The post of Mayor of Reykjavík (Icelandic: Borgarstjóri Reykjavíkur) was created in 1907 and advertised in 1908.

Páll Einarsson and Knud Zimsen applied for the job and Páll got the position for a period of six years, at the end of which he did not wish to renew his tenure.

During the 2006-2010 term four people held the mayor position, due to an unprecedented amount of instability in Reykjavík's municipal coalition government caused in part by the 2008–11 Icelandic financial crisis.

Einar's Progressive Party currently governs the city as the senior coalition partner with the Social Democratic Alliance, Pirate Party, and Reform.

As of 2024, Reykjavik has had 22 mayor including eighteen men and four women.