Holidays in Iceland
History of Iceland
Iceland, a Nordic island nation, is known for its dramatic landscape with volcanoes, geysers, hot springs, and lava fields. Norse settlers, mainly from Scandinavia and the British Isles, first inhabited it in the late 9th century. The Althing, one of the oldest functioning legislative assemblies in the world, was established in 930 AD. Iceland boasts a rich history that includes Viking lore and a unique lineage that has been well preserved through sagas and other historical documents.
Why Icelanders Cherish Their Holidays
In Iceland, holidays are deeply cherished, reflecting a profound appreciation for both nature and culture. Long, dark winters bring communities together to celebrate light and life, while the summer solstice is embraced with festivals under the midnight sun. These traditions are not only a way to combat the challenging climate but also a celebration of national identity and heritage that continues to strengthen community bonds.
What to Do in Iceland
Experience Natural Wonders
- Visit the Blue Lagoon, known for its healing geothermal waters.
- Explore the Golden Circle, where you can see the Gullfoss waterfall and the Strokkur geyser.
- Hike through Vatnajökull National Park, home to Europe’s largest glacier.
Engage in Cultural Activities
- Attend the Reykjavik Arts Festival, a biennial event that showcases local and international artists.
- Learn about Viking history at the National Museum of Iceland.
- Enjoy Icelandic cuisine, which includes unique dishes like hákarl (fermented shark) and brennivín (a local schnapps).
Date |
Holiday |
January 1, 2024
|
New Year's Day
|
March 28, 2024
|
Maundy Thursday
|
March 29, 2024
|
Good Friday
|
March 31, 2024
|
Easter Sunday
|
April 1, 2024
|
Easter Monday
|
April 25, 2024
|
First Day of Summer
|
May 1, 2024
|
May Day
|
May 9, 2024
|
Ascension Day
|
May 19, 2024
|
Pentecost
|
May 20, 2024
|
Whit Monday
|
June 17, 2024
|
Icelandic National Day
|
August 5, 2024
|
Commerce Day
|
December 24, 2024
|
Christmas Eve
|
December 25, 2024
|
Christmas Day
|
December 26, 2024
|
St. Stephen's Day
|
December 31, 2024
|
New Year's Eve
|
January 1, 2025
|
New Year's Day
|
April 17, 2025
|
Maundy Thursday
|
April 18, 2025
|
Good Friday
|
April 20, 2025
|
Easter Sunday
|
April 21, 2025
|
Easter Monday
|
April 24, 2025
|
First Day of Summer
|
May 1, 2025
|
May Day
|
May 29, 2025
|
Ascension Day
|
June 8, 2025
|
Pentecost
|
June 9, 2025
|
Whit Monday
|
June 17, 2025
|
Icelandic National Day
|
August 4, 2025
|
Commerce Day
|
December 24, 2025
|
Christmas Eve
|
December 25, 2025
|
Christmas Day
|
December 26, 2025
|
St. Stephen's Day
|
December 31, 2025
|
New Year's Eve
|
January 1, 2026
|
New Year's Day
|
April 2, 2026
|
Maundy Thursday
|
April 3, 2026
|
Good Friday
|
April 5, 2026
|
Easter Sunday
|
April 6, 2026
|
Easter Monday
|
April 23, 2026
|
First Day of Summer
|
May 1, 2026
|
May Day
|
May 14, 2026
|
Ascension Day
|
May 24, 2026
|
Pentecost
|
May 25, 2026
|
Whit Monday
|
June 17, 2026
|
Icelandic National Day
|
August 3, 2026
|
Commerce Day
|
December 24, 2026
|
Christmas Eve
|
December 25, 2026
|
Christmas Day
|
December 26, 2026
|
St. Stephen's Day
|
December 31, 2026
|
New Year's Eve
|
January 1, 2027
|
New Year's Day
|
March 25, 2027
|
Maundy Thursday
|
March 26, 2027
|
Good Friday
|
March 28, 2027
|
Easter Sunday
|
March 29, 2027
|
Easter Monday
|
April 22, 2027
|
First Day of Summer
|
May 1, 2027
|
May Day
|
May 6, 2027
|
Ascension Day
|
May 16, 2027
|
Pentecost
|
May 17, 2027
|
Whit Monday
|
June 17, 2027
|
Icelandic National Day
|
August 2, 2027
|
Commerce Day
|
December 24, 2027
|
Christmas Eve
|
December 25, 2027
|
Christmas Day
|
December 26, 2027
|
St. Stephen's Day
|
December 31, 2027
|
New Year's Eve
|
January 1, 2028
|
New Year's Day
|
April 13, 2028
|
Maundy Thursday
|
April 14, 2028
|
Good Friday
|
April 16, 2028
|
Easter Sunday
|
April 17, 2028
|
Easter Monday
|
April 20, 2028
|
First Day of Summer
|
May 1, 2028
|
May Day
|
May 25, 2028
|
Ascension Day
|
June 4, 2028
|
Pentecost
|
June 5, 2028
|
Whit Monday
|
June 17, 2028
|
Icelandic National Day
|
August 7, 2028
|
Commerce Day
|
December 24, 2028
|
Christmas Eve
|
December 25, 2028
|
Christmas Day
|
December 26, 2028
|
St. Stephen's Day
|
December 31, 2028
|
New Year's Eve
|
January 1, 2029
|
New Year's Day
|
March 29, 2029
|
Maundy Thursday
|
March 30, 2029
|
Good Friday
|
April 1, 2029
|
Easter Sunday
|
April 2, 2029
|
Easter Monday
|
April 19, 2029
|
First Day of Summer
|
May 1, 2029
|
May Day
|
May 10, 2029
|
Ascension Day
|
May 20, 2029
|
Pentecost
|
May 21, 2029
|
Whit Monday
|
June 17, 2029
|
Icelandic National Day
|
August 6, 2029
|
Commerce Day
|
December 24, 2029
|
Christmas Eve
|
December 25, 2029
|
Christmas Day
|
December 26, 2029
|
St. Stephen's Day
|
December 31, 2029
|
New Year's Eve
|
January 1, 2030
|
New Year's Day
|
April 18, 2030
|
Maundy Thursday
|
April 19, 2030
|
Good Friday
|
April 21, 2030
|
Easter Sunday
|
April 22, 2030
|
Easter Monday
|
April 25, 2030
|
First Day of Summer
|
May 1, 2030
|
May Day
|
May 30, 2030
|
Ascension Day
|
June 9, 2030
|
Pentecost
|
June 10, 2030
|
Whit Monday
|
June 17, 2030
|
Icelandic National Day
|
August 5, 2030
|
Commerce Day
|
December 24, 2030
|
Christmas Eve
|
December 25, 2030
|
Christmas Day
|
December 26, 2030
|
St. Stephen's Day
|
December 31, 2030
|
New Year's Eve
|
January 1, 2031
|
New Year's Day
|
April 10, 2031
|
Maundy Thursday
|
April 11, 2031
|
Good Friday
|
April 13, 2031
|
Easter Sunday
|
April 14, 2031
|
Easter Monday
|
April 24, 2031
|
First Day of Summer
|
May 1, 2031
|
May Day
|
May 22, 2031
|
Ascension Day
|
June 1, 2031
|
Pentecost
|
June 2, 2031
|
Whit Monday
|
June 17, 2031
|
Icelandic National Day
|
August 4, 2031
|
Commerce Day
|
December 24, 2031
|
Christmas Eve
|
December 25, 2031
|
Christmas Day
|
December 26, 2031
|
St. Stephen's Day
|
December 31, 2031
|
New Year's Eve
|
January 1, 2032
|
New Year's Day
|
March 25, 2032
|
Maundy Thursday
|
March 26, 2032
|
Good Friday
|
March 28, 2032
|
Easter Sunday
|
March 29, 2032
|
Easter Monday
|
April 22, 2032
|
First Day of Summer
|
May 1, 2032
|
May Day
|
May 6, 2032
|
Ascension Day
|
May 16, 2032
|
Pentecost
|
May 17, 2032
|
Whit Monday
|
June 17, 2032
|
Icelandic National Day
|
August 2, 2032
|
Commerce Day
|
December 24, 2032
|
Christmas Eve
|
December 25, 2032
|
Christmas Day
|
December 26, 2032
|
St. Stephen's Day
|
December 31, 2032
|
New Year's Eve
|
January 1, 2033
|
New Year's Day
|
April 14, 2033
|
Maundy Thursday
|
April 15, 2033
|
Good Friday
|
April 17, 2033
|
Easter Sunday
|
April 18, 2033
|
Easter Monday
|
April 21, 2033
|
First Day of Summer
|
May 1, 2033
|
May Day
|
May 26, 2033
|
Ascension Day
|
June 5, 2033
|
Pentecost
|
June 6, 2033
|
Whit Monday
|
June 17, 2033
|
Icelandic National Day
|
August 1, 2033
|
Commerce Day
|
December 24, 2033
|
Christmas Eve
|
December 25, 2033
|
Christmas Day
|
December 26, 2033
|
St. Stephen's Day
|
December 31, 2033
|
New Year's Eve
|
January 1, 2034
|
New Year's Day
|
April 6, 2034
|
Maundy Thursday
|
April 7, 2034
|
Good Friday
|
April 9, 2034
|
Easter Sunday
|
April 10, 2034
|
Easter Monday
|
April 20, 2034
|
First Day of Summer
|
May 1, 2034
|
May Day
|
May 18, 2034
|
Ascension Day
|
May 28, 2034
|
Pentecost
|
May 29, 2034
|
Whit Monday
|
June 17, 2034
|
Icelandic National Day
|
August 7, 2034
|
Commerce Day
|
December 24, 2034
|
Christmas Eve
|
December 25, 2034
|
Christmas Day
|
December 26, 2034
|
St. Stephen's Day
|
December 31, 2034
|
New Year's Eve
|
January 1, 2035
|
New Year's Day
|
March 22, 2035
|
Maundy Thursday
|
March 23, 2035
|
Good Friday
|
March 25, 2035
|
Easter Sunday
|
March 26, 2035
|
Easter Monday
|
April 19, 2035
|
First Day of Summer
|
May 1, 2035
|
May Day
|
May 3, 2035
|
Ascension Day
|
May 13, 2035
|
Pentecost
|
May 14, 2035
|
Whit Monday
|
June 17, 2035
|
Icelandic National Day
|
August 6, 2035
|
Commerce Day
|
December 24, 2035
|
Christmas Eve
|
December 25, 2035
|
Christmas Day
|
December 26, 2035
|
St. Stephen's Day
|
December 31, 2035
|
New Year's Eve
|
January 1, 2036
|
New Year's Day
|
April 10, 2036
|
Maundy Thursday
|
April 11, 2036
|
Good Friday
|
April 13, 2036
|
Easter Sunday
|
April 14, 2036
|
Easter Monday
|
April 24, 2036
|
First Day of Summer
|
May 1, 2036
|
May Day
|
May 22, 2036
|
Ascension Day
|
June 1, 2036
|
Pentecost
|
June 2, 2036
|
Whit Monday
|
June 17, 2036
|
Icelandic National Day
|
August 4, 2036
|
Commerce Day
|
December 24, 2036
|
Christmas Eve
|
December 25, 2036
|
Christmas Day
|
December 26, 2036
|
St. Stephen's Day
|
December 31, 2036
|
New Year's Eve
|
January 1, 2037
|
New Year's Day
|
April 2, 2037
|
Maundy Thursday
|
April 3, 2037
|
Good Friday
|
April 5, 2037
|
Easter Sunday
|
April 6, 2037
|
Easter Monday
|
April 23, 2037
|
First Day of Summer
|
May 1, 2037
|
May Day
|
May 14, 2037
|
Ascension Day
|
May 24, 2037
|
Pentecost
|
May 25, 2037
|
Whit Monday
|
June 17, 2037
|
Icelandic National Day
|
August 3, 2037
|
Commerce Day
|
December 24, 2037
|
Christmas Eve
|
December 25, 2037
|
Christmas Day
|
December 26, 2037
|
St. Stephen's Day
|
December 31, 2037
|
New Year's Eve
|
January 1, 2038
|
New Year's Day
|
April 22, 2038
|
First Day of Summer
|
April 22, 2038
|
Maundy Thursday
|
April 23, 2038
|
Good Friday
|
April 25, 2038
|
Easter Sunday
|
April 26, 2038
|
Easter Monday
|
May 1, 2038
|
May Day
|
June 3, 2038
|
Ascension Day
|
June 13, 2038
|
Pentecost
|
June 14, 2038
|
Whit Monday
|
June 17, 2038
|
Icelandic National Day
|
August 2, 2038
|
Commerce Day
|
December 24, 2038
|
Christmas Eve
|
December 25, 2038
|
Christmas Day
|
December 26, 2038
|
St. Stephen's Day
|
December 31, 2038
|
New Year's Eve
|
January 1, 2039
|
New Year's Day
|
April 7, 2039
|
Maundy Thursday
|
April 8, 2039
|
Good Friday
|
April 10, 2039
|
Easter Sunday
|
April 11, 2039
|
Easter Monday
|
April 21, 2039
|
First Day of Summer
|
May 1, 2039
|
May Day
|
May 19, 2039
|
Ascension Day
|
May 29, 2039
|
Pentecost
|
May 30, 2039
|
Whit Monday
|
June 17, 2039
|
Icelandic National Day
|
August 1, 2039
|
Commerce Day
|
December 24, 2039
|
Christmas Eve
|
December 25, 2039
|
Christmas Day
|
December 26, 2039
|
St. Stephen's Day
|
December 31, 2039
|
New Year's Eve
|
Long weekends
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Future long weekends in Iceland