Date
06. May 202606. May 26
Reading time
3 min
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Boats in the harbor of Stykkishólmur, with the basalt island of Súgandisey sheltering it.
A boat heads in to Reykjavík’s harbor.
The harbor at Siglufjörður in North Iceland.
There’s something for everyone all year round in Iceland. Come and see for yourself!
Fishermen’s Day (in Icelandic, Sjómannadagurinn) is celebrated annually, usually on the first Sunday in June each year. It’s a time to head to the closest harbor to celebrate Iceland’s deep-rooted ties to the sea, as well as pay tribute to the people who keep the country’s fishing traditions alive.
From harborside festivals to sailing trips and seafood samples, communities across the country come together to honor this vital part of Iceland’s culture and economy.
The tradition began in 1938 in Reykjavík and Ísafjörður in the Westfjords, and it continues to pay respects to Iceland’s fishing heritage and the people who built it. In the past, fishing was a dangerous livelihood, with harsh weather and limited safety leading to many accidents at sea.
On Fishermen’s Day, all the ships are docked, so fishermen and -women can spend the day with their families.
Forthcoming dates of Fishermen’s Day:
On Fishermen’s Day, family-friendly celebrations take place around the country, with typical festivities including boat rides, concerts, games, speeches and dances, helpings of delicious seafood, and various other nautical fun. If you’re anywhere close to an Icelandic town with a fishing harbor over the weekend, look out for some form of celebration. Some towns host events that stretch over the weekend.
Some of the biggest Fishermen’s Day celebrations are in the Grandi area by Reykjavík Harbor. There are also celebrations in scenic fishing towns including Bolungarvík, Patreksfjörður, and Suðureyri in the Westfjords; Akranes in West Iceland; and Akureyri and Ólafsfjörður in North Iceland.
One of the best places to learn about Iceland’s relationship to the sea is at the Reykjavík Maritime Museum, down by the harbor in the Grandi neighborhood. Here you can also tour the floating exhibits of the Coast Guard vessel Óðinn and the tugboat Magni.
There are excellent maritime museums dotted around Iceland, highlighting the country’s longstanding ties to the sea. Look out for the award-winning Herring Era Museum, which examines the herring boom in Siglufjörður in North Iceland, and the super-scenic Ósvör Maritime Museum in Bolungarvík in the Westfjords. In East Iceland, stop by Randulffssjóhús in Eskifjörður to see amazing preserved artifacts in a sjóhús or ‘sea house’ from 1890 that now doubles as a restaurant.
Fish are abundant in Icelandic waters. The catch of the day in most Icelandic restaurants is likely to be cod, ling, or catfish. There are prolific fishing grounds around the island, so your fish should be fresh when it lands on your plate.
Read our guide on seafood in Iceland for a rundown on where to taste-test the freshest fishy fare from around the country, ranging from local langoustine to sublime sushi, plus where to find seafood and sea-angling tours.
Icelanders export the majority of their catch. Thanks to the services of Icelandair Cargo, diners in Europe and North America can be eating sustainably and responsibly caught fish that was swimming in Icelandic waters only 36 hours earlier!
The Points Guy came to Iceland to investigate the fresh fishy journey, from fishing boat to Icelandair aircraft to restaurant kitchen. Follow that fish!
