7 Best Performing Arts in Iceland

At the top of a warehouse in the Old Harbor district, the Cinema at Old Harbour Village No 2 screens documentaries and nature films. There's also a small exhibition of local artifacts.

For one week a year, the entire town of Siglufjörður becomes a haven of folk music, with musicians from all around the world gathering to put on workshops, lectures, and more concerts than you can count. Don't miss any of the traditional Icelandic shows—there's nothing like the timbre of the old rímur melodies.

The Icelandic Opera, a resident company, performs during the winter at its home in the Harpa Concert Hall.

You can go to Light Nights to watch traditional folk performances (in English) based on Icelandic sagas and folktales; it takes place in July and August, and has been running for over 40 years. Tickets are sold at the door, starting one hour before the show, but reserving a ticket is recommended.

The Iceland Symphony Orchestra has bloomed beautifully, winning fine reviews for its tour appearances at Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center. Regular performances are held throughout the year at the eye-catching Harpa Concert Hall.

Each Summer Solstice, the residents of Grímsey throw a large festival to celebrate the Midnight Sun. There's live music, scavenger hunts, a "soup crawl." and their annual ball. Expect to stay up late.

Hafnarfjörður holds a Viking festival every June. Over the course of a weekend, the historical reenactment group Rimmugýgur has thrilling sword fights in traditional Viking clothing, tells tales of the Old Icelandic Vikings to children and adults alike, and teaches their guests how to make jewelry out of bones and stones. There's also a fun market where one can pick up leatherwear, swords, drinking horns, and other Viking necessities.