Date
16. Mar 202616. Mar 26
Reading time
11 min
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Northern lights over the Reykjavík skyline.
“I go to Siglufjörður at least once a year. Just being there is inspirational.”
Scenic Siglufjörður in North Iceland.
A beacon of light in the Reykjavík winter.
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Reykjavík is the perfect stage for the Iceland Noir literature festival. In mid-November, sunrise is around 10am, sunset at 4:30pm. During the day the sun sits low in the sky, then the nights stretch out – maybe punctuated by dancing northern lights – creating an atmosphere tailor-made for Icelandic noir, a book genre defined by slow-burning tension and emotional depth.
Not only that, Iceland’s rich literary heritage is deeply embedded in the city’s identity. Reykjavík was officially designated a UNESCO City of Literature in 2011, and the country boasts one of the highest per-capita rates of published authors in the world. Literary events, storytelling traditions, and a culture of reading are part of everyday life here.
Few places combine civilization and epic empty landscapes like this capital city, surrounded by mountains, volcanoes, and glaciers. This backdrop shapes noir literature’s themes and provides the perfect setting for this festival.
The 2026 edition of the Iceland Noir literary festival will take place November 11–14 at venues in the center of Reykjavík.
The lineup for 2026 is still to be determined. To give you an idea of the caliber of participants, the headliners for 2025 included celebrated author, master storyteller and creator of worlds, author George R. R. Martin; chart-topping crime and suspense writer Chris Whitaker; and award-winning novelists Colm Tóibín, Emily St. John Mandel, and Siri Hustved. Plus the year’s representatives from film include director, producer, and screenwriter Lasse Halström, and actor Lena Olin, both previous Academy Award nominees.
Ragnar Jónasson is an internationally acclaimed Icelandic author, best known for his crime novels set against the stark, haunting beauty of Iceland’s dramatic landscape. He is a master of the Nordic noir genre: over 5 million copies of Ragnar Jónasson’s books have sold worldwide and been translated into more than 30 languages. His books are set in Iceland and his best-selling series, including Dark Iceland and Hidden Iceland, have captivated readers with intricate plots, complex characters, and vivid portrayals of life in remote Icelandic towns.
Ragnar’s passion for all things storytelling and crime led him to co-founding Iceland Noir, a four-day literature festival that celebrates darkness in all its forms.
Read our interview with Ragnar as he talks Iceland Noir, literary festivals, international success, and his beloved Siglufjörður.
By Eygló Svala Arnarsdóttir.
Winter is upon us. Reykjavík residents wake up to dark mornings and, as day breaks, a dusting of snow in the mountains. Temperatures still cling to the plus side of zero, but the windchill whisks away any illusion of an Indian summer. It’s on one such shivery autumn morning that I meet up with celebrated crime author Ragnar Jónasson, warming my hands on a cup of coffee as we chat about the upcoming Iceland Noir literary festival.
Ragnar founded Iceland Noir with authors Yrsa Sigurðardóttir and Quentin Bates (who has since left the team) in 2013. “When we attended similar events abroad, people kept asking why we didn’t have a dedicated crime literature festival in Iceland. We started it on short notice, but it proved a great success, and our guests were pleased.” After that, the festival was held annually, then biennially—until the pandemic when it was canceled along with other events. “So now we’ve gone back to every year—we felt like we were in debt.”
Originally, the festival focused on crime literature only, but now it covers darkness in all forms of literature. “The title is also a reference to the timing of the festival. It’s held during the dark season,” elaborates Ragnar.
In 2022, Ragnar and the then prime minister of Iceland Katrín Jakobsdóttir released a suspense story which they co-authored. “We’ve known each other for a long time,” says Ragnar (in interview in 2022), of himself and Katrín. “The idea came up over lunch almost three years ago. I had suspected for a long time that she wanted to write a book—she’s such an enthusiast—and every Icelander wants to write a book!” Katrín, who holds degrees in Icelandic and literature, wrote her BA thesis on Icelandic crime novels.
“At that time, we weren’t sure whether it would happen. She’s obviously very busy and I was working on my own novels. But then we finished it during covid. It [was] released in October 2022.” [The book has been published in English by MacMillan in the US, and by Penguin in the UK.]
The novel, entitled Reykjavík, has been eagerly awaited by suspense fans. It features a young woman who went missing in 1956. However, it’s mainly set in 1986, when the capital’s 200th anniversary was celebrated, and the Reykjavík Summit marked the beginning of the end of the Cold War.
The book is different from Ragnar’s earlier novels, more nostalgic, he says. “We thought it would be fun to set it in the ’80s, in a year when so much was happening and which both of us remember from our childhoods. Everything that you experience as a kid becomes magical in your memories. We studied songs and movies from that time to create the right mood.” Ragnar says that he wouldn’t co-author a novel with everyone, but Katrín proved a good partner. “She’s creative and clever and good company. We would chat over a cup of coffee and toss ideas back and forth.”
Promising things are in the pipeline for Ragnar, as three film projects based on his books are underway. Scott Free Productions, acclaimed director Ridley Scott’s production company, has bought the rights to Ragnar’s psychological thriller Outside; CBS Studios are to produce the adaptations of Ragnar’s Hidden Iceland trilogy; and Warner Bros. International Television Production Germany acquired the rights to his Dark Iceland series. [In 2024, The Darkness was released: a six-part TV series for CBS Studios, directed by Lasse Hallström, starring Lena Olin, Douglas Henshall and Jack Bannon. It’s based on the novel by Ragnar Jónasson, who also acted as an executive producer for the series.]
“It’s very exciting. But the film industry operates very differently from the world of literature. Nothing can be taken for granted and time is a very flexible concept. I’m just waiting patiently but the projects seem to be on a good track, so I’m optimistic that some of them will be realized, and—although nothing has been confirmed—shooting for one of the projects might begin next year (in 2023).”
Ragnar reveals that it feels surreal to have his novels adapted by such respected film producers. “I’m a big movie fan so it didn’t take a long time for me to agree to sell the filming rights to Scott Free Productions. To be able to connect your book to someone like Ridley Scott is an absolute dream.” Ragnar says that he meets the production teams from time to time for creative input and that he might become a little more involved with one of the projects.
With 5 million books sold in 34 territories around the world, Ragnar has achieved amazing international success since the publication of his first novel in 2009. The popularity of his novels outside of Iceland continues to amaze him. “I’ve always written for an Icelandic audience, so it surprises me every time I see my books abroad and meet readers. It’s like a fairy tale.” He has also received numerous international awards. “It’s incredible, every time. It’s something that I’d never expected. I care deeply about all of them but was especially touched when my Hidden Iceland trilogy, as an entity, received the Palle Rosenkrantz Prize in Denmark last spring. I’m fond of Hulda, the main protagonist, and the Scandinavian market is difficult to penetrate.”
Six of Ragnar’s first novels, starring detective Ari Þór Arason, are set in Siglufjörður, a former herring boom town, trapped between tall mountains in the northernmost part of Iceland. This is where Ragnar’s father grew up.
“It felt natural to pick Siglufjörður as a background for my stories. I visited it many times a year during my childhood, so I know it well, and I’m interested in how isolation affects people. How they react to such circumstances.” In 2010, the very year when Ragnar’s first Siglufjörður novel was released, a tunnel connecting Siglufjörður with neighboring town Ólafsfjörður—and abandoned Héðinsfjörður—was opened, breaking its isolation and contributing to an increased flow of tourists.
“I recommend the bakery and especially the cinnamon buns. They’re called hnútar and they’re delicious. And to breathe in the sea air. It’s so fresh and invigorating. There are also touristic things to do, like visiting the Herring Era Museum. Everyone should visit it. It’s like walking into Siglufjörður of the past. What it was like when my grandparents were young and when my dad was growing up there.” Ragnar adds that now that Héðinsfjörður has become accessible to all by tunnel, people should take some time to explore this desolate place—featured in his novel Rupture.
Siglufjörður is a paradise for skiers, alpine, cross-country and off-piste. Ragnar doesn’t ski but he enjoys walking in the forested area near the ski resort. “There’s a waterfall there, somewhat of a secret place, very beautiful.” Ragnar also likes to trek to Hvanneyrarskál, a col connecting two peaks above the town. “It’s something that I used to do with my grandfather. I still go there to enjoy the view.”
Ragnar has his own secret place in Siglufjörður which he won’t share with anyone outside his family. “It’s my grandparents’ house on which Ari’s house in the books is based. It’s like traveling back in time. I go to Siglufjörður at least once a year. Just being there is inspirational.”
Whether you’re no stranger to an Icelandic literature festival or visiting the capital city for the first time, here’s everything you need to know to make the most out of your Iceland Noir experience, from dates and tickets to packing tips.
The festival runs across Reykjavík over four days in mid-November. For convenience, it’s best to choose accommodation in central Reykjavík as most venues are within walking distance and you’ll be close to plenty of cafes, bookstores, and iconic landmarks. It also means you can make the most of the free things to do in the city when you have some spare time between talks.
November in Iceland can be cold, dark, and sometimes pretty wet, so it calls for some smart packing. As the weather can shift quickly, it’s best to bring layered clothing, waterproof outerwear, and sturdy footwear for potentially icy pavements. A swimsuit and a small towel are handy if you plan to visit geothermal pools to unwind between festival events. And it can’t hurt to bring a notebook to jot down ideas if you’re feeling inspired by a panel or a conversation with fellow Icelandic book lovers.
Each November, Reykjavík plays host to lovers of dark storytelling and everything that it encompasses. Against the backdrop of long nights and dramatic skies, the Iceland Noir literary festival invites readers, writers, and creatives to explore the deep shadows of fiction, including everything from chilling crime novels to haunting screenplays. At the center of this celebration is Ragnar Jónasson, one of Iceland’s most acclaimed authors and co-founder of the festival.
Read our exclusive interview, where Ragnar shares the origins of Iceland Noir festival, how Iceland’s stark landscape continues to shape his writing, and the future of how his stories may unfold on the big screen. Plus, find out how to visit the festival and immerse yourself in all things noir with Icelandair.
Eygló Svala Arnarsdóttir
Reykjavík-based Eygló is the former editor of Icelandair’s in-flight Stopover magazine. She is a frequent contributor to travel magazines and guidebooks, and the author of children’s books.
Iceland Noir is more than just a literary festival. It’s an immersive experience that blends storytelling, culture, and the stark beauty of Reykjavík in the onset of winter. Whether you’re drawn by the authors, the atmosphere, or simply the chance to experience Icelandic noir in its natural habitat, this is a special event.
If you’re looking for a simple way to book everything in one go, each year our dedicated Iceland Noir package is tailored for attendees and includes flights, accommodation, and your festival pass. This package also allows for options to customize your stay and explore more of Iceland before or after the festival. Sign up to our newsletter to hear when packages for the 2026 festival are released.
Icelandair connects Iceland with more than 60 destinations in Europe, North America, and Greenland, so you can find a convenient route wherever you’re traveling from.
Whether you opt for a curated package or plan your own itinerary, Iceland Noir offers the a unique setting for immersive storytelling and literary connection with other book fans.
