Reykjavík Arts Festival

Its background was that Vladimir Ashkenazy, who was living in Iceland at the time, and Ivar Eskeland, director of the Nordic House, encouraged the city to hold an international music festival on the one hand, and a Nordic culture festival on the other.

After discussions between the Association of Icelandic Artists, the Minister of Education and the city authorities, it was decided to combine these ideas and create an international Art Festival in Reykjavík, which was held for the first time in the summer of 1970.

Since then, thousands of artists have performed at the Art Festival in Reykjavík.

Among them is Led Zeppelin, Jacqueline du Pré, Jóhannes S. Kjarval, Helgi Tómasson, Erró, Luciano Pavarotti, Ingmar Bergman, Guerrilla Girls, and many more.

The festival is responsible for the Eyrarrósinni award, together with the Construction Institute and the Icelandic Airlines.