Agreement on the Heart of Hafnarfjörður until 2030 

The heart of Hafnarfjörður brings the town to life

The City of Hafnarfjörður has entrusted the running of its town festival, Hjarta Hafnarfjarðar, to the operators of Bæjarbíó, until the year 2030. This six-week music festival has been a huge success. 65,000 people attended it last summer.

„This gives us the opportunity to continue on the path we have been on for the last ten years. We are going to enhance the festival and strengthen it for the future so that it continues to be a credit to the town,“ says Páll Eyjólfsson, Operations Manager of Bæjarbíó. Furthermore, the council has signed a contract to ensure the operation of Bæjarbíó will remain in the hands of Páll and his colleagues until 30 November 2029. Páll was first contracted in 2016.

Growth of the festival is admirable

Mayor Valdimar Víðisson says that the experience and knowledge gained by these operators of Bæjarbíó is of great value.

„It has been admirable to watch the festival grow, as well as the stream of people who come to the Bæjarbíó week after week. This cultural centre is a great boost for the town,“ he says.

„We also see from the Gallup survey for the local authorities that the residents appreciate the cultural life here. We're right at the top for that, thanks to our vibrant music scene and our museums.“

A changed town in the summer

The Hjarta Hafnarfjarðar festival transforms the town for the summer. It takes place in the back garden of the Bæjarbíó cinema, on Mathiesen Square and in the car parks behind the building from Thursday to Saturday in July and into August.

Hjarta Hafnarfjarðar was first held in 2017. The festival has grown rapidly. Attendance has grown from around 1,500 to as many as 65,000. The aim is to liven up the town centre and strengthen Hafnarfjörður's image as a vibrant cultural town. Music and cultural events are the main focus, and entry to the outdoor area is free of charge.

Let the local businesses take part.

Under the agreement, Bæjarbíó will ensure the safety of visitors, host a varied programme, and invite businesses from Hafnarfjörður to participate with their goods and services. Emphasis will also be placed on family events during the day and on collaboration with businesses and institutions in the town.

Páll says that without the backbone of the town, there would be no festival. „This is a town festival and the involvement of the town's businesses is of enormous importance. This isn't the work of a select few, but a collaborative effort for all of us. That's why the festival has been so successful and has grown and thrived.“

Annual support for the festival

The Municipality of Hafnarfjörður supports the project with an annual contribution of 12 million króna. In addition, the municipality provides equipment, services and labour valued at up to 6 million króna per year.

In recent years, the Heart of Hafnarfjörður festival has become one of the town's biggest summer events, and the aim is to establish it even more firmly in the town centre.