Sometimes, it feels like we’re a broken record, telling you each week that the weather is bad, but there are... The post Grapevine Events: Regnboginn Opening, Spacestation Christmas Acoustic Concert, Kárahátíð 2.o appeared first on The Reyk...

An unusual number of traffic accidents have been recorded in Iceland in the last few weeks, Vísir reports. A total of... The post Unusual Number Of Traffic Accidents This Year appeared first on The Reykjavik Grapevine.

In December 2025, it was confirmed that Icelandic swimming pool culture had been added to the UNESCO Intangible Heritage list.... The post Icelandic Swimming Pool Culture Added To UNESCO List appeared first on The Reykjavik Grapevine.

German businessman Martin Michael aims to restore the Akureyri-based airline Niceair. Martin has called a press meeting next week at... The post German Businessman Wants Niceair Restored appeared first on The Reykjavik Grapevine.

Iceland will not participate in the Eurovision Song Contest this spring, reports RÚV. The decision was made at a meeting... The post Iceland Will Not Participate In Eurovision appeared first on The Reykjavik Grapevine.

On December 3, RÚV (Icelandic National Broadcasting Service) updated the intro sequence and jingle for its TV news broadcast, replacing... The post RÚV Uses Dutch Jingle In Updated News Intro  appeared first on The Reykjavik Grapevine.

Fun And Games In late November, directors Allan Sigurðsson and Hannes Þór Arason are on the busy set of Áramótaskaupið.... The post Pleasing Everyone: The National New Year’s Lampoon Straddles Tradition And Novelty appeared first on The R...

Welcome to The Haul, where we give you a peek into our shopping bag (or the shopping bag of someone... The post The Haul: Sigmundur Páll Freysteinsson’s Picks For Home And Life appeared first on The Reykjavik Grapevine.

Last night, RÚV reported that the Icelandic Coast Guard monitored five Russian fishing vessels east of Iceland. The Coast Guard... The post Five Russian Vessels Monitored East Of Iceland appeared first on The Reykjavik Grapevine.

The number of valid Icelandic passports stood at 345,388 at the beginning of December, reports RÚV, citing the data from... The post Fewer Icelanders Hold Valid Passports appeared first on The Reykjavik Grapevine.

In the summer of 2015, Rán Flygenring embarked on a trip around Iceland. However, she set a specific goal for... The post Diving In The Deep End: Rán Flygenring’s Book Explains What Makes Icelandic Pools Special appeared first on The Reykjavik Gr...

In 2012, crime novelists Yrsa Sigurðardóttir, Ragnar Jónasson, and Quentin Bates teamed up to create the event that would become... The post Dark Days And Darker Imaginations: Iceland Noir Brings The Big Screen To A Small Island appeared first on ...

Get down to business this holiday season Occasionally, as we’re waiting for the driver to bring the car round, we... The post Free Business Idea: Harness Christmas Fads appeared first on The Reykjavik Grapevine.

From neoclassical architecture to classical Icelandic problems The older picture is of the oldest building of Landspítalinn, The National University... The post Now & Then: The Land’s (New) Hospital appeared first on The Reykjavik Grapevine.

The Reykjavík Grapevine’s Iceland Roundup brings you the top news with a healthy dash of local views. In this episode,... The post Iceland Roundup: Björk, Sigur Rós, Eurovision, Israel, Municipality Politics & Tunnels appeared first on The ...

Come to me all ye who are weary and burdened and seek comfort within my ample bosom.   Seeking advice about... The post Help? Call Charlie! Sleep, Enemies, And Icelandic Drivers appeared first on The Reykjavik Grapevine.

The board of RÚV is currently contemplating whether Iceland should participate in the Eurovision Song Contest, after the European Broadcasting... The post Björk, Páll Óskar, Sigur Rós Voice Israel Boycott appeared first on The Reykjavik Grapevin...

When treetops closed the city airport’s runways, help came from Eskifjörður Iceland is not known for its abundance of trees.... The post Country Wisdom Saved The Reykjavík Airport appeared first on The Reykjavik Grapevine.

 Four folktales for an unnerving Advent  If you didn’t already know, Icelandic Christmas folklore is about as dark as Iceland... The post Silent Night, Unholy Night  appeared first on The Reykjavik Grapevine.

In 2005, we were a struggling publication, and we decided to take a leap and detail the unique Icelandic Christmas... The post Know Your Yule Lad Basics: We Keep Getting Older, Yule Lads Stay The Same Age appeared first on The Reykjavik Grapevine.

More than two decades of explaining the smells and bells of Christmas Since 2005, we have been attempting to help... The post The Reykjavík Grapevine Living Holiday Glossary appeared first on The Reykjavik Grapevine.

The Grapevine’s guide to sounding Icelandic, one word at a time For this issue, because it is the season of... The post Word Of The Issue: Big-Fire-Christmas appeared first on The Reykjavik Grapevine.

Víkin by Bragi Þór Hinriksson is a squirm-inducing delight “Honey, you need to see this,” I said this week, while... The post Víkin: A Cult Classic Spews Forth On Hornstrandir appeared first on The Reykjavik Grapevine.

Outside SIND, a wall of windows reveals a buzzing exhibition opening. Tonight, Safakúr — or I’m Juicing — opens at... The post An Exhibition Of Substance (With Pulp): Safakúr Platforms 10 Queer Artists At SIND Gallery appeared first on The Re...

The city is twinkling with lights, and people are buzzing about town. It’s December! We’ve rounded up some happenings for... The post Grapevine Events: Latin American Film Festival, Jólaportið, Brumm Brumm Exhibition & More appeare...

In the past weeks, the discussion about the state of media in Iceland has flared up again following an announcement... The post Publisher’s Note: We’re Looking For A Whale appeared first on The Reykjavik Grapevine.

Life in a country unscathed by Jeff Bezos feels more and more miraculous My favourite goggles went on sale this... The post Editorial: The Glory Of Christmas Without Amazon appeared first on The Reykjavik Grapevine.

symfaux explain their enigmatic nomenclature, recording habits, and creative drive  “I think the lack of vocals just gives everything else... The post No Words: An Interview With Instrumental Rockers symfaux appeared first on The Reykjavik Grapevi...

With a new issue of the Grapevine this week, we celebrate the impactful selflessness of Iceland’s Search and Rescue teams... The post Grapevine New Music Picks: Gyða Valtýsdóttir, Ólöf Arnalds, Andervel & More appeared first on The Re...

The quiet selflessness of Search and Rescue On December 31, countries throughout the world will literally light money on fire... The post Why We Light Fireworks: Remembering Sigurður Kristófer McQuillan Óskarsson appeared first on The Reykjavik Gr...

Bríet’s Life Is A Movie After completely owning the Icelandic music scene since the release of her 2020 Esjan, Bríet... The post Track By Track: Act I By Bríet appeared first on The Reykjavik Grapevine.

Sprouting again Since the early 2000s, Ólöf Arnalds has been a fixture in the Icelandic music scene. Earning her stripes... The post Second-hand Synesthesia: Ólöf Arnalds Returns To Familiar Scenes On Spíra appeared first on The Reykjavik Grapev...

On December 3, the Icelandic government introduced the revised national transportation plan at a press conference. The plan presents the... The post Government Introduces National Transportation Plan  appeared first on The Reykjavik Grapevine.

The Reykjavík Grapevine’s Iceland Roundup brings you the top news with a healthy dash of local views. In this episode,... The post Iceland Roundup: Helipad, Tourists Rescued In The Highlands, Former First Lady Mugged & More appeared first on ...

Following news that Iceland has the highest proportion of overweight and obese residents in the Nordic region, Minister of Health... The post Minister Of Health To Propose Measures Against Obesity appeared first on The Reykjavik Grapevine.

Iceland has the highest proportion of overweight and obese residents in the Nordic region, according to findings from NORMO 2025,... The post Icelanders Are The Heaviest Of The Nordic Nations appeared first on The Reykjavik Grapevine.

Earlier this year, the Trade Council in Hokkaido, Japan, requested that Icelandic puffins be sent to a local zoo. The... The post Japan Requested Icelandic Puffins For A Zoo appeared first on The Reykjavik Grapevine.

The National Hospital of Iceland (Landspítalinn) has confirmed a language policy making speaking Icelandic mandatory among staff. According to the... The post National Hospital Makes Speaking Icelandic Mandatory, Hires Language Tutor appeared first...

On November 30, former first lady Dorrit Moussaieff stated she was mugged on the streets of London, United Kingdom. Dorrit shared... The post Former First Lady Dorrit Moussaieff Mugged In London appeared first on The Reykjavik Grapevine.

After this weekend, it will be December. No judgment if you started feeling jolly a bit sooner, but we say... The post Grapevine Events: Holiday Spirit, Röntgen’s Birthday, SAMPL appeared first on The Reykjavik Grapevine.

American multi-disciplinary artist Patti Smith has announced two concerts in Iceland next year. She is set to perform one night... The post Patti Smith To Play Iceland In 2026 appeared first on The Reykjavik Grapevine.

On November 27, a declaration of will concerning a 10 billion ISK construction project in Helguvík was signed. Foreign Minister... The post NATO Invests 10 Billion ISK In New Oil Depot appeared first on The Reykjavik Grapevine.

The Reykjavík Grapevine’s Iceland Roundup brings you the top news with a healthy dash of local views. In this episode,... The post Iceland Roundup: Physician Shortage, Hitler Apology Videos, North Korea & More News appeared first on The Reykj...

On November 21, her 60th birthday, Icelandic artist Björk publicly issued a lawsuit against the Icelandic state regarding sea-based fish... The post Björk Files Lawsuit Against Icelandic State On Own Birthday appeared first on The Reykjavik Grapevi...

Newly graduated Icelandic medical doctors with specialist degrees from the U.S. are denied vocational licenses in Iceland, despite a precedent... The post U.S. Educated Icelandic Doctors Unqualified To Work In Iceland appeared first on The Reykjavik ...

If you turned on your radio this morning and were confused why you just heard Björk song after Björk song... The post Grapevine Events: Eftir Lokun, Kabarett Opening, Hljómburður appeared first on The Reykjavik Grapevine.

It’s no secret that, from east to west, Iceland is sprinkled with spa-like geothermal lagoons catering to every taste. Just... The post Come For The View, Stay For The Food: Laugarás Lagoon Opens On The Golden Circle appeared first on The Reykjavi...

Best-selling novelist and creator of the Game of Thrones empire George R.R. Martin has continued a charm offensive on Iceland... The post George R.R. Martin Charms Iceland, Discusses Edda and Sagas appeared first on The Reykjavik Grapevine.

On November 19, 2025, the Central Bank of Iceland announced a reduction in the capital interest rate, decreasing from 7.5... The post Policy Interest Rate Decrease By 0.25 Percentage Points appeared first on The Reykjavik Grapevine.

This issue, we reached out to some friends of the Grapevine to ask one question: what does Björk mean to... The post Last Words: What Does Björk Mean To Icelandic Music? appeared first on The Reykjavik Grapevine.