Iceland Noir 2025

“Iceland Noir has an atmosphere of equality that’s virtually unheard of in other festivals.” - Reykjavík Grapevine

Iceland Noir is the primary annual literature festival in Iceland, a country known for its literary heritage and beautiful nature. As its name suggests, Iceland Noir was originally established as a crime fiction festival but has since evolved and now provides a wide focus on of all forms of literature, in addition to other methods of storytelling such as film, poetry and audiobooks. Around 80-100 authors and other artists appear as part of the program and are a mix of locals and foreigners – as is the audience. The festival language is English and the venues are all located in downtown Reykjavík within a ten minute walking distance from each other, numerous hotels and some of the best city sights. The festival hub is at the private members club Vinnustofa Kjarval which ticketholders get full access to during the festival.

In 2025 the festival will take place between the 12th to the 15th of November. Headliners are being announced and to-date include celebrated author, master storyteller and creator of worlds, author George R. R. Martin, chart topping crime and suspense writer Chris Whitaker, award winning novelists Colm Tóibín, Emily St. John Mandel and Siri Hustvedt. The exhaustive list will be eked out in the coming weeks, but ticketholders can expect an exciting lineup of renowned and interesting authors from the US, Iceland, the UK and various other countries.

Icelandair’s festival package includes a four-day Iceland Noir Literature Festival Pass and round-trip flights from your preferred airport. Plus, you can add on hotel/apartment accommodation and extend your stay in Iceland for up to 30 nights! Important: Your Iceland Noir Festival pass will be valid for all four days of the festival, despite only one date appearing on your booking confirmation.

Noir Festival Confirmed Attendees

Although the festival is small and relatively young, its reputation is exemplary and as a result it attracts great authors and artists for appearance in the program. This year’s Iceland Noir Festival boasts a thrilling line-up, with headlining speakers including:

George R.R. Martin is a celebrated author, master storyteller and creator of worlds. He is undeniably one of the most influential voices in modern fantasy literature, having captivated readers around the globe with his epic series A Song of Ice and Fire, the basis for the groundbreaking HBO series Game of Thrones. His passion for richly layered narratives and morally complex characters has redefined the fantasy genre.

Chris Whitaker is the author of the New York Times and Sunday Times bestselling All the Colours of the Dark. His other acclaimed and bestselling novels include We Begin at the End, Tall Oaks, and All the Wicked Girls. Chris’s novels have been translated into thirty-one languages and have won the CWA Gold Dagger, the CWA John Creasey Dagger and numerous awards around the world.

Siri Hustvedt is an American novelist, essayist, and scholar known for exploring neuroscience, philosophy, and identity in her work. Her much praised and bestselling novels include What I Loved, The Blazing World, and Memories of the Future. Siri has also written extensively on art, psychiatry, and feminism. Hustvedt holds a Ph.D. in English literature and has received numerous literary and academic honors. Her work blends fiction and intellectual inquiry, making her a distinctive voice in contemporary literature.

Colm Tóibín is an Irish novelist, essayist, and journalist known for works exploring themes of exile, identity, and family. His acclaimed novels include Brooklyn, The Master, and Nora Webster. Tóibín has received numerous literary awards, including the Costa Novel Award and the International Dublin Literary Award. He is also a professor of humanities at Columbia University. His writing is celebrated for its lyrical prose and deep psychological insight.

Emily St. John Mandel is the author of six novels, including Sea of Tranquility, The Glass Hotel, and Station Eleven. Her work has been translated into 32 languages and she has been the recipient of numerous prestigious literary awards. Among her readers, former US president Barack Obama short-listed Sea of Tranquility as one of his favorite books of 2022. Her novel Station Eleven has been adapted into a limited series and aired on HBO Max.

A more comprehensive list of authors can be found in the Instagram and Facebook links below - we recommend following the festival to receive regular updates as many others have yet to be added:

Iceland Noir - Facebook

Iceland Noir - Instagram