Concert News

ICELAND AIRWAVES MOVES TO 2021

• 26th Aug 2020

Recently, to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic head on, Icelandic authorities implemented stricter measures around mass gatherings, social distancing, testing and arrival into the country.

The Iceland Airwaves team is committed to doing our part in stopping the spread of the virus. It’s of the utmost importance that we ensure the health and safety of our guests and staff, and that we follow all regulations.

Unfortunately, these new measures make proceeding with this year’s festival impossible. We reviewed many scenarios: with social distancing; with lower attendance; with less venues. We returned to the same answer: there was no feasible solution to deliver the festival safely for 2020.

With all the above in consideration, Iceland Airwaves will move to 2021, the new dates being: Wednesday 3rd – Saturday 6th November 2021.

For 2020 ticket holders, you can simply hold on to your ticket for 2021!  You received your ticket at the best price, they won’t be going down again. 

If you are unable to attend and wish to receive a refund, please forward your ticket to info@tix.is with the request to refund, within 14 days, up until the end of Wednesday, September 9 at 23:50 GMT. Please note, if you request a refund, then re-purchase, it will be at the current price or higher, since the prices won’t go down again.

Those who purchased a travel package with Icelandair, will receive an e-mail from Icelandair Holidays with more information.

Furthermore, we would be truly grateful if you would hold onto your current ticket and support the festival, and the Icelandic music industry, who, like many others, are currently going through a very difficult time.

We are pleased to say that the 2020 line-up has moved with us, and additionally, we can announce today another 25 bands that we have had ‘waiting in the wings’.

Internationals include Vancouver’s post-punk groove collective Crack Cloud, Brighton’s Porridge Radio (whose long player Every Bad was recently donned ‘Best New Music‘ from Pitchfork), the brand new full band show from Montreal dance doyenne Marie Davidson & L’Œil Nu, alternative K-Pop from South Korea’s Balming Tiger and the riotous post modern boy band, the Franco / American Faux Real.

Newly announced local acts include Bríet, HipSumHaps, GDRN and (Iceland via Toronto) Sigrún Stella, all of whom have dominated Icelandic radio this summer. Beloved troubadour Mugison makes a welcome return to the festival, and we introduce a diverse swathe of bands from the Post-dreifing community, making some of the freshest and exciting underground sounds in Iceland today.

As proud members of the Keychange program, Iceland Airwaves is pleased to announce Keychange artists, Italy’s Any Other, Sweden’s Sara Parkman and Norway’s ISÁK as worthy additions to the 2021 line up, as well as homegrown talent, rapper Cell7.

2020 has been more difficult than ever to support live music. We hope that 2021 sees the world in better shape, and us all coming together to celebrate the love of music in Reykjavík.