New Year's Eve in Iceland

Holiday status and time off

Iceland’s calendar lists New Year’s Eve as a public holiday, beginning at 13:00, or at 00:00 when December 31 falls on a Sunday. It lists no substitute or observed day. Alþýðusamband Íslands (ASÍ), Iceland’s labour confederation, classifies New Year’s Eve as a special holiday and says daytime workers are generally not required to work on special or public holidays unless they agree to do so. Pay and eligibility depend on employment terms and collective agreements.[1]

The holiday rules affect work rather than guaranteeing that every workplace closes. ASÍ distinguishes special holidays from public holidays and describes different pay arrangements for work on them. As a result, residents and visitors should check directly with a workplace or service about its hours.[1]

An evening of shared traditions

Across Iceland, New Year’s Eve is a prominent social occasion. Visit South Iceland describes a common pattern of a festive dinner with family, followed by gathering at a local bonfire, or brenna, to meet and socialize. It does not identify a single required menu, so particular dishes should not be treated as universal.[2]

In Reykjavík, Visit Reykjavík also describes family dinners and neighborhood bonfires, followed by Áramótaskaup, a television comedy show that satirizes the year’s major news and events. The city’s streets become quiet while people watch. The page describes this as a Reykjavík custom; details and participation can vary around the country.[3]

Bonfires, fireworks and practical plans

Bonfires and fireworks are part of the public celebration. Reykjavík’s official information says that bonfires are managed by city staff or associations, monitored, and subject to a weather-based decision about whether they will be lit. At these bonfires, fireworks and flares are not allowed, though sparklers and torches without sparks may be used.[4]

Reykjavík’s tourism office says there is no official city fireworks display; residents create the displays themselves. The South Iceland tourism site also describes fireworks after the television programme and midnight celebrations. These accounts support fireworks as a familiar custom, but they do not establish a nationwide rule about who may buy or set them off.[2][3]

Opening hours and services can vary, so check current arrangements with the specific business or transport operator before making plans. In Reykjavík, follow the city’s current guidance for bonfire access and safety.[4]