Annual Summer Festivals and Cultural Events in the East Fjords
Annual Summer Festivals and Cultural Events in the East Fjords
From late June through August, the East Fjords region hosts a range of Iceland summer festivals, trail races, and town gatherings. These events are community run, locally rooted, and spread across several small towns and fjord villages. This guide covers what is on, when it happens, and what to expect.
How East Iceland Summer Festivals Are Organized
Most festivals in Austurland are organized by locals, held outdoors or in repurposed spaces, and open to residents and travelers alike. Unlike larger Icelandic events in Reykjavík, they are not commercially produced or ticketed months in advance.
The landscape and light make outdoor gatherings natural here. Summer temperatures average 44.6°F to 47.3°F (7°C to 8.5°C), and daylight lasts 17 to 22 hours in June and July.
Iceland Summer Festivals in the East Fjords
The East Fjords summer calendar includes recurring events across the region, from Reyðarfjörður in the south to Borgarfjörður eystri in the north. Below are seven festivals worth planning your trip around.
1. Fjarðabyggð Hiking Week (Gönguvikan í Fjarðabyggð)
The Fjarðabyggð Hiking Week, known in Icelandic as Gönguvikan í Fjarðabyggð, is an eight day guided hiking festival generally held the last week of June each year. It takes walkers and hikers through six municipalities: Eskifjörður, Neskaupstaður, Reyðarfjörður, Fáskrúðsfjörður, Stöðvarfjörður, and Mjóifjörður.
Over eight days, you move through fjords, valleys, and mountain terrain at your own pace. Guided hikes and family walks run alongside more demanding mountain routes, and each evening closes with live music and community gatherings.
For those who want a personal challenge, summiting five designated local peaks earns you the title of Fjarðabyggð Mountain Hiker. Children 15 and under need only three peaks to qualify.
Photographer: Þráinn Kolbeinsson
2. Dyrfjallahlaupið
Dyrfjallahlaupið is a trail-running race named after the Dyrfjöll, or "Door Mountains," typically held on the first Saturday of July in Borgarfjörður eystri. The event offers three distances to suit different experience levels. You can run 12 km (7.5 miles) through the Víknaslóðir trail network, 24 km (15 miles) through rhyolite peaks and basalt cliffs, or a 50 km (31 miles) ultra with 2,600 m (8,530 ft) of elevation gain.
The 50 km course crosses some of the most remote terrain in East Iceland, passing through uninhabited fjords before finishing at the marina. If the mountains are not calling, the race weekend also includes concerts and a beer run along the shore.
Photographer: Þorsteinn Roy
3. French Days in Fáskrúðsfjörður
French Days, or Frönsku Dagarnir, is an annual cultural festival in Fáskrúðsfjörður that celebrates the town's deep ties to French maritime history. From the latter part of the 19th century until 1935, the town served as the main base for French fishermen working Iceland's east coast.
The festival is generally held in mid July with street parties, French cuisine, pétanque, a French ball tossing game played on gravel, and a wreath laying ceremony at the French graveyard. The former French hospital, now a museum and hotel, is open year round alongside the town's bilingual street signs and the graveyard itself.
4. Bræðslan Music Festival
Bræðslan is an annual music festival held in a converted fish factory in Borgarfjörður eystri, with around 800 tickets sold each year. It typically takes place on the last weekend of July, and it sells out every time.
Past performers include Of Monsters and Men, Belle and Sebastian, and Damien Rice. Emilíana Torrini's 2005 concert at the same factory is widely credited with sparking the festival.
A concert series also runs throughout the week at Fjarðarborg, the town's community center. Book your accommodation in East Iceland well before the last weekend of July.
Photographer: Hafþór Snjólfur Helgason
5. Hernámsdagurinn (Occupation Day)
Hernámsdagurinn, or Occupation Day, is an annual town festival in Reyðarfjörður that commemorates the British occupation of the town on 1 July 1940. It is held every year on the first Saturday of July at the Icelandic Wartime Museum.
The day opens with a guided historical walking tour through Reyðarfjörður, followed by art exhibitions and live music at the Wartime Museum. Research presentations give you a closer look at what the town experienced during the occupation years.
It is one of the quieter events on the East Fjords summer calendar, and a worthwhile stop for anyone interested in Iceland's 20th-century history.
6. Neistaflug, Neskaupstaður
Neistaflug, which translates as "Flying Sparks," is Neskaupstaður's annual summer festival, generally held over the August long weekend. Over the weekend, local and regional acts perform across multiple stages, with daytime activities for children and evening music running late into the August night.
7. Blue Church Concert Series, Seyðisfjörður
The Blue Church Concert Series runs on summer evenings throughout July inside Seyðisfjörður's painted timber church on the fjord shore. If you want a quieter end to a day in the fjords, this is a good place to find it.
Each evening, you step into one of Iceland's most distinctive small venues for live music with the fjord visible through the windows. It is a natural end to a day spent walking Rainbow Street or hiking the valley above town.
Photographer: Ingvi Örn Þorsteinsson
Travel Tips for East Iceland Summer Festivals
Getting to East Iceland festivals takes some planning. Most festival venues are in small, remote villages with limited accommodation and no public bus service.
- Book early. For Bræðslan and Dyrfjallahlaupið, book two to three months ahead.
- Rent a car. A rental is the only reliable way to reach most venues from Egilsstaðir.
- Confirm dates. Exact dates shift by year, so check before booking.
Plan Your Trip to East Iceland Summer Festivals
These Iceland summer festivals happen in small towns where locals and visitors share the same space, the same stages, and often the same trails. Unlike larger events such as the Viking Festival in Hafnarfjörður, the artists performing at East Fjords festivals play to crowds of a few hundred at most.
That kind of access to a place is worth planning around. For additional experiences in the region, browse our Iceland summer activities page to start building your itinerary.
What is the most famous festival in Iceland?
Iceland's most recognized annual events include Airwaves, Culture Night, the Reykjavík Jazz Festival, and Þjóðhátíð on the Westman Islands. Þjóðhátíð draws thousands each year for bonfires, fireworks, and live music. In East Iceland, Bræðslan is the standout.
What to be careful of in Iceland?
Weather can change fast even in summer, so carry waterproof layers, wear sturdy footwear, and stick to marked paths near cliff edges and coastal areas.
When's the worst time to visit Iceland?
January and February bring only four to eight hours of daylight and limited road access to remote areas. For East Iceland summer festivals specifically, visiting before mid June or after early August means missing most events.
What are some hidden gems in Iceland?
The East Fjords are among Iceland's most overlooked regions, with Stuðlagil Canyon, Stórurð boulders, Petra's Stone Collection in Stöðvarfjörður, and the Vök Baths near Egilsstaðir all worth a stop.
Do you need a car to attend summer festivals in East Iceland?
Yes, it is best to have a car when visiting these events, as public transportation does not operate regularly between these locations. For example, Borgarfjörður eystri where Bræðslan and Dyrfjallahlaupið are held, is about 71 km (44 miles) from Egilsstaðir with no regular public bus service.
Are the East Fjords summer festivals suitable for families with children?
Fjarðabyggð Hiking Week and French Days in Fáskrúðsfjörður both have dedicated children's programs. Bræðslan is all ages but runs late into the night. All festivals and concerts are family friendly, and children are welcome to attend.