Light splendour and outdoor art at the Winter Festival 2022

Light trail and outdoor art illuminate the darkness at Winter Festival 2022

Winter Festival 2022 will take place in a modified format from 3-6 February. In Hafnarfjörður, the emphasis will be on the outdoors and experience, while all municipalities in the capital region will focus on light art and outdoor culture this weekend. Visitors are encouraged to enjoy themselves at their own pace, catch an afternoon concert, skate on the Heart-slide, or go for a walk between the outdoor artworks, while observing the social distancing rules that are still in place. Museum Night and Pool Night will not be taking place this year due to capacity restrictions, but people are encouraged to visit the city's museums or go for a swim whenever they like! 

Admission to the town's museums and swimming pools is free for those aged 17 and under.

• Hafnarfjörður Museum of Local History
• Hafnarfjörður Library
• Port city, cultural and artistic centre
• The town's swimming pools and real-time information on visitor numbers.

The heart swelling bathed in light

The Heart Swell reopens after a short break and will be bathed in lights for the Winter Festival. The ice rink is a fantastic activity, experience and opportunity for exercise for the whole family, and was a huge hit over Christmas. The Heart Rink will be open on Thursday and Friday from 2 pm - 7 pm, Saturday from 1 pm - 9 pm and Sunday from 1 pm - 7 pm. You can book a skate at hjartasvellid.is, but the first two sessions of the day will be free to celebrate the winter festival.

Afternoon Tones and Artists' Chat at Hafnarborg

Singer-songwriter Svavar Knútur, accompanied by his band, is performing in the concert series. Afternoon Tones at Hafnarborg on Friday, 4 February. The programme will feature a veritable feast of songs by the bard, and the band will play many of Svavar's greatest hits, which have enjoyed great popularity recently, including songs from the albums Ölduslóð, Brot, and Ahoy! Side A and Bil. Admission is free. Face coverings are mandatory at the concert, which starts at 6 p.m. and will last for about an hour. On Sunday at 2 p.m. a performance will take place Artist's talk by Hallgerður Hallgrímsdóttir where she talks about her work and the exhibition A Few Reflections on Photography – Part III, which is currently on display in Sverris Hall at Hafnarborg. The exhibition is part of the Iceland Photo Festival.

A walk between outdoor artworks

In Hafnarfjörður, you can find numerous works of outdoor art relating to the history of the town, the settlement and the harbour, including both statues and monuments, as well as abstract sculptures and works inspired by nature. A map and a list of the outdoor artworks in Hafnarfjörður can be found at utilistaverk.hafnarborg.is. During the winter festival, it's ideal to go for a walk between the outdoor artworks and find out about them on your smartphone. Many of the works are located in the centre of Hafnarfjörður and by the harbour, but a number can also be found in the sculpture park at Víðistaðatún, by Sólvang and in Hellisgerði. The Winter Festival is also the last chance to see the light display in Hellisgerði, as the sun's return will begin the process of taking the lights down.

Winter Festival Lights Trail

Light Trail of the Winter Festival in Reykjavík Creatively illuminates the short days, forming a delightful walking route from Hallgrímskirkja down to Austurvöllur and the Reykjavík City Hall. Over 20 light art installations illuminate the route every evening of the festival from 18:30 to 22:00. Kópavogskirkja will be illuminated for the Winter Festival with a new work by the artist Sirra Sigrún Sigurðardóttir on Friday and Saturday evening, 4th–5th February, and On Seltjarnarnes, the Grótta lighthouse and Seltjarnarnes Church will be illuminated in the colours of the Winter Festival.

Have fun and a happy Winter Festival at home in Hafnarfjörður!