Sei­gla 2026: Fest­ival Pass

Seigla is a chamber music festival held at Harpa Concert Hall, presenting a diverse programme of events that challenge and expand the traditional concert format. The festival takes place annually on the second weekend of August.

This year, Seigla's programme is centred around the theme braid. We invite performers and audiences alike to explore the theme from a variety of perspectives and to consider how the threads of music, text, space, and human interaction can create meaningful experiences. Braiding can manifest itself in many ways. It may be found in the relationships between different works within a programme, forming a unified narrative, or within the music itself, where contrasting themes, stories, memories, or ideas intertwine to create new connections and meanings. We encourage participants to engage with the theme in their own way. The aim is to create a space where different threads can meet, intertwine, and become something new.

Seigla will take place from 7th-9th of August. The festival's main events will be held in Norðurljós and Hörpuhorn at Harpa Concert Hall. Additional festival events will take place at Skálda Bookstore and Marshall House. Among this year's featured performers is the chamber ensemble Elja, which will appear on both Saturday and Sunday evenings. Their programmes include a concert dedicated to Julius Eastman and a programme exploring popular music reimagined through unexpected arrangements and perspectives. We are also delighted to welcome the Danish chamber choir Det Unge VokalEnsemble, who will perform both Icelandic and Danish repertoire and give the world premiere of Phaethon by Veronika Voetmann.

The festival offers a varied programme for audiences of all ages, including the open family programme Little Seigla. At Little Seigla, audiences can participate in skipping rope to live music, explore the open sound installation Noise in Hörpuhorn, and join in communal singing at Musical Puzzle in Norðurljós.

A Seigla Festival Pass grants access to all festival events. Early-bird passes are available for ISK 12,000 until 7 July. After that date, the price increases to ISK 18,000.

Festival Programme 2026

Wednesday August 5rd
17:00 - Seiglazine Launch Party at Skálda bookstore

Friday August 7th
17:00 - Seigla Opening Ceremony in Hörpuhorn
18:00 - Mystical Creatures in Norðurljós
19:30 - Chats and Drinks with Performers in Hörpuhorn

Saturday August 8th
12:00 - LITTLE SEIGLA - Noise in Hörpuhorn
13:00 - Between Words and Breath - Det Unge VokalEnsemble in Norðurljós
18:00 - A Detour Through Julius Eastman - Elja in Norðurljós
19:30 - Chats and Drinks with Performers in Hörpuhorn
21:00 - Durations in Space in Norðurljós

Sunday August 9th
13:00 - National Parks Mashup in Norðurljós
14:00 - LITTLE SEIGLA - Skipping Time in Hörpuhorn
15:00 - LITTLE SEIGLA - Pieces of Music in Norðurljós
17:00 - Mother Power in Norðurljós
19:00 - Popular Songs - Elja in Norðurljós
21:00 - Final Party in the Marshall House, 4th floor (TBC)

Seigla Line-up 2026 · Ann-Kristin Sofroniou · Áshildur Haraldsdóttir · Det Unge VokalEnsemble · Elísabet Waage · Elja Chamber Ensemble · Erna Vala Arnardóttir · Ewa Murawska · Harpa Ósk Björnsdóttir · Hildigunnur Einarsdóttir · Kristín Einarsdóttir Mäntylä · Lee Marable · Matthildur Anna Gísladóttir · Merve Ünlü · Miller-Porfiris Duo · Nina Vanhoenacker · Sophie Kidwell · Studio Suð · Vera Hjördís Matsdóttir · Wiesław Suruło ·

Erna Vala Arnardóttir · Artistic Director
Pétur Ernir Svavarsson · Project Manager
Lee Marable · Graphic Designer
Erla Rut Árnadóttir · Financial Manager
Þorgrímur Þorsteinsson · Tonmeister

Prices:

Festival Pass
Early Bird Tickets: 12.000kr
Standard: 18.000kr
Discounted Tickets (students, Schumann Society members, low-income): 13.000kr - in Harpa's box office

Single Tickets
General admission: 4.500kr
Discounted Tickets (students, Schumann Society members, low-income): 2.500kr

More information, festival programme and artists bios available at www.seiglafestival.com and in the festival zine Seiglazine.

Harpa is the main sponsor of Seigla 2026. The music festival Seigla is supported by the Icelandic Music Fund, SUT and Ruth Hermanns Music Fund, Ýlir, FÍH Culture Fund, Iceland University of the Arts and The Icelandic Schumann Society.

Promoter

Seigla