Reykjavik Pride is happening August 5th-10th, 2-25 with the Parade taking place on August 9th. With over 100,000 attendees, a quarter of the Icelandic population, travellers can take part in a variety of events including family festivals, gallery openings, parties and more. Visitors can take photos with the famous rainbow street, hop on a Queer Cruise boat tour to take in Iceland’s beautiful landscapes, and end the night with high-art drag shows and cocktails on a rooftop bar.

Iceland is one of the most inclusive countries for LGBTQ+ people due to their progressive equality policies that have fostered an open-minded and accepting culture. Before Reykjavik Pride became an official annual event, Icelandic members of the LGBTQ+ community gathered in Reykjavik city centre in 1994/94 to protest for human rights and freedom. The formation of Reykjavik Pride happened in 1999, and the first Reykjavik Pride Parade officially took place in August 2000.

During the six-day event, there are opportunities to engage a multitude of events including thought-provoking lectures, family festivals, gallery openings, parties and more! Why not visit the infamous social-media hotspot, rainbow street, for the perfect picture and to soak up the warm and inclusive social atmosphere? After that, hop on a “Queer Cruise” boat tour around Reykjavik Harbour, and experience the breath-taking natural beauty the country has to offer. For evening activities, Reykjavik’s most famous rooftop bar offers specially curated Pride cocktails, and the high-art drag shows dotted around the city centre are a must see.

The celebrations have continued on an annual basis ever since, and are organized and held by Hinsegin dagar í Reykjavik – Reykjavík Pride, a non-for-profit organisation who use any profits raised to support the LGBTQ+ community. What really sets Iceland’s pride festivities apart though from other events around the world, is the country’s strong sense of community and engagement, as being queer in Reykjavik (and Iceland as a whole) is whole-heartedly celebrated.

Iceland is considered a world leader in LGBTQ+ rights and has taken significant strides towards equality and inclusivity. For example, a truly historic moment for the country and the world, came in 2009 when Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir was elected as the first openly gay head of state.

Icelandair embodies the Icelandic value of equality and is committed to progressing diversity and inclusion by supporting the LGBTQ+ community. One way in which it does this is by celebrating Pride with a dedicated Pride Flight during Reykjavík’s Pride week each year.

Canadians can celebrate their Pride in Iceland by flying direct with Icelandair, or through the airline’s famous stopover program, where transatlantic travellers can visit Iceland for up to a week at no additional cost, before continuing on to a second European destination. This makes Iceland and Reykjavik Pride the perfect stopover destination for anyone seeking a memorable and affirming experience, within a safe and inclusive environment.

More Information

Visit Reykjavik

Visit Iceland

Pink Iceland

About the Author

Bryen Dunn is a freelance journalist based in Toronto with a focus on tourism, lifestyle, entertainment and community issues. He has written several travel articles and has an extensive portfolio of celebrity interviews with musicians, actors and other public personalities. He’s willing to take on any assignments of interest, attend parties with free booze, listen to rants, and travel the world in search of the great unknown. He’s eager to discover the new, remember the past, and look into the future.