VAKA þjóðlistahátíð 2026

Salurinn

VAKA þjóðlistahátíð 2026

VAKA þjóðlistahátíð 2026

Salurinn, Hamraborg 6, 200 Kópavogur Directions

Sun 13.09.2026 20:00

ISK 12900.00
Tickets / Registration
ISK 12900.00
Tickets / Registration

Celebrating Living Traditions

VAKA Folk Arts Festival takes place in Kópavogur, Iceland, from 13–19 September 2026.

VAKA is a celebration of living traditions, bringing together Icelandic song, music and dance, handicrafts, storytelling and poetry, alongside the traditions of new Icelanders in a diverse programme of concerts, workshops, and activities for all ages.

At VAKA people come together not only to experience folk arts, but to take part in them. Whether you come to listen, learn, dance, sing, create, or simply enjoy the company of others, VAKA offers an opportunity to encounter folk traditions in new ways, helping to carry them forward.

Among the featured artists are the duo FUNI, celebrating the release of a new album, and the award-winning ensemble UMBRA, known for their distinctive arrangements of Icelandic traditional songs. International guests include three of Norway’s leading folk musicians, Ingrid Lingaas Fossum, Vegar Vårdal and Vegard Hansen, Polish singer and hammered dulcimer player Ania Broda and Faroese musicians and dancers led by Kristian Blak.

The programme also features contributions from the Icelandic Handicraft Association, the Reykjavik Folk Dance Association and the rímur poetry and singing association Iðunn, alongside numerous artists and organisations working in the field of folk arts.

Festival highlights include the annual Rímur Celebration, a cinema night, workshops, a live podcast, lectures and discussions, and family-friendly events. The festival concludes with an evening of traditional Icelandic poetic improvisation hosted by Eva María Jónsdóttir and Pétur Blöndal, before the dance floor opens for a traditional folk dance party accompanied by musicians from Iceland, Norway and the Faroe Islands.

By purchasing a festival pass, you gain access to all major festival events and support folk arts activities in Iceland. VAKA focuses on making it possible for as many people as possible to attend the festival's events. Therefore, three different price categories are available for most events, and each guest chooses the price that suits them best.

Visit our website for the full programme and further information:

www.vakareykjavik.is

Performers