj. flugvél og geimskip) and Jon Arthur Marrable, and a performance titled “How to Ruin Someone’s Career as a Violist” are three free-to-enter events within the festival, but for the full experience, you can purchase a festival pass and get in on all the fun. ISH

Group Exhibition — Affinities of Form

Friday, January 30 — 17:00 — National Gallery of Iceland — Free entry

The full title of the exhibition reads: Affinities of Form: Artistic Convergences in Iceland since 1970. For this multimedia, multinational exhibition, guest curator Gavin Morrison and National Gallery curator Pari Stave have brought together a historical portrait of conceptual art in Iceland. Highlighting works directly inspired by Iceland, the pieces in the exhibition often focus on the stark, textured environment of the country alongside reverence for Icelandic nature. Concurrently, the exhibition Architecture of Place will open at the same time. Don’t miss this artistic double-header! ISH

Söngvaskáld: Salka Valsdóttir

Saturday, January 31 — 20:00 — Salurinn — Tickets starting at 6.500 ISK

Salka Valsdóttir, half of the duo CYBER and a member of Reykjavíkurdætur, presents her first solo concert in over two years. Joined by saxophonist Tumi Árnason and theremin expert Hekla Magnúsdóttir, Salka will present her songs, and share the inspiration and process behind them. Söngvaskáld is in its third year of presenting singer-songwriters, and giving them a chance to explain their work while performing it. ISH

Khairkhan: Concert And Lecture

Sunday, February 1 — 13:00 — City Library (Grófin) — Free entry

Khairkhan, an Inner Mongolian musician from the Khorqin Tribe, lives and performs in Reykjavík. This event will begin with an introduction to Mongolian instruments such as the morin khuur, tsuur and tovshuur, followed by a teaching of the basics of Mongolian throat singing. The event is open to all, and free to enter! ISH

It’s The Reykjavík Grapevine Music Awards!

Thursday, February 5 — 20:00 — Lemmy — Free entry

It’s that time of the year! If you haven’t checked out the nominees (in order to place your bets among friends), we’ll direct your attention here. Otherwise, you know to show up to Lemmy on Thursday at 20:00, ready to celebrate the exciting, talented musicians who made some incredible music last year. There’s a rumour that a couple of Grapevine-award-winning musicians are planning to show us what they’ve got. There’s another rumour that there will be free beer. ISH