Hallgrímskirkja hosts anniversary concerts on 25 October

Hallgrímskirkja hosts its 40th anniversary programme in Reykjavik on 25 October 2026, marking four decades since the church was consecrated. The programme includes a festive service, two art exhibitions and an album release concert by the Choir of Hallgrímskirkja.

The church is the largest in Iceland and a Lutheran parish church in the centre of Reykjavik. Its anniversary week gives travellers a specific reason to visit the building during October 2026, beyond its usual role as a place of worship and a landmark.

Anniversary programme reaches Hallgrímskirkja on 25 October

The anniversary programme runs from 18 to 25 October 2026, with the main celebrations taking place on Sunday 25 October. The official programme includes a festive service at 11am, followed by the opening of two exhibitions connected with the church and its history.

The day concludes with In caelo et in terra at 5pm. The Choir of Hallgrímskirkja presents its first full-length album of new Icelandic sacred music, with the concert marking both the church’s 40th anniversary and the choir’s fifth anniversary. The official anniversary programme names the Choir of Hallgrímskirkja, Steinar Logi Helgason as conductor, Björn Steinar Sólbergsson on organ, and sopranos Jóna G. Kolbrúnardóttir and Sólbjörg Björnsdóttir.

The concert programme is linked to the building’s anniversary rather than being a separate city event. That connection places new Icelandic sacred music inside the church on the date of its 1986 consecration.

Architecture and music meet at the Reykjavik landmark

State Architect Guðjón Samúelsson began designing the church in 1937. Construction started in 1945, the choir cellar was consecrated as a church hall in 1948, and the church itself was consecrated on 26 October 1986.

The tower rises 73 metres above Reykjavik and remains a broadcasting site. The building’s forms recall columnar rocks, Icelandic mountains and glaciers, while its nave provides the setting for the anniversary service, exhibitions and concert. The Reykjavik visitor information places the church at Hallgrímstorg 1 and identifies its role as an active church and cultural venue.

The date also explains why the celebrations focus on several forms of activity. Worship recalls the church’s consecration, the exhibitions address its artistic and historical identity, and the choir concert connects the anniversary with the building’s continuing musical life.

What the 25 October programme means for visitors

The schedule creates a concentrated visit day. Visitors can encounter the church through worship, visual art and music, although the official programme states that access to the concert is free while space allows.

The anniversary also offers a different view of the building’s history. Hallgrímskirkja is not simply a completed monument: its programme brings together the church, its congregation, its exhibitions and its resident choir on the anniversary date.

Visiting Hallgrímskirkja: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• The main anniversary programme takes place at Hallgrímskirkja in Reykjavik on 25 October 2026, with a festive service at 11am and the In caelo et in terra concert at 5pm.
• The church and tower are affected by the anniversary schedule on 25 October, when the official visitor information lists the festive service, exhibition opening and choir concert.
• The church stands at Hallgrímstorg 1 on Skólavörðuholt in central Reykjavik, and the site is identified as an active Lutheran parish church and cultural venue.
• The tower is 73 metres high, so the building presents a substantial vertical landmark even before visitors enter the nave.

Searching for Hallgrímskirkja on social platforms

These links open searches for Hallgrímskirkja on each platform.

Frequently asked questions about Hallgrímskirkja

When does the anniversary programme take place at Hallgrímskirkja?

The main celebrations take place on 25 October 2026, after an anniversary week running from 18 to 25 October.

What happens at Hallgrímskirkja on 25 October?

A festive service is followed by two exhibition openings, and the Choir of Hallgrímskirkja presents In caelo et in terra at 5pm.

Where is Hallgrímskirkja and how do you get there?

The church is at Hallgrímstorg 1 on Skólavörðuholt in central Reykjavik, Iceland.