Fireworks and satire: Reykjavík’s unforgettable New Year’s Eve

How do you ring in the new year? With a toast of champagne at midnight? By singing ‘Auld Lang Syne’ if you’re in the UK? In Reykjavík, locals will greet 2025 by gathering around a bonfire – and then gathering around the TV to watch a comedy show rounding up the year.

Iceland’s capital is no stranger to unique winter traditions. But some of the most distinct are reserved for the last day of the year, when Icelanders gather with family and friends for bonfires and fireworks displays that last long into the new year.

If you are looking to celebrate New Year’s Eve differently, here is why you should consider a trip to Iceland’s biggest city.

Reykjavík: Join a community bonfire for songs and dances

Considering it’s known as the ‘land of fire and ice,’ it’s fitting that these elements factor into Iceland’s New Year’s Eve rituals.

After family dinners, Reykjavík locals leave the freezing streets to unite around roaring community bonfires known as ‘brenna’.

Neighbours, families and friends both new and old sing songs, dance, reflect on the past year and make wishes for the new one.

There are dozens of ‘brenna’ in the capital alone, and they are welcoming to visitors, giving you plenty of opportunities to make new friends.

Watch comedians skewer the national news live on TV

Icelanders have a famously wry sense of humour, and they aren’t afraid to share it. Especially on New Year’s Eve.

Starting at 10.30pm, Reykjavík goes quiet as residents retreat to their homes to watch Áramótaskaup – the annual ‘New Year’s Eve Lampoon’.

Aired by the state broadcaster RÚV, the laugh-out-loud comedy show satirises memorable events from the past year.

“It’s more than a comedy show – it’s a cherished Icelandic tradition that reflects the highs, lows and quirks of the past year, creating a shared moment of laughter and reflection as the nation steps into the new year,” explains Kristján Bjarki Jónasson, from Visit Reykjavík.

It’s one of Iceland’s highest-rated annual broadcasts, too, with as much as 90 per cent of the population tuning in until the show ends shortly before midnight.

Buy fireworks that fund year-round Search and Rescue

Fireworks are not exclusive to Iceland or even Reykjavík. But Icelanders have found a way to make New Year’s Eve fireworks entirely their own all the same.

“What is so fun about New Year’s Eve is all the families setting off fireworks,” says Jónasson. “There are no official firework displays in the city. This legendary night is very much created by the people of Reykjavík, who collectively do an amazing job of making it unforgettable.” 

From December 28 until January 6, you can buy fireworks from ICE-SAR, the Icelandic Association for Search and Rescue, a nonprofit, volunteer organisation that specialises in search and rescue services on land and at sea.

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The sale is ICE-SAR’s biggest fundraiser each year. In 2017, the organisation earned more than €6 million, or about 60 per cent of its annual budget, from the more than 500 tonnes of fireworks Icelanders purchased before New Year’s Eve.

Once you have your fireworks in hand, join the crowds in the streets and parks setting them off until the early hours, lighting up the night sky with colourful blooms. 

Then, stay up late to celebrate. Many of the bars and pubs stay open until 5am, “ensuring the new year begins with energy and joy,” says Jónasson. 

Reykjavík: How to see the northern lights

After watching bonfires and fireworks light up the night sky, stick around to see the northern lights put on their own vibrant display. 

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Iceland is one of the best places in Europe to see the northern lights. Between September and April, the northern lights are frequently visible on clear dark nights, especially outside of Reykjavík where there is less light pollution.

It might be the perfect way to cap a new year holiday unlike any other.