Dark Music Days

View on map
MusicReykjavík
DatesDates TBA · Usually JanuaryCheck locally before booking
Duration3 daysListed event span
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forLive music, late nightsThe festival's founders deliberately chose
LanguageLocal language; English access variesCurrency: ISK
CategoryMusicFestival type
The story

Dark Music Days in Reykjavík

Founded in January 1980 by composers Atli Heimir Sveinsson and Thorkell Sigurbjornsson under the Icelandic Composers Society, Dark Music Days is Iceland's oldest contemporary classical festival still running annually, second overall only to the Skalholt Music Festival. Held each January in Reykjavik's darkest weeks, it focuses on premiering new orchestral, chamber, and electroacoustic works.

Composers Atli Heimir Sveinsson and Thorkell Sigurbjornsson, then leading the Icelandic Composers Society, established Dark Music Days in January 1980 as a dedicated platform for new Icelandic contemporary composition, deliberately scheduling the festival for the darkest month of the Icelandic year on the reasoning that new, unfamiliar music suited the enveloping winter darkness better than any other season.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

The festival's founders deliberately chose the darkest month of the Icelandic year, reasoning that unfamiliar new music suited winter darkness, and that founding logic still shapes late-January scheduling more than four decades on

02

The mystery stays covered

Run continuously by the Icelandic Composers Society rather than a commercial promoter, it reportedly premieres more new musical works annually than any other single Icelandic cultural event, a premiere-driven identity distinct from festivals built around established repertoire or touring headline acts

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

Commissioning and premiering new Icelandic compositions rather than programming established repertoire has been the festival's continuous organizing principle since its first 1980 edition

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually January

Getting around

Plan routes around set times, late-night exits, and crowded transport after headline acts.

What to wear

Heavy winter clothing including a warm coat, hat, and gloves for late-January Reykjavik conditions, with smart-casual attire underneath for indoor concert seating.

Safety

At Dark Music Days, agree on a meeting point and plan food, water and the return route before crowds thicken.

Where to stay

Choose lodging by the part of Reykjavik you will actually use, not only by the cheapest room.

Tickets/cost

Ticketing varies by venue and stage. Confirm official passes before booking travel.

Language/currency

ISK

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map64.14 N, 21.90 WOpen in Google Maps

Reykjavik, Capital Region, Iceland

Nearest airportKEF — Keflavik
TransportPlan routes around set times, late-night exits, and crowded transport after headline acts.
Stay areaChoose lodging by the part of Reykjavik you will actually use, not only by the cheapest room.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Reykjavík via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Reykjavík, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for January.Compare faresFestival gearHeavy winter clothing including a warm coat, hat, and gloves for late-January Reykjavik conditions, with smart-casual attire underneath for indoor concert seating.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for Iceland and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Dark Music Days?

Dark Music Days is listed for Past edition: 24–26 January 2025. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Dark Music Days take place?

The festival is listed in Reykjavík, Iceland. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

3 days is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Reykjavik, Capital Region, Iceland

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLdarkmusicdays.is
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
SourceSource link available
Listed datesDates TBA · Usually January
Source statusOfficial source linked
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