GÁRUR

Salurinn

GÁRUR

GÁRUR

Salurinn, Hamraborg 6, 200 Kópavogur Directions

Sun 13.09.2026 20:00

Tickets / Registration
Tickets / Registration

Opening Concert of Vaka 2026

VAKA 2026 opens with a festive evening where music, dance and living folk traditions come together in one place.

The Reykjavík Folk Dance Association, celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, will present a special performance reflecting both the long history of the association and Iceland’s vibrant dance traditions.

The evening also features Polish musician Ania Broda, often described as one of the most original voices on the Polish music scene. Her music brings together folk heritage and artistic experimentation in a unique way, creating a musical world that is both captivating and full of surprises.

FUNI, the musical collaboration of Bára Grímsdóttir and Chris Foster, celebrates the release of their new album Gárur (“Ripples”). For decades, they have devoted themselves to the performance, research and sharing of Icelandic folk music, playing an important role in introducing it to audiences both in Iceland and abroad.

At the heart of Gárur are Icelandic folk songs and poems spanning several centuries. Once sung unaccompanied, they are now presented in new arrangements featuring voices, langspil, kantele and other traditional instruments, woven together with recordings made in the Icelandic landscape. The natural world from which these songs emerged becomes, in a sense, a third member of the ensemble.

Like ripples on water, these songs have been passed from generation to generation, continually evolving while remaining rooted in the lives and experiences of the people who shaped them. With Gárur, Bára and Chris celebrate this living inheritance, honouring both the past and the present while carrying these songs forward to future generations.

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VAKA Folk Arts Festival takes place in Kópavogur, Iceland, from 13–19 September 2026. Throughout the week, music, dance, handicrafts, storytelling and poetic traditions come together in a diverse programme for people of all ages.

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.

Secure yourself a festival pass that gives you access to all festival events. All information about the festival can be found at www.vakareykjavik.is and on Vökufélagið social media.

Performers