Late November is here, which means the holiday season has officially arrived. If you’ve been feeling festive for weeks already, no judgment — now everyone else is catching up.
This weekend is packed with places to find gifts, see local art, and warm your hands around a cup of jólaglögg. The Christmas Gate at Kolaportið runs every weekend until Christmas, and The Christmas Market at Austurvöllur opens its doors this weekend too. While you’re in the area, the ice rink at Ingólfstorg is hard to walk past without stopping. The Christmas Art Market in Mosfellsbær stays open until December 19, and the Christmas Village in “Jólabærinn” runs every Friday to Sunday. There’s also a Christmas-themed bus to Hafnarfjörður, which is exactly as fun as it sounds.
Today at 17:00, BERG Contemporary opens its annual Christmas exhibition. This weekend also sees Freyjugata 1 come back to life with a studio sale — handmade sweaters, coffee, and something sweet. Over at The Nordic House, Sunday brings a textile workshop and swap market led by the artist Yrúrárí. From Monday, the artist-led initiative Simulate opens its exhibition, Losing Art on Christmas Eve, featuring work from 40 artists.
But the holidays can wait for a moment.
This evening at 17:00, Open hosts “Shock Ballad,” a finissage for their current exhibition. It starts with a collective reading of Anne Carson’s work and closes with a performance by Knackered. The full schedule is available if you click here.
Tomorrow brings openings at H,A,K,K Gallery and Vínstúkan Tíu Sopar. At H,A,K,K, fifteen artists present their own takes on the candlestick, starting at 15:00. At Vínstúkan, Árni Már Þ. Vidarsson opens a solo painting exhibition with a performance by Berndsen at 17:00. Earlier, at 15:00, Bókumbók holds a publishing celebration for their third zine, “WELL AM I?,” a collaborative piece by Regn Eva and Sindri “Sparkle” Freyr.
If you want to round off your Saturday properly, DJ Airplane and Spaceship plays Kaffibarinn from 21:00.
Want to know more? Just scroll down. Have an event to share? Add it to the calendar at events.grapevine.is or check what’s happening around town.
Lottó & Rami’s High School Reunion: Party At Röntgen
November 28 — 21:00 — Röntgen — Free Entrance
Happy Birthday, Röntgen! The celebrations have been going all week, but tonight looks like the real highlight. Musicians Lottó and Rami — better known as DJ MBK — are throwing a “High School Reunion” complete with prizes, performances, and a yearbook for guests to sign. Normally we’d tell you to skip the high school reunion. This one is different. ISH
Sample 7
November 28 — 20:00 — Iðnó — Free Entrance
The monthly concert series is back. This edition features Iðunn Einars, Marsibil, LiteFun, and Öngþveiti — a lineup that moves between jazz, classical, hip-hop, and pop. It’s a genuine cross-section of what Reykjavík sounds like right now. ISH
Saga ú Vesturbærn / A Story from the West Town
Runs until November 30 — Various Locations
The collective Hinum Megin/The Other Side presents “Saga úr Vesturbænum/A Story from the West Town,” a string of exhibitions spread across Vesturbær. The opening art walk happened last night, but all exhibitions stay open through November 30. Nine artists are showing work at spots including Elliheimilið Grund, Blómatorgið, outside Héðinsvöllir, and Kjötborg — all within easy walking distance of each other. ISH
Song Of The Rebel Flower / Let the Flowers Speak
November 30 — 20:00 — Iðnó — Tickets from 2,900 to 6,900 ISK
We flagged this last week, but it’s worth saying again. The final performance of Song Of The Rebel Flower closes this Sunday. If the themes caught your attention before, this is your last chance.
Choreographer and performer Félix Urbina Alejandre presents Song Of The Rebel Flower, a dance piece performed alongside four live musicians. It moves through ideas of belonging, sonic traditions, and the natural world — originally created for the Reykjavík Dance Festival. The show is for audiences aged 16 and up and includes lit candles, darkness, loud sounds, partial nudity, and strong aromas (essential oils). ISH
