Over twelve thousand attended Home and the Heavens
Just over twelve thousand people attended Heima and Himingeimi in Hafnarfjörður at the weekend. Saturday was the biggest of the three days, and the library was buzzing with adventure and joy. Jessica Chambers won the festival's cosplay competition and will compete for Iceland on the international stage.
Worlds and Heavens 2026
There was a hive of activity at the costume and games festival Heimum and Himingeimir, which was attended by over twelve thousand guests. The festival was held for the third time.
The festival's cosplay competition saw record participation, with a total of 14 entrants. The ambition was high, and the costumes and props were to match. Jessica Chambers, a cosplayer from Transatlantica Crochet, emerged victorious as Queen Anne.
„The standard this year was simply incredible. You have people here who are crocheting and designing everything from scratch – it's sheer madness in the best possible way,“ says Unnur Helga Möller, the festival's director. Jessica's dress, in particular, was entirely crocheted.
Here is Jessica Chambers with the yellow crown in her green crocheted gown as Queen Anne.
Jessica now faces the task of competing for Iceland in the NCC finals at NärCon in Sweden. NCC is one of Europe's largest cosplay competitions. Around thirty thousand guests attend the festival annually.
Around 50 volunteers were a rock for the festival, helping with the setup of playsets and props, among other things. Tidy-up is still underway, and this morning the staff faced the task of taking down a man-eating plant and a spaceship that were still in the hall – serving as a kind of monument to a very eventful and colourful weekend.
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Unnur says the festival clearly demonstrates how strong the Icelandic costume and play scene is. At the same time, ever-increasing knowledge and experience is being built up around Heima and Himingeimi. It is important to continue nurturing the community that has formed around the festival.
„We are now holding tight to this scene, and just as much to the incredible group of volunteers who make the festival possible. Their dedication is invaluable.“
In a short time, Heimar and Himingeimar have established themselves as a prominent fixture in the events scene in Hafnarfjörður. There, people have the space to meet on their own terms, share their interests and creativity, and discover worlds they have perhaps never even set foot in before.
Yes, the universes continue to expand.
Photos/ The photo gallery below is from the opening on Sunday – yesterday.