Iceland Airwaves announces new wave of artists for the 2026 festival

Iceland Airwaves has unveiled over forty additional acts for its 27th edition, taking place in Reykjavík from 5th–7th November 2026. The festival continues its reputation as one of the world’s premier new music showcases, blending international talent with a strong commitment to Icelandic artists.

Headline additions

Among the newly announced international acts, London’s Heartworms stands out, riding high on the acclaim for their 2025 debut album Glutton For Punishment, which earned five-star reviews from NME and DIY Magazine. Fellow Londoners The Itch make their Icelandic debut on the back of a packed run of UK basement shows, while neo-soul veteran Jamie Woon brings his acclaimed back catalogue to Reykjavík.

Icelandic talent at the core

As always, homegrown artists are central to the lineup. RAKEL, winner of the 2025 Iceland Airwaves PLUS Award, returns to the festival after a year of international showcases in New York and Wales. Electro-pop project SCAM, from composers Herdís Stefánsdóttir and Salka Valsdóttir, and Andervel, the folk-leaning project of Mexico-born, Iceland-based artist José Luis Anderson, also feature among the local highlights.

Beyond the stage

The festival extends well beyond its showcase performances. Special events at Reykjavík’s waterfront concert hall Harpa will feature Shygirl, The Streets, and Daði Freyr with the Iceland Symphony Orchestra. A two-day industry conference on 5th and 6th November will tackle topics including human curation in the age of algorithms and how smaller music markets continue to produce outsized global talent.

SCAM will also preview the festival at a Taste of Iceland showcase in New York on 1st October, at Pianos on the Lower East Side.

Early bird tickets start from 10,900 ISK (approximately £65 / $87), with travel packages available. Learn more and purchase tickets at icelandairwaves.is. Get the festival playlist on Spotify.

Pre-festival events lineup:

4th November: Shygirl at Silfurberg, Harpa – tickets
5th November: Daði Freyr & The Iceland Symphony Orchestra at Eldborg, Harpa – tickets
8th November: The Streets at Eldborg, Harpa – tickets