Meet the new wave of Icelandic artists set to play at Airwaves 2026

Bjarni Daníel has been member of several notable bands and projects from the Reykjavík scene for many years now - among them the experimental, post-rock outfit Vára, breezy pop duo Bagdad Brothers, and post-dreifing collective torchbearers Supersport! After the last Supersport! record, and a significant number of live shows, the band took a break and Daníel found himself with a new album ready to go: "I felt it had a level of urgency to it - so this felt like the right time to launch a solo thing and explore the material by myself," he tells Best Fit. "It’s been scary but thrilling, sometimes lonely but always surprisingly rich." Daníel is also riding high this year with the launch of Blaðran ("The Balloon"), a new label he has co-founded.

Describe your sound? I think about my music as pop songs, more or less. I'm infinitely moved and inspired by the classic Icelandic pop music of the 60s and 70s - music which addresses a distinctly Icelandic everyday reality without submitting to the external gaze or borealist narratives. I believe in brightness and joy when it comes to harmony, but in terms of lyrics I guess I indulge a level of melancholy. And at the centre of everything there is The Guitar, the people’s instrument.

And your live show? If you ever heard and even remotely enjoyed any of my past projects, I’m pretty confident this one could be a hit for you. It’s my best songs yet and I’ve never played better. And the band is great. Sorry, it’s a bit hard to answer a question like this without sounding like an egomaniac.

I’m really proud to have brought together some of my absolute favourite local musicians to play in the live band with me this year. They’re all so excellent at their jobs that I look like a total beginner in their company. Maybe expect a pretty tight show, a simple but well rounded and big guitar sound. Some stories between the songs. Me smiling a lot from hearing this music realised in a physical space.

What should we listen to first? My first ever solo single, "DÍSEL", could be a good starting point. It’s the title track off my upcoming debut record, and it almost serves as a kind of thematic intro or mission statement for the project. The song itself is bright like the headlights of a new SUV in your rearview mirror, the words are dark and miserable, restless, like a broken alternator.

Who else do you rate in the Icelandic music scene right now? The Spider Network collective and all of the affiliated artists really feel like they are the new vanguard of alternative music in Reykjavík. MC Myasnoi and ronja are at the center of this. Then there is Stirnir, one of the greatest guitarists and composers around, and his bands Yang Soup, Final Snack and Trailer Todd. Sucks to be you, Nigel are iconic, so is symfaux. Una Mist and lára have both recently made records I’ve really enjoyed. Amor Vincit Omnia makes the most joyful, playful, silly, sexy music I’ve heard in a long time. RAKEL is an insane songwriter, an insane voice. I also have to mention some of my label mates at newly founded artist-run label Blaðran: Tu Ha? Tu Bjö!, Salóme Katrín, K.óla, Special-K. Love them.

Tips for a first-time tourist? Worst thing to do: renting a car if you can’t drive. Best thing? Paying for music at a record shop or venue!!

Best late-night snack? Honestly I would just go for a humble pulsa at Vikivaki if it’s still open.

Best hangover food? The morning after doesn’t start until I’ve had at least one cup of filter coffee in the downstairs hot tub of Sundhöllin.

An Icelandic phrase you need to know is... "Fall er fararheill" – "an early tumble indicates a fortunate journey".

Follow @curryinahurryy_ on Instagram and Bandcamp

The creative partnership between visual artist and producer Unnur Andrea Einarsdóttir and Berlin DJ and pole performer FRZNTE came together intially as a commissioned work for Pop-Kultur festival in 2021. The friendship between the duo saw their “we should totally do something together” conversations become "an actual show with lights, music, movement, costumes, and most importantly a real audience," Unnur tells Best Fit.

Unnur's solo 2023 debut Elf F O won the Kraumur Music Award and was named electronic album of the year by Morgunblaðið; working with FRZNTE, she writes and produces, handles vocals and creates the visual and conceptual components of their live show. "FRZNTE brings the physical language of our show to life," she adds. "Her practice focuses on movement, embodiment, and choreography." Together, their music and show are a dream-like experience that celebrates the human body and elevates female empowerment, offering a powerful and immersive experience for their audience.

Describe your sound? A mix of dance, experimental electronic pop and occasional emo ballads, focusing on loneliness and office romances. My tracks also reference anything from escapism through space travel to a moderately detached sense of doom in the light of current world events and reality in these last stages of capitalism.

And your live show? We just created a brand new version of the show and it's a banger.... because honestly, where else are you going to see electronic music, pole dance, choreography, weird visuals and a little bit of beautiful chaos all happening at once? We want you to move your body, stare, wonder what the hell is happening, and hopefully have a very good time doing it. We
you won’t just be standing there politely watching a band. Our show also contains lots of tracks from the new album, set to be released later this year.

What should we listen to first? Greatest hits on the first album is “I want to lick the eyeballs of free market capitalism”. People like it because the song meets the expectations created by the title. "Camel" is a simple track I made for a party when I was at the art academy and it was never meant to be a serious track. Its inspired by work I used to do in the service industry years back, really a process of dealing with years of difficult customers. "In the Deep" is an Enya-esque ambient space track that helped me get out of an existential crisis episode while I was completing my masters in visual art. Thinking of space and intelligent life out there calmed me down.

Who else do you rate in the Icelandic music scene right now? Gróa, Ex.girls, Ojba Rasta, Knackered, SCAM.

Tips for a first-time tourist? The local swimming pools. But you MUST shower your armpits and genitals without a swimsuit before entering, otherwise we get very annoyed! Also we have some great record shops, Lucky Records, Reykjavik Record Shop, 12 tonar and Smekkleysa.

For those with a taste for self-inflicted suffering, Skeifan awaits. Revel in the splendour of Icelandic ADHD city planning and short-sighted architecture, where next month might exist, but the year ahead who knows? You have a plot of land, some cash; most important is that you just do it and do it now, somehow. What is Skeifan you might ask? I'm not sure, to me it's chaos. But it means a lot of different things to different people. Most important is just to go there and see what it means for you!

Best late-night snack? A Palestinian place called Shawarma & Falafel on Snorrabraut. Literally the best mouthwatering falafel I have ever had in Iceland and they are super friendly! Just 3- 5 seconds away, depending on the length of your legs and dexterity, is a burger place called 2Guys. They have beers in frozen glasses and their staff is just amazing and is one of the main reasons I am a regular. Both places have really fair prices!

An Icelandic phrase you need to know is... “Heyrðu nú mig. Hva’ eretta. Svona nú, enga vitleysu! Hættið þessu væli!” – "Hear now me. What is this. Like this now, No stupidity! stop this whining!"

Follow @apex_anima and @FRZNTE on Instagram and Bandcamp

Icelandic indie folk band Einakróna began as the garageband-soundcloud project of Björk Magnúsdóttir before growing into a five piece. The band – now made up of Björk (lead vocals & guitar), Sigga (keyboard, mandolin & vocals), Einar (drums & overall our soundguy), Ragnar (guitar) and Samúel (bass) – started performing live in 2023 and released their debut album Rembihnútar (tight knots), back in February this year - an exploration of repeated personal experiences, desire to fix relationships that aren’t meant to be fixed, sadness, loss and change.

Describe your sound? On our debut album Rembihnútar we are very much an indie-folk band but as of late we have started to incorporate distortion and overall more loudness to our indie sound. The music is very dynamic and emotionally charged. If we had to compare it to something it’s maybe like if Sigur Rós and Lomelda had a baby.

And your live show? We just talked about how we have amped up our sound with distortion so it’s definitely worth it to see us live if you liked our album and want to experience it even louder. We will also be playing some new, unreleased material that you can only hear at concerts!!

What should we listen to first? Probably "Hungur", it’s a very classic sad breakup song but also one of our favourites to play. It’s perhaps a pretty good bridge from what our album sounded like and what we sound like now live. (Just imagine the distortion!)

Who else do you rate in the Icelandic music scene right now? Each band member has an amazing project of their own: Woolly Kind, Laglegt, Rakur & Samosa, you should definitely check them out! Some of our personal favourites are HáRún, Halló Helga, Lindy Lin, Róshildur, Lára, Una Mist & Turturi.

Tips for a first-time tourist? The worst thing you can do is go to Skeifan (iykyk). The best thing is exploring the local music scene and going to see some grassroot bands play, there are always some cool events happening. Good places to check out are Smekkleysa, 12 Tónar and Mengi. Also go swimming in one of the swimming pools, just make sure you shower before…

Best late-night snack? Not to be too basic, but nothing beats a late night pizza slice from Sbarro at 10-11. Even better if it is accompanied by breadsticks and sauce!

Best hangover food? Cure your hangover the next day at Deig with coffee, a bagel and the creme brûlée donut. Nothing beats it.

An Icelandic phrase you need to know is... Svo bregðast krosstré sem önnur tré: it means that 'even the most trustworthy of things will fail you' and is coincidentally the title of the last two songs on our album.

Follow @einakrona on Instagram and on Bandcamp

After a childhood filled with music and artistic expression, Brynja Rán's musical eureka moment came after making songs in a garage with a friend her father's which found their way to a new label who made her their first signing. Her sound – combining indie, soul, and electronic elements – won her over a million streams for her debut four-track EP Seven. Rán's first full-length album drops later this year.

Describe your sound? That’s actually a really hard question for me to answer, because I think everyone experiences an artist and their music differently. I’d describe some of my music as very emotional, raw and honest. Then there’s another side of it that can be angry, sarcastic and maybe a little mean. I definitely have a tendency to hold a grudge when I’m writing, and sometimes that ends up becoming the best material. So if you’re coming to see me for the first time, I’d say expect a mix of vulnerability, attitude and a lot of honesty. I like that my music can live in all of those different emotions rather than being just one thing.

And your live show? You should come to our show if you want to see raw authenticity and a band of really good musicians. You can expect us giving our absolute best and having a great time doing it!

What should we listen to first? I’d always recommend starting with “Don’t You Leave". It’s honestly my personal favorite, and I like to think I have pretty good taste in music, so you’ll just have to trust me on that one. I also think it’s a really good introduction to me as an artist and the kind of music I make. If you’re only going to start with one song, that’s the one I’d choose.

Who else do you rate in the Icelandic music scene right now? I think Elín Hall is making some absolutely beautiful and emotional music in Iceland right now. There’s such an honesty and vulnerability in what she does, and I think her contribution to Icelandic music is really special. I also think Alaska1867 is amazing. She has such a strong identity as an artist, and I really admire what she brings to the scene. I’ve been lucky enough to meet both of them, and beyond being incredibly talented artists, they are genuinely two of the sweetest women. I have so much respect for women who are creating their own space in this industry. They both deserve all the success and love in the world, and I’m really excited to see everything they continue to do.

Tips for a first-time tourist? I think the worst thing you can do is only visit Reykjavík. The city obviously has a lot to offer, but some of the smaller towns and places around Iceland are where you really get to experience the scenery, peacefulness and quiet beauty that so many people come here looking for. The best thing you can do is give yourself enough time to explore Reykjavík properly, but also make space in your trip to go somewhere else and see more of the country. I’d also always recommend asking locals for advice when it comes to food, shopping and things to do. You’ll often get much better recommendations that way. I worked in the service industry for a long time myself, and I always loved giving tourists little tips and pointing them toward hidden gems that aren’t necessarily the places you see advertised everywhere. Those are often the experiences that end up making a trip feel much more personal and memorable.

Best late-night snack? For a late-night drunk bite, I somehow always end up at Pítubarinn in downtown Reykjavík. It’s one of those places that just makes sense after a night out.

Best hangover food? For the next-day hangover cure, I absolutely love the beef noodle soup from Noodle Station. It’s warm, comforting and exactly what I want when I’m trying to feel like a person again.

Follow @brynjaranmusic on Instagram

Born in Canada, Joel Durksen cut his teeth in the UK’s music scene, performing and recording with numerous bands – before relocating to rural Iceland in 2023. "Something was gnawing at me to go off and do my own thing," Durksen tells Best Fit. "I probably could have done pretty well and just coasted along being a supporting member forever but I decided to quit everything and go live on a horse-breeding farm in rural Iceland. I just set up a few cheap mics in a stable and used whatever gear was available. A lot of people said I was totally crazy and making a huge mistake. But I’ve come out the other side with something I’m really proud of."

Durksen played almost everything on his debut record I Could Be Your Dog, written and recorded at Kálfholt, an independent recording studio and music production space located on a remote, family-run horse-breeding farm in southern Iceland.

Describe your sound? Post-rock Elliott Smith

And your live show? I’m putting together a choir of some fantastic singers from the Southern region to perform an old Icelandic song called "Haustvísur Til Maríu" which is featured on the record as a poem. For the live band I’ve also managed to get some of the best musicians in Iceland to help me perform the record. I don’t really know how I got so lucky. I also do this thing I stole from a really fantastic Canadian band called Little Kid where I get a crazy distorted acoustic guitar sound. I guess it’s kind of an old blues guitar trick, I’ve seen Mugison do a similar thing but I have to shout out Little Kid and Kenny Boothby. Kenny is honestly one of the greatest songwriters ever and more people need to know about him. But yeah come check us out, there’s going to be some fuzzed out bluegrass licks on a nylon string guitar (not kidding)

What should we listen to first? Check out "Beth". It is for sure the tune I am most proud of on the record. I spent hours and hours perfecting the lyrics on this song, kind of banging my head against the wall. I really love how pure it is.

Who else do you rate in the Icelandic music scene right now? There’s so many in such a small country which is insane. Like to put it in perspective Iceland is about the size of a city like Coventry. Iceland punches well above its weight in terms of the arts in general but music specifically.

I really love RAKEL’s latest record A Place To Be. It’s a really unbelievably gorgeous album. She’s playing this year. The same goes for Andervel - Iron Clad and Palm Trees. Bjarni Daníel’s new solo stuff is great too. Bjarni was (is?) in a band called Supersport! and their album allt sem hefur gerst is so concise and to-the-point it reminds me of Is This It or Some Rap Songs. Maybe not aesthetically but ideologically. On the heavier side of things I’m pretty obsessed with a band called Börn and their album Drottningar Dauðans. I don’t really know how to describe them, kind of like super heavy Joy Division.

Also have to give a huge shoutout to Reynir Snær – who goes by Creature of Habit – he’s kind of been like my hype-man/musical director since I moved here. He was the only guy I knew in Iceland at first and thankfully he’s one of the best musicians around. His latest song is called Auðnin and it’s been stuck in my head since it came out.

Also Tu Ha? Tu Bjö!, Inspector Spacetime, Virgin Orchestra, Apex Anima & FRZNTE, Ari Árelius.

Tips for a first-time tourist? The worst thing, I would have to say, is to avoid the hotdog stands in the middle of town (sorry). It's better to check out 12 Tónar – great selection in there and great to go in the day for a coffee or later in the evening. Always something cool going on there. It’s been hailed as the best record store in the world a bunch of times by different publications. If you got some time to go a bit outside of town check out Dog Sledding Iceland near Mosfellsbær.

Best late-night snack? If you’re really wanting an Icelandic hotdog get one from 10-11. There’s a couple that are 24/7 and that’s probably the best bet for a late night bite. It’s the same thing for cheaper and the lines are shorter.

Best hangover food? Going for a swim is a pretty classic move the morning after a party. All the public pools are great and if you want to splurge the Sky Lagoon is nearby and has closed exactly zero times due to volcanic activity.

An Icelandic phrase you need to know is... I really like 'Sælir! Nilli!’ which came from a hilarious interview done at Airwaves in 2010. It's between an Icelandic musician called Berndsen and this young guy named Nils. He was kind of hammered and just started freestyling and it was somehow so white and uncool that it went all the way back around to very cool and became kind of a meme in Iceland. The way that he completely bastardises the Icelandic language in the rest of the rap is so funny. I think that guy is like a political commentator now or some sort of celebrity here but if you go around town and just say 'Sælir!' someone will inevitably reply with 'Nilli!' It just means ‘Hi, Nilli’ which is a nickname for Nils. But kind of scream it in a high-pitched voice or else people will just think you are saying ‘Hi’ to them (which is also nice)

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Award-winning pianist and composer Sævar Jóhannsson makes music that blends introspective piano melodies with warm string arrangements. As a child, Sævar moved house eight times – growing up in three different countries – and spoke Icelandic with a very thick German accent, he tells Best Fit. "Music has always given me a great sense of community and that’s why I made it my life’s work," he explains. "Going to music school, playing in marching bands, big bands, garage bands and later my own stuff, felt like a method for me to connect with people."

Describe your sound? I asked a friend for help and he said “Imagine Ólafur Arnalds had a jazz background and grew up in Keflavík.” Another friend wrote: "Like water, springing forth calmly then cascading into complex escalating rhythms and flowing melodic lines as it rushes down, until it settles within the listener into a palpable sense of calm. Depth and vastness."

And your live show? Expect a set that is both melancholic and playful at the same time. Expect piano melodies and an embracing string quintet. Expect a lot of things, or maybe go into this without high expectations and just let yourself enjoy new music.

What should we listen to first? I would recommend the song "Headspace" because it’s my favorite. To me it’s a song trying to capture that feeling when you’re in the zone or when you get excited about something. It’s from my latest album "Quiet Presence" which won album of the year at the Icelandic Music Awards.

Who else do you rate in the Icelandic music scene right now? Of course I’m super biased because in Iceland everyone knows everyone. I love Scam and I’m really hoping to get their music on vinyl. Elvar Smári dropped an exquisite album and you should keep an eye out for Andervel, Grybos, Iðunn Einars, Khemeia and Hekla.

Tips for a first-time tourist? Iceland's swimming pool culture just made the UNESCO list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. So by all means visit a swimming pool! Sundhöllin is my go-to but there’s a variety of choices in Reykjavík. But if you go to the pool, don’t shower with your underwear or swimwear on. To us it’s the equivalent of peeing in the pool. Well maybe that’s a bit exaggerated, but just be prepared to get some stink eyes from the locals if you do this.

Reykjavík also has some great vinyl stores, my personal favorite is Reykjavik Record Shop, Lucky Records has a bigger selection, Space Odyssey has rarer finds of ambient/electronic music, Smekkleysa. and 12 tonar are a record store-slash-bar&coffee house and a great place to meet the locals.

Best late-night snack? A classic late night drunk bite in Reykjavík is Mandi.

Best hangover food? To cure your hangover I would recommend Le Kock, they also have a bakery in the same place called Deig.

An Icelandic phrase you need to know is... "Lukkunar Pamfíll", it’s a more polite way of saying "lucky bastard".

Follow @saevarjohannsson on Instagram

With a name that means "hidden osprey", the maddeningly young progressive rock trio Falinn gjóður – Aron, Baldur and Þorri – took home the main honours at this year's Músíktilraunir, following in the footsteps of Of Monsters and Men, Mammút, Samaris and Vök.

Describe your sound? You’ll just need to come and find out.

And your live show? You should come see us because we are sometimes funny. You can expect to have your pants blown clean off by the unfiltered cosmic energy we bring to the table.

What should we listen to first? "Engin"

Who else do you rate in the Icelandic music scene right now? Brenninetla.

Tips for a first-time tourist? The worst is staying in Reykjavík, it’s just a huge tourist trap that’s designed to milk you dry. Enjoy the countryside. Stay in a small town.

Best hangover food? Well you’ll have to ask someone a bit older.

An Icelandic phrase you need to know is... "Blautur hundur" = wet dog

Follow @falinn_gjodur on Instagram