40+ annual festivals, national holidays and cultural events — with tourist tips on what to book, what closes, and which events are truly unmissable.
March highlights
Food & Fun Festival, Beer Day celebration
Public Holiday Warning
On Icelandic public holidays, almost all shops, banks, and many restaurants close completely. Only N1/Orkan petrol stations typically stay open. Plan grocery shopping the day before.
New Year's Day
Nýársdagur
January 1
Everything closed
Maundy Thursday
Skírdagur
Variable (Easter)
Banks closed
Good Friday
Föstudagurinn langi
Variable (Easter)
Everything closed
Easter Sunday
Páskadagur
Variable
Everything closed
Easter Monday
Annar í páskum
Variable
Everything closed
First Day of Summer
Sumardagurinn Fyrsti
First Thu after Apr 19
Partial closures
Labour Day
Verkalýðsdagurinn
May 1
Shops closed
Ascension Day
Uppstigningardagur
Variable (May/June)
Banks closed
Whit Sunday
Hvítasunnudagur
Variable (May/June)
Partial closures
Whit Monday
Annar í hvítasunnu
Variable (May/June)
Shops closed
National Day
Þjóðhátíðardagurinn
June 17
Everything closed
Commerce Day
Frídagur verslunarmanna
First Mon of August
Everything closed
Christmas Day
Jóladagur
December 25
Everything closed
Second Day of Christmas
Annar í jólum
December 26
Shops closed
Answers to the most common questions about festivals, events, and public holidays in Iceland.