Iceland National Day 2026
Celebrate Iceland National Day on June 17, when the country marks the founding of the Republic of Iceland in 1944 — on the birthday of independence leader Jón Sigurðsson. Parades, speeches, and family festivities fill Reykjavík and towns across the island under the bright June sky.
About Iceland National Day
History & origins
On 17 June 1944 Icelanders gathered at Þingvellir to found the republic, ending the personal union with the Danish crown after a landslide referendum that May. Iceland had already been a sovereign state in union with Denmark under the 1918 Act of Union; 1944 completed the break while Denmark was still under German occupation. Sveinn Björnsson became the first president. King Christian X sent congratulations despite preferring a different outcome.
The date was chosen because it is the birthday of Jón Sigurðsson (1811–1879), the scholar-politician who led Iceland’s nineteenth-century struggle for self-rule. National Day therefore honours both the 1944 republic and the longer peaceful independence movement.
Festivities typically include a ceremony by Jón Sigurðsson’s statue on Austurvöllur by the parliament in Reykjavík, parades, music, and family events. It is a public holiday.
Why it matters
Few national days encode a person and a founding moment so neatly on one calendar date. For visitors, 17 June is a chance to see Icelandic civic culture in summer daylight; for the diaspora (including Icelandic-Canadian communities), it remains a heritage anchor sometimes still linked to Jón’s name.
How to celebrate
If you are in Reykjavík, attend the official programme around Austurvöllur and the day’s parade or concerts. Elsewhere in Iceland, join the local municipal festival. Read a short profile of Jón Sigurðsson or visit Þingvellir another day to connect place and history. Abroad, look for an Icelandic association gathering. Keep the focus on civic independence and culture.
Facts
- The Republic of Iceland was founded on 17 June 1944 at Þingvellir
- The date is also Jón Sigurðsson’s birthday (born 1811)
- A May 1944 referendum overwhelmingly approved ending the union with Denmark
- Sveinn Björnsson became Iceland’s first president
- A wreath-laying at Jón Sigurðsson’s Reykjavík statue is part of the modern ceremony
Upcoming dates
- Wednesday, June 17, 2026
- Thursday, June 17, 2027
- Saturday, June 17, 2028
- Sunday, June 17, 2029
- Monday, June 17, 2030
Frequently asked questions
When is Iceland National Day in 2026?
Iceland National Day in 2026 falls on Wednesday, June 17, 2026.
Is today Iceland National Day?
No. Iceland National Day in 2026 falls on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, not today.
What is Iceland National Day?
It is Iceland’s national holiday (Þjóðhátíðardagurinn), marking the 1944 founding of the republic on Jón Sigurðsson’s birthday.
Who started Iceland National Day?
The republic’s founders set the national day on 17 June 1944, deliberately matching Jón Sigurðsson’s birthday and the independence movement he led.
How do you celebrate Iceland National Day?
Attend speeches, parades, and family festivals in Reykjavík or your town, and honour Jón Sigurðsson’s role in the independence story.
Is Iceland National Day an official holiday?
Yes. It is a public holiday in Iceland. It is not a U.S. federal holiday.
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