Come to the multicultural forum on Thursday 

Multicultural Forum at Hafnarborg

Around forty people have already registered for the 2026 Hafnarfjörður Multicultural Forum, which will be held at Hafnarborg on 16 April from 18:00 to 20:30. The forum is a platform for residents, community organisations and staff to discuss diversity, community participation, and how to foster a good society for everyone. 

„We are going to discuss what we are working on to strengthen the community in a multicultural context. There will then be guest presentations from the GETU organisation and the Red Cross. They will go over their relief work here in Hafnarfjörður,“ says Hildur Ýr Jónsdóttir, project manager for multicultural affairs at Hafnarfjörður municipality. 

„A conference like this is important for having the conversation about how we can strengthen our work and do better so that our society grows and embraces multiculturalism in a seamless way.“ 

But is there a lot of multiculturalism in Hafnarfjörður? „Yes, there are 18.8% residents with foreign citizenship, according to the National Register. That is a similar proportion to the national average, and we are keen for the whole community to welcome new residents,“ says Hildur Ýr.  

„At the multicultural conference, we will work on projects together and identify those we can undertake. This is a dialogue with residents about multiculturalism. After the presentations, there will be workshops where we will discuss the practical aspects of multiculturalism in Hafnarfjörður. There, we want to hear personal stories, ideas and different perspectives so that we can build on what is already working well and find ways to improve where necessary.“

Hildur Ýr Jónsdóttir chairs the first Multicultural Forum of the City of Hafnarfjörður.The aim is to create an open dialogue about the state of multiculturalism in Hafnarfjörður, the challenges faced by people of different backgrounds, and the opportunities that a diverse society offers. The emphasis will be on solutions, collaboration, and services that are inclusive of everyone. 

• The programme includes short presentations, round tables and discussion workshops where participants can share their perspectives. Interpreters in Spanish, Polish and Arabic will be on hand to ensure that as many people as possible can take full part.  

Your opinion matters. Food and childcare provided by Plánetu will be available during the conference. 

It is important to register for the conference.