Iceland Monitor
Sat, 14 Feb 2026 10:00:00 +0000Returns to the Winter Olympics 70 years later
Olympian Jakobína Valdís Jakobsdóttir is heading to Italy, where she will attend the women’s slalom and giant slalom events at the Winter Olympics in Cortina. She herself competed there for Iceland in alpine skiing when the Winter Olympics we...
Fri, 13 Feb 2026 14:00:00 +0000Half-Icelandic soldier takes part in air policing mission
Emil Hrafn Steinsson, an officer in the Swedish Air Force, is half Icelandic and half Swedish. He is one of the 110 Swedish service members currently carrying out NATO air policing duties in Iceland.
Fri, 13 Feb 2026 12:00:00 +0000We cannot continue like this, warns Landspítali CEO
Runólfur Pálsson, CEO of Landspítali National University Hospital, says new nursing and day-care spaces will not be sufficient to improve conditions in the emergency department to the extent required, and that additional solutions must be found...
Fri, 13 Feb 2026 10:00:00 +0000Heavy sentence sought over alleged terror plot
The Director of Public Prosecutions is seeking convictions against Sindri Snær Birgisson and Ísidór Nathansson for attempted terrorism and is calling for severe punishment in the terrorism case.
Thu, 12 Feb 2026 13:00:00 +0000Icelanders in Cuba urged to consider returning home
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs is aware of several Icelandic citizens currently in Cuba, and the ministry’s consular services are in contact with part of the group.
Thu, 12 Feb 2026 10:48:00 +0000Rescue efforts underway at Reynisfjara Black Beach
“We made the decision yesterday to try to protect the infrastructure, primarily the viewing platform,” says Íris Guðnadóttir of Þórisholt in Mýrdalur in an interview with mbl.is, referring to measures taken by landowners at Reynisfjara B...
Wed, 11 Feb 2026 17:30:00 +0000Supreme Court to hear landmark terrorism case
It has been 1,239 days since the Office of the National Commissioner of the Icelandic Police announced that several men were suspected of planning a terrorist attack in Iceland. Now, nearly three and a half years later, the country’s highest cou...
Wed, 11 Feb 2026 15:00:00 +0000Packed house at a memorial game for Patrekur
“It was absolutely packed. I don’t think as many people have ever attended an ice hockey game in Iceland.”
Wed, 11 Feb 2026 13:00:00 +0000Call for land-based aquaculture to receive a separate bill
Nearly one thousand comments have been submitted on the draft of a new aquaculture bill proposed by Minister of Fisheries and Industry Hanna Katrín Friðriksson. Notably, however, the majority of the comments concern salmon farming in sea cages, ...
Wed, 11 Feb 2026 10:42:00 +0000Video: Crime syndicate dismantled after smuggling cocaine to Iceland
A criminal organization responsible for smuggling cocaine from South America to Europe has been dismantled following a coordinated investigation by authorities in Iceland, Lithuania, and Spain, with support from Europol and Eurojust.
Tue, 10 Feb 2026 16:00:00 +0000Photos: See the dramatically transformed Reynisfjara Black Beach
“This is incredible to witness. The forces of nature have completely reshaped the beach, so the place is now entirely different from what it was,” says tour guide Snorri Steinn Sigurðsson.
Tue, 10 Feb 2026 14:00:00 +0000Drilling does not affect seismic activity
Planned energy production and drilling in the Eldvörp area do not affect seismic activity and neither increase the likelihood of volcanic eruptions nor magma movement.
Tue, 10 Feb 2026 12:00:00 +0000ISK 15 billion for the seafood industry in the Arctic
Arion Bank and the European Investment Bank (EIB) have signed an agreement involving a loan of ISK 15 billion to Arion Bank, which will be used to finance environmentally friendly and sustainable projects in the seafood industry in Iceland, Greenl...
Tue, 10 Feb 2026 10:00:00 +0000The earthquake swarm appears to have subsided
The earthquake swarm near Eldey appears to have subsided, with nearly 600 earthquakes recorded since it began about a day and a half ago.
Mon, 09 Feb 2026 13:00:00 +0000Icelands Treasury is now rated A+
Iceland’s Treasury is on a stronger footing than before, as the country’s sovereign credit rating was upgraded last Friday from A to A+.
Mon, 09 Feb 2026 11:28:00 +0000Over 300 earthquakes since the swarm began
More than 300 earthquakes have been recorded in the seismic swarm that began near Eldey yesterday.
Sun, 08 Feb 2026 15:00:00 +0000Im a boy mom through and through
There is rarely a dull moment in the home of Ingibjörg Lára Þorskfjörð Sveinsdóttir in Mosfellsdalur. Daily life there is filled with laughter, togetherness, and unconditional love, and the home clearly reflects that a large family lives the...
Sun, 08 Feb 2026 12:05:00 +0000Turkey gets green light for an embassy in Iceland
Iceland does not plan to establish an embassy in Turkey in the coming years.
Sat, 07 Feb 2026 22:37:00 +0000Teenager dies after accident on Miklabraut
A 17-year-old boy, Patrekur Freyr Sveinsson, has died following a car accident on Miklabraut, which occurred late Thursday night opposite the Salvation Army building. He was a passenger in the vehicle.
Fri, 06 Feb 2026 13:00:00 +0000Reykjavík lights up the darkness as Winter Festival opens
The spectacular Winter Festival of the City of Reykjavík 2026 was officially opened last night with a great ceremony. Winter festivals were launched yesterday in all six municipalities of the capital region.