Reykjavík Arts Festival 35th Edition: Björk, James Merry, and Icelandic Community

The 35th Reykjavík Arts Festival, themed 'how to connect through art', took place from May 30 to June 14, 2026, in Reykjavík, Iceland. The opening at Hafnarhús of the Reykjavík Art Museum featured a world premiere of 'Loftvægi' by Samúel Jón Samúelsson, performed by 500 young musicians from four school orchestras. The festival included a dance performance 'The Air Between Us' by New Zealand choreographer Chloe Loftus and Belgian artist Florent Devlesaver, an olfactory greenhouse installation by six artists that briefly alarmed residents, and a dialogue between Björk and James Merry at the National Gallery of Iceland. Björk premiered three new songs: two elegies for her mother and 'Nerve Bloom' from her upcoming 2027 album, which will focus on AI. James Merry's first retrospective 'Metamorphlings' featured over 80 masks inspired by sci-fi and Asian cultures. The festival involved 1,300 artists across Reykjavík's museums and galleries, concluding with a queer party.