08/12/2025 | 10:00 AM
Grow up in a remote land with raw volcanic vibes and breathtakingly beautiful landscapes, where darkness reigns for a big chunk of the year, and you’re bound to forge creative souls. Even with a small population, Icelandic musicians emerge from all walks of life, and a disproportionate number rocket to international fame.
The sounds are innovative, fusing Icelandic imagination with international inspirations, making the country a new-music powerhouse, from electronica and classical to hip hop. You may already know its most famous exports – Björk and Sigur Rós – who create soundscapes that match the ethereal beauty and otherworldliness of their homeland. For the traveler, Iceland’s booming festival scene and indie-music venues mean: when in Iceland, it’s time to get your groove on.
In this article, Alexis Averbuck explains what makes Icelandic music so special, and gives you tips on where to experience the local scene.
Icelandic music goes way back, to the early folk songs about love, hard winters, and mythology. What better way to entertain each other around a fire in the Middle Ages? These songs survived, being repeated and elaborated on for hundreds of years. With isolation and scarcity, musical instruments were rare and foreign influences few. Bit by bit, zithers, harmonicas and other instruments came to accompany singers, and then everything changed after independence from Denmark in 1944. The US Navy rocked up to Iceland during World War II, stationed in Keflavík, bringing the American Top 40. This was soon followed by the Beatles and the British Invasion.
A delayed but wildly creative punk movement – featuring a young Björk as a key player in the Sugarcubes – sprang up in the early ‘80s, with artists challenging small-town thinking and redefining what it was to be Icelandic. Indie label Bad Taste (Smekkleysa) raised up these new musicians, and you can still visit the label today at their record shop and café in downtown Reykjavík, where Björk occasionally performs a DJ set.
Descended from the Vikings, today's Icelanders have survived erupting volcanoes, an economic collapse, and punishing winters. Although known for being fiercely independent and naturally resourceful people, other factors have helped lift all musical boats, too.
Simply, but crucially, the government supports music schools in municipalities all over the country. And close-knit artistic communities like those in downtown Reykjavík help people get together and jam.
The legacy of that small but influential DIY punk scene in the 1980s showed that anything is possible. Pair that with the internet – which makes it easier to learn and then distribute music or be heard beyond traditional radio – and you’re on your way.
Also, a decent social safety net makes it possible to moonlight as an artist and be creative. Musicians can record in Iceland’s world-class studios, then seek support through a cluster of marketing agencies focused on promoting music abroad, plus other initiatives like Iceland Music (Útflutningsskrifstofa Íslenskrar Tónlistar – ÚTÓN) and Creative Iceland. These combine the power of government and business expertise and funding to grow Iceland’s music scene overseas. And it doesn’t hurt that Icelanders are generally great speakers of English – both for logistical reasons, but even more for inspired, international lyrics. Because a hallmark of many Icelandic artists is that they get out and play the world.
Icelandic musicians are not known for staying in their lane. Your bass player could be classically trained; your pianist, an experimental electronica player. While they may be inspired by their unique homeland, most Icelandic players flavor their music with the experience of traveling around the world, fusing styles and influences.
Check out our playlist to sample a few:
At any time of year, you can catch a show at intimate venues, a grand concert hall, or sweaty nightclubs. Pick your poison and go.
Let’s not forget the record stores of Reykjavík, like 12 Tónar, where you can see local acts as you flip through the vinyl. You can also while away the day browsing and picking up local music at Lucky Records, Reykjavik Record Shop, and Geisladiskabúð Valda.
Reykjavík doesn’t corner the market on happenings either. Outside the capital, swing into Græni Hatturinn (The Green Hat) and HOF in Akureyri. On Snæfellsnes peninsula, The Freezer Hostel in Rif has a culture space with live shows. In the Eastfjords, at Stöðvarfjörður, Fish Factory is a creativity hub, and hosts performances.
Icelandic artists can also be multi-talents, like Ragnar Kjartansson, who mash up visual art, music and theater, so you might encounter their music in typically art-focused settings like museums, galleries, and cultural centers.
Churches are also fertile ground for atmospheric music and choir performances. In the capital, Hallgrímskirkja and Dómkirkjan host regular concerts. The famous Blue Church of Seyðisfjörður in the Eastfjords hosts a popular summer concert series.
There are listings websites that can guide you to the best events, such as What's on Reykjavík.
The Reykjavík Grapevine (pick up a print version around town) reviews new albums and interviews new artists, and has great listings to help you find something fun.
A new entry with good ambitions is Setlist, with a calendar full of concerts to browse.
As Iceland became one of the world’s most creative, music-producing nations it helped fuel the popularity of its festivals, like Iceland Airwaves, an annual pilgrimage for music lovers and trend hunters. To really take in Icelandic music in the wild, visit during a music festival.
Image credit: Crowd photo, Iceland Airwaves 2022. Photo by Alexander Matukhno.
Does Iceland sound like falling rain? Like wind in the winter? Like birdsong in the summer? Or just like a dreamy travel destination?
We ask the question 'How does Iceland sound?' to many of the Icelandic musicians involved in the virtual Live from Reykjavík events of 2021 and 2020.
Watch their responses in this video – their answers might surprise you. (Hint: Weather plays a large part.)
At Icelandair, we love music.
Every year we put together vacation packages to fly music fans from around the world to Reykjavík to join the Iceland Airwaves party. We offer packages from gateways in North America and Europe that include 3-day festival passes and round-trip flights, with hotel-inclusive packages available.
If you're a musician visiting Iceland, you might want to bring your instrument on your travels. We can help! Find out more about Icelandair‘s musical instrument guidelines on our Baggage page.
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By Alexis Averbuck
About the writer:Alexis Averbuck is an author and editor who writes for Lonely Planet, BBC, and other international newspapers, magazines, websites, and businesses. She co-authors Lonely Planet's best-selling guide to Iceland. She’s also a professional artist, photographer, and occasional TV presenter.