Bræðslan music festival in East Iceland

Bræðslan is a summer music festival like no other. Remotely set in the idyllic village of Borgarfjörður Eystri in East Iceland, the area and the festival are well worth a visit.

Borgarfjörður Eystri is home to wonderful nature, great hiking routes, summertime puffin visitors, and a picturesque circle of rhyolite and basalt mountains. Here, folklore thrives, and the queen of elves lives in the mystical mountain castle of Álfaborg.

But during late July, the biggest attraction is without a doubt the one-of-a-kind music festival of Bræðslan. (Curious how to pronounce the festival’s name? Try saying Brythe-slan and hope for the best!)

The festival idea sprung out of a concert held in 2005 by the internationally acclaimed singer-songwriter Emilíana Torrini, who spent part of her childhood in this area. She wanted to host a concert in an unconventional place – and a former fish-reduction factory was chosen. It turned out to be a magical location for this type of event, and so the venue was set.  

The concert was such a success that it was held again the year after, and has since become a staple in the Icelandic festival calendar, and a popular event to travel east for during the summer, especially for Icelanders. The main event usually takes place on the last Saturday in July every year, but throughout the years the village has hosted weeklong off-venue events, along with other entertainment. 

Bræðslan attracts an audience of all ages as well as musicians from all over the world – many of whom fight for a spot on the agenda year after year.  

The festival has a reputation of an impressive lineup, including performances from the Scottish band Belle and Sebastian, the indie/folk artist Damien Rice, and the Icelandic band Of Monsters and Men. Among favored local Icelandic musicians are Bríet, Daði Freyr, Agent Fresco, and countless other talented acts. 

The people of Borgarfjörður Eystri are known for their welcoming spirit, which gives the Bræðslan festival a unique and homey atmosphere. Over the week leading up to the event, the scenic campsite fills up with people, and the village population (of approximately 100) expands to 10 or 20 times its normal size.

This temporary community is made up of folks who trace their roots to the area, and people who come from all over the country to participate in the festivities. It’s a joy to be a part of, wandering the streets of this small, friendly village, experiencing the arctic sunset – and if you manage to stay up late and luck out with the weather, the sunrise is simply breathtaking. And be sure to visit the super-photogenic local puffins while you’re in the neighborhood.

Now that you’re ready to soak in the atmosphere at Bræðslan, you’ll be glad to know we offer domestic flights from Reykjavík to Egilsstaðir daily. From Egilsstaðir, Borgarfjörður Eystri is only a 45-minute drive – we also offer fly-drive packages to Egilsstaðir that including flights from Reykjavík and car hire. 

If you want to extend your trip, there are many more awesome things to do in East Iceland that will both lift your spirits and expand your horizon, from waterfalls to hot pools. Get festival-ready and book your flight with us today. 

Icelandair is a proud sponsor of Bræðslan and other celebrations of Iceland music and culture, including the longstanding Iceland Airwaves music festival, rocking Reykjavík each November. We offer Airwaves festival packages from all across Europe and North America.

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This article was originally published in 2022, and updated in 2026.