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Programme of the week

Children’s Culture Festival 2026 – The House of Collections

Children’s Culture Festival 2026
April 20–26 at the House of Collections

You are warmly invited to the Children’s Culture Festival at the National Gallery of Iceland, taking place at the House of Collections on Hverfisgata from April 20–26.

The program includes, among other things, the opening of the exhibition I Was Standing in the Moonlight!. The exhibition is the result of a collaborative project between the National Gallery of Iceland and four preschools in Reykjavík, all of which have used the museum as a learning environment and visited it regularly in recent years. The exhibition is supported by the Children’s Culture Festival.

The project was carried out during the spring term of 2026, with each preschool visiting the House of Collections three times. The work was based on the exhibition Stand Still and Turn to Stone! Folktales in Icelandic Art. During each visit, two artworks were explored using the Sjónarafl (Visual Literacy) method, with an emphasis on active expression and listening.

The children also created artworks in workshops, inspired by three themes from the exhibition: ghosts, elves/hidden people, and trolls. Following the museum visits, the children continued working on artworks in their preschools, and these works are also on display.

Participating preschools:
Furuskógur, Grænaborg, Laufásborg, and Miðborg.

Facebook Event: (20+) Barnamenningarhátíð í Listasafni Íslands ✨ | Facebook
More: Children’s Culture Festival at the National Gallery of Iceland | National Gallery of Iceland

Exhibition April 25 – May 10, 2026 – National Gallery of Iceland
Whaling Station

Exhibition of a work by Woody Vasulka

The work Whaling Station by artist, filmmaker, and editor Woody Vasulka will be on view in the Workshop space at the National Gallery of Iceland on Fríkirkjuvegur in the coming weeks. The exhibition opens on Saturday, April 25, and runs until May 10, 2026. The work is presented in connection with the exhibition Sea Blue and is intended as supplementary material to it.

Please note that there will be no formal opening event.

About the exhibion: Whaling Station | National Gallery of Iceland

Event April 25, 2026 – Einar Jónsson Museum
Krummi Kids’ Club
Ingólfur’s High-Seat Pillar Workshop 💈

You are warmly invited to an art workshop with the Krummi Kids’ Club at the Einar Jónsson Museum on Saturday from 2–4 PM.

The settler Ingólfur Arnarson looks out over Reykjavík from his pedestal on Arnarhóll, and also stands proudly in the Blue Hall of the Einar Jónsson Museum. We will gather with Ingólfur in the Blue Hall and help him create high-seat pillars, decorating them in a modern way with fun patterns and colors.

Free for the whole family!

Facebook event: (20+) Krakkaklúbburinn Krummi – Barnamenningarhátíð 2026: Öndvegissúlusmiðja Ingólfs💈 | Facebook
Krummi Kid's Club: For children of all ages | National Gallery of Iceland

Event April 26, 2026 – National Gallery of Iceland
Seas' Blue Yonder
Artists’ Guided Tour

Welcome to a guided tour at the National Gallery of Iceland on Sunday at 2 PM, where artists Bryndís Snæbjörnsdóttir and Mark Wilson will lead guests through their exhibition Seas' Blue Yonder.

The exhibition Seas' Blue Yonder sheds light on the complex relationships between humans and whales. For over two decades, Bryndís and Mark have been at the forefront of interdisciplinary research into ethical questions concerning the relationships between different species—an issue that is becoming increasingly urgent in the face of species extinction.

They explore human–animal relations through the lens of research by scholars and scientists from various fields, addressing cultural and societal factors that influence ecosystems and the behavior of humans and other animals.

Museum admission applies.

Facebook event: (20+) Leiðsögn listamanna | Sjávarblámi / Artists’ Tour | Seas’ Blue Yonder | Facebook
Event: Artists Tour | National Gallery of Iceland

Art Courses 2026 – National Gallery of Iceland
Registration Open for Summer Art Courses!

The hugely popular summer courses are now open for registration—and some are already close to full!

The National Gallery of Iceland offers creative and fun summer courses for children aged 7–9 (born 2017–2019) and 10–12 (born 2014–2016), held in the museum’s art workshop at Fríkirkjuvegur.

The courses are based on the museum’s exhibitions, where artworks are explored and used as inspiration. Emphasis is placed on developing participants’ sense of color and form, while giving them the opportunity to experiment with a variety of materials and media, such as painting and sculpture.

The aim of the course is to help children approach both nature and visual art with greater confidence and curiosity. Teaching takes place through experience, discussion, and hands-on making. At the end of each course, an exhibition will be held for friends and family, showcasing the participants’ work.

There are six courses running between June 15 and August 14, from 09:00 to 12:00 each day. The instructor is artist Helena Reynisdóttir.

All courses sold out last year, so it’s best to secure a spot early.

Frístundakort Reykjavíkur | Listasafn Íslands | Námskeið | Abler

Art Courses 2026 – National Gallery of Iceland
New Summer Art Course for 6-Year-Olds! 🎨

Due to high demand, we have added a new summer art course for children born in 2020 ✨

The course for 6-year-olds will take place from July 13–17, from 09:00 to 12:00 each day.

Children are expected to bring a light snack, dress according to the weather, and wear clothes suitable for painting, mess, and fun!

Listasafn Íslands | Námskeið

Museum Shop 2026 – National Gallery of Iceland

The National Gallery of Iceland Museum Shop is filled with carefully selected gift items, greeting cards, jewellery, posters, books, and more.

Among the treasures in the museum shop are beautiful tote bags made from thick, high-quality cotton, featuring printed text. The bags are available in three variations and colors, inspired by iconic works from Icelandic art history. Inside each bag is a tag with information about the artwork, along with a QR code linking to the National Gallery of Iceland’s website, where further details can be found

Buy it here: Totebag - Örlagateningurinn
Browse the Webstore The National Gallery of Iceland Museum Store