Kjartan Olafsson
ErkiTíð
Music, innovation, and technology come together - at Icelandic music festival.
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ErkiTíð 2026 will be held in Reykjavík from October 9–11, 2026. One of the festival’s main themes this year will be Modernism in Iceland during the last century. In collaboration with ErkiTíð, the Reykjavík Academy will host an international conference on Modernism in Iceland, examining and discussing Icelandic music from this period (1950–1980).
During this era, a revolution took place in Western musical life, as old values gave rise to new ones and helped shape new artistic standards for the future.
Among the pioneers were Karlheinz Stockhausen, Pierre Boulez, The Beatles, John Cage, and in Iceland Atli Heimir Sveinsson, Þorkell Sigurbjörnsson, Jóhann G. Jóhannsson, Trúbrot, and Magnús Blöndal. A diverse range of musical works from this period will be performed.
Also worth mentioning are concerts featuring "impressionistic music", electronic music in which, among other things, newer interactive technologies will be used, chamber music concerts, and special tribute and memorial concerts featuring choral works by Jón Ásgeirsson, performed by many of Iceland’s leading choirs.
In addition, the cantata “Á jörð ertu kominn” (“You Have Come to Earth”), composed by Gunnar Reynir Sveinsson in 1972 to a text by Birgir Sigurðsson, will receive its premiere performance.
The festival has issued a call for new musical compositions, including works inspired by the period of Icelandic Modernism and the ideas and philosophy associated with it.
ErkiTíð is a platform for creativity and expression in music using new technology, offering a glimpse into the future with strong roots in the works of the pioneers of Icelandic music.
Since its beginning, ErkiTíð has emphasized Icelandic music and innovation in that field. The first festival was held in 1994 to mark the 50th anniversary of the Icelandic Republic, featuring a performance of all major electronic and computer compositions by Icelandic composers up to that point.
Over the years, dozens of new Icelandic works have been commissioned and premiered through ErkiTíð.
This year’s festival will highlight real-time music creation using new methods and instruments, offering unexpected and spontaneous musical experiences through live performance.
ErkiTíð is open to everyone regardless of gender, age, or background. One of its core aims has always been to connect the past, present, and future. Innovation in music is a key element of ErkiTíð, where the boundaries between art forms are often blurred, creating a more diverse cultural landscape.
Through its diversity, ErkiTíð enriches Iceland’s cultural life and society, contributing to a more vibrant and colorful cultural scene.
Kjartan Ólafsson, Artistic Director
ErkiTíð 2026
Chamber jazz and choir concerts
October 9th
20:00 - 21:30
Fríkirkjan in Reykjavik
Friday 09.10 - 20.00-21.30
Tickets: ISK 4800
Seniors and people with disabilities: ISK 2900
Tickets available at the entrance and at tix.is
Free admission for students // Wheelchair access
Chamber Jazz and Choral Concerts
Á jörð ertu kominn (1972) - World premiere
The jazz cantata by Gunnar Reynis Sveinsson, with text by Birgir Sigurðsson.
Performers
Röst AK Chamber Choir, together with Contoque ensemble and The Kjartan Valdemarsson Jazz Band, which also provides the arrangements
Soloists: Hallveig Rúnarsdóttir and Fjölnir Ólafsson.
The jazz band consists of Haukur Gröndal (saxophone, clarinet and flute), Gunnar Hrafnsson (double bass), Pétur Grétarsson (drums and vibraphone), and Kjartan Valdemarsson (piano).
Conductor: Hilmar Örn Agnarsson
The work was composed in 1972 for the Reykjavík Arts Festival, but the performance was cancelled following the death of the soloist Viðar Alfreðsson. Hilmar Örn was a personal friend of the composer, who gave him the manuscript with a request that he complete the project. In 2006, Hilmar Örn performed part of the work with the South Iceland Chamber Choir at the Reykjavík Jazz Festival. The work will now receive its world premiere in its entirety at ErkiTíð in October.
ErkiTíð 2026
Impressionistic concert
October 10th
13:00 - 13:45
ErkiTíð 2026
Electronic music
October 10
14:30 - 16:00
ErkiTíð 2026
Chamber concerts
October 10
17:00 - 19.00
Reykjavik Art Museum
Saturday 10.10 - 13:00 - 13:45
Tickets: ISK 4800
Seniors and people with disabilities: ISK 2,900
Tickets available at the entrance an at tix.is
Free entrance for students // Wheelchair access
Impressionistic Concert - TRPTYCH
A concert of impressionistic music for a variety of instruments, both acoustic and electronic
TRPTYCH has been continuously evolving since 2015. The project began as a live techno band, but over time it has developed into a form of world music where acoustic instruments such as flute, didgeridoo and djembe meet an electronic soundscape. The result is a unique, cosmic and dreamlike atmosphere.
Here, ancient musical traditions meet modern sound production. African rhythms, influences from the Middle East and Asia intertwine with electronic tones, vocals and improvisation, creating a musical universe that is difficult to place in any single genre. The music is both earthy and otherworldly, familiar yet unexpected.
TRPTYCH will perform improvisational pieces from the albums “Ajna” (2024), “Heartbeats & Starseeds” (2025) and the latest work, “CREATION” (2026). The project has performed at concerts and events both in Iceland and abroad, and continues to evolve through live performance, improvisation and collaborations with a diverse range of artists.
When TRPTYCH performs publicly, the project consists of Daníel Þorsteinsson, formerly of Maus and Sometime, together with vocalists Ingibjörg Stefánsdóttir and Kolbrún Ýr.
Listasafn Reykjavíkur
Saturday 10.10 - 14:30 - 16:00
FREE entrance for all // Wheelchair access
Electronic Music Concert - Modernism
New and earlier electronic music in connection with the modernistic period in Iceland 1950-1980
Programme
Magnús Blöndal: Surtur fer sunnan - video
Atli Heimir Sveinsson: Búr
Snorri Sigfús Birgisson: Ad Aborem Inversam
Þorsteinn Hauksson: New work
Composers are Þorkell Sigurbjörnsson, Atli Heimir Sveinsson, Gunnar Reynir Sveinsson among others.
Reykjavik Art Museum
Saturday 10.10. - 17:00 - 19:00
Tickets: ISK 3500
Seniors and people with disabilities: ISK 2500
Tickets at the entrance and at tix.is
Free for students // Wheelhair access
Chamber Concert
Caput performs music related to Modernism in Iceland
The concerts are being held in collaboration with the Reykjavík Academy’s conference on modernism in Iceland during the last century.
Chamber Concert
Caput performs music connected to Modernism in Iceland
All the works performed at this concert were composed between 1960 and 1980. This was the golden age of progressive music in Iceland. Composers paid little attention to conservative audiences and often wrote music that placed considerable demands on performers.
Many of these works have been performed only rarely, including Magnús Blöndal’s 15 Minigrams and Leifur Þórarinsson’s Klasar. These are innovative experimental works from the early 1960s. For Renée and Klif may be regarded as “classics” of the Icelandic avant-garde. The works by Karólína Eiríksdóttir and Hjálmar H. Ragnarsson date from the end of this period and were composed during their studies in the United States.
Works by Jón S. Jónsson have probably not been performed in Iceland for more than 60 years. His sextet Traynour (1961) was one of the works he submitted as part of his doctoral studies at Northwestern University in Illinois. He was born in Ísafjörður in 1984, taught composition at American universities for most of his career, and died in New Mexico in 2005. It is long overdue for his voice to be heard again.
Programme
Hjálmar H. Ragnarsson: Í svörtu og hvítu for solo flute
Magnús Blöndal Jóhannsson: 15 Minigrams for flute, oboe, clarinet and bassoon
Atli Heimir Sveinsson: Klif for flute, clarinet and cello
Þorkell Sigurbjörnsson: For Renée for flute, piano, percussion and cello
Karólína Eiríksdóttir: IVP for flute, violin and cello
Leifur Þórarinsson: Klasar for piano
Jón S. Jónsson: Traynour for flute, horn, piano, percussion, violin and cello
Performers
Steinunn Vala Pálsdóttir, flute
Eydís Franzdóttir, oboe
Grímur Helgason and Guðni Franzson, clarinet
Bryndís Þórsdóttir, bassoon
Emil Friðfinnsson, horn
Helga Bryndís Magnúsdóttir, piano
Steef van Oosterhout, percussion
Zbiegniew Dubik, violin
Sigurður Halldórsson, cello
ErkiTíð 2026
Experimental Concerts
October 11
13:00 - 15:00
ErkiTíð 2026
Electronic music
October 11
14:00 - 15:30
ErkiTíð 2026
Choir concert
October 11
16:00 - 18:00
Reykjavik Art Museum
Sunday 11.10 - 13:00 - 15:00
FREE admission // Wheelchair access
Experimental Concerts – With the Assistance of the Audience
A concert in which audience members create their own music. New technology is used for real-time musical composition—a methodology originally developed by NASA to control spacecraft and lunar rovers.
Audience members bring short musical ideas, which are developed and used as the raw material for musical creation. The music is composed and performed in real time during the concert.
Reykjavik Art Museum
Sunday 11.10 - 14:00 - 15:30
Tickets: ISK 3000
Seniors and people with disabilities: ISK 2000
Tickets available at the entrance
Free for students // Wheelchair access
Electronic Music Concert - CAPUT
New and earlier electronic music connected to the Modernist period in Iceland, 1950 - 1980.
Programme
Hans-Peter Stubbe Teglbjærg: Havblik
Helgi Bjarnason: Flûte à bec dans une grotte électrique
Marten Meijboom: Tvísynth
Langholt Church
Sunday 11.10 - 16:00 - 18:00
Ticketr: ISK 3000
Seniors and people with disabilities: ISK 2000
Tickets at the entrance and at tix.is
Free for students // Wheelchair access
Jón Ásgeirsson Tribute and Memorial Concert - Music That Lives On
Programme
Among the works performed:
Stemmur
Maístjarnan
Hjá lygnri móðu
Vísur Vatnsenda-Rósu
Sofðu unga ástin mín
Performers
The University Choir, Reykjavík Women’s Choir, Huldur Chamber Choir, Kársnes School Choir, Hamrahlíð College Choir, Fóstbræður Male Choir, and the Langholtskirkja Gradual Choir.
Tribute and Memorial Concert
This tribute and memorial concert is dedicated to Jón Ásgeirsson, composer, teacher and conductor, a man who left a profound mark on Icelandic musical life throughout a long and varied career.
Jón Ásgeirsson was born in Ísafjörður in 1928 and lived in Reykjavík for most of his life. He was a prolific composer, dedicated arranger, teacher and conductor, and had a profound influence on several generations of Icelandic musicians. His music is strongly connected to Icelandic cultural heritage, folk music and Icelandic poetry. At the same time, it possesses a thoughtful and personal musical language that makes his work immediately recognisable and gives it a distinctive place in Icelandic music history.
Choral music formed a major part of Jón’s creative output. He composed original choral works as well as sensitively and skilfully arranged Icelandic folk songs and his own songs. In doing so, he drew particular attention to Iceland’s folk tradition, gave it an artistic framework, and made it a living part of Icelandic musical life.
The programme reflects many sides of Jón’s artistry. It includes a diverse selection of music for mixed choirs, male choirs and female choirs, as well as songs for children’s choirs, to which he was especially devoted.
In addition to his many choral works, Jón composed songs, operas, orchestral works, ballets and chamber music. His songs have become part of the collective consciousness of the Icelandic people, sung in churches and concert halls, at celebrations and during quiet moments, and will undoubtedly continue to be heard for generations to come.
Massed Choir Performance
Maístjarnan and Hjá lygnri móðu, with poems by Halldór Laxness, are among Jón’s songs that have attained a special place in the hearts of Icelanders. They were originally created in connection with his incidental music for Hús skáldsins in 1982 and have since taken on lives of their own.
In Vísur Vatnsenda-Rósu and Sofðu unga ástin mín, Jón turns to Icelandic folk music. His arrangements demonstrate both his respect for the source material and his desire to shape it specifically for the choir. In this way, the music becomes a bridge between generations past and the present.