Iceland Noir is a literature festival celebrating darkness in all its forms, held in Reykjavík at the darkest time of year. Founded by internationally bestselling Icelandic authors Ragnar Jónasson and Yrsa Sigurðardóttir, now joined by fellow authors Óskar Guðmundsson and Eva Björg Ægisdóttir, the festival started as a celebration of Crime Fiction in 2013. In the years since then the festival has evolved and grown in scope and scale to welcome writers outside of the genre and, more recently, expanded to include film and television through screenings and panels.
What brings everything together is the theme of darkness. . .
Living at the edge of the Arctic Circle, in a country famous for its wild weather, active volcanoes and stunning moon-like landscapes, Icelanders have developed a unique relationship with the darkness that covers the country for much of the year, and in it, found a seemingly endless capacity for creativity.
2021 was our biggest year yet and we were joined by, AJ Finn, Ian Rankin and Anthony Horowitz as well as actor Ólafur Darri Ólafsson, who curated a film club at the festival which he will continue in 2022. Previous guests of the festival have included Val McDermid, Liz Nugent, Peter James, Ann Cleaves and SJ Watson.
There is a strong sense of community at the festival which we take great pride in, with events of various sizes hosted across a handful of venues all within a short walk of each other. Many authors and guests return every year, extending their stays to explore the surrounding countryside. Last year, we managed to persuade the northern lights to appear, alongside a beautiful blanket of snow, which we enjoyed from the cosy and welcoming venue Kjarvalsstofa - with its panoramic views of the city - and the beautiful theatre Iðnó, a stunning example of traditional Icelandic architecture which sits next to Reykjavík’s iconic town pond. Both venues will play host to the festival in 2022.
ICELAND NOIR, REYKJAVIK, ICELAND | 16 - 19 NOVEMBER 2022
