Programme of the week
Culture Night 2025 – National Gallery of Iceland
A Wonderful Success – Thank You for Joining Us!
We were delighted to welcome so many visitors to the National Gallery of Iceland on Culture Night, which saw record-breaking attendance. The varied program drew wide interest, and our galleries were alive with curious guests of all ages. The atmosphere was truly exceptional, reminding us of the importance of Culture Night as a unique opportunity to inspire deeper engagement with visual art across the community.
In the photo, artist Snorri Ásmundsson can be seen meditating for love and peace inside his celebrated pyramid installation on the Gallery grounds.
Inuk Silis Høegh, The Green Land, 2021, 1channel video, 34 min. Still
Long Thursday – August 27, 2025 – National Gallery of Iceland
Long Thursday
Open until 22:00 – Free Admission
Join us on Long Thursday, August 27! On the last Thursday of every month, the National Gallery of Iceland stays open until 22:00. Next Thursday, we are delighted to offer visitors free admission after 17:00.
The café Kaktus Espressobar will also be open until 22:00, with Happy Hour on wine and beer from 17:00–20:00. A special tapas platter with a glass of wine will be available for just ISK 2,900.
Follow us on social media and visit our website for updates on the exciting programs offered during Long Thursdays at the National Gallery of Iceland.
Facebook Event: (20+) Fimmtudagurinn Langi – Frítt inn! / Good Thursday – Free entry! | Facebook
Current Exhibitions: Current Exhibitions | National Gallery of Iceland
Event – August 31, 2025 – National Gallery of Iceland
Kristján H. Magnússon – Revisited
Expert Tour
We warmly welcome you to a guided tour this Sunday at 14:00, where Dagný Heiðdal will lead visitors through the exhibition Kristján H. Magnússon – Revisited.
The paintings of Kristján Helgi Magnússon caused a great impression when he burst onto the art scene nearly 100 years ago. His works drew international attention, with exhibitions held in major cities on both sides of the Atlantic. In Iceland, however, his art met with mixed reviews, and today his work is little known and his name rarely mentioned in discussions of Icelandic art. Nevertheless, his contribution to art history is significant and of great interest in many respects.
Regular museum admission applies.
Facebook Event: (20+) Endurlit – Leiðsögn sérfræðings | Facebook
Courses 2025 – National Gallery of Iceland
Art Courses – Autumn 2025
For children aged 10–12 🎨
An art course focusing on drawing and painting techniques. The works of art on display at the museum will serve as inspiration for creative projects, giving children a unique opportunity to experience and explore art in the museum setting.
The course will place special emphasis on drawing, alongside work with paint, with a strong focus on colour theory. Participants will explore the effects of colour and how it can be used together with drawing to create depth and visual impact. They will gain tools to express what lives in their minds and hearts.
Three-dimensional forms in art will also be explored, experimenting with shapes and abstract forms, as well as positive and negative space in that context. At the end of the course, an exhibition will be held showcasing the children’s work, with the young artists themselves taking part in the exhibition-making process.
We recommend that children wear clothes suitable for painting, splashing, and fun! The course is fully accessible.
Course I
1 September – 24 November 2025
Mondays, 15:00–16:30
Course II Fully Booked / Waiting List
3 September – 26 November 2025
Wednesdays, 15:00–16:30
More Information: Courses for kids | National Gallery of Iceland
Registration:
Course I: Myndlistarnámskeið í Listasafni Íslands haust 2025 (10 - 12 ára) | Frirvk Listasafn Íslands | Námskeið | Abler
Course II: Myndlistarnámskeið í Listasafni Íslands haust 2025 (10 - 12 ára) | Frirvk Listasafn Íslands | Námskeið | Abler
Courses 2025 – National Gallery of Iceland
Art Courses – Autumn 2025
For children aged 7–9 🎨
The National Gallery of Iceland offers a creative and inspiring art course for children in its new art studio at the museum on Fríkirkjuvegur 7. The course will draw inspiration from the museum’s exhibitions, where the artworks will be explored and used as a starting point for training the participants’ sense of colour and form. Children will have the opportunity to work with a variety of materials and techniques, including painting, printmaking, and sculpture.
The aim of the course is to encourage children to approach art with greater confidence and curiosity, with teaching that combines experience, discussion, and hands-on creation. At the end of the course, an exhibition will be held for friends and family, showcasing the children’s work.
Course I
2 September – 25 November 2025
Tuesdays, 15:00–16:30
Course II
4 September – 27 November 2025
Thursdays, 15:00–16:30
Instructor: Marta María Jónsdóttir, artist and specialist at the National Gallery of Iceland
More Information: Courses for kids | National Gallery of Iceland
Registration:
Course I: Myndlistarnámskeið í Listasafni Íslands haust 2025 (7-9 ára) | Frirvk Listasafn Íslands | Námskeið | Abler
Course II: Myndlistarnámskeið í Listasafni Íslands haust 2025 (7-9 ára) | Frirvk Listasafn Íslands | Námskeið | Abler