Peace Week in Reykjavík
40 years since the Reykjavík summit
This year marks 40 years since the historic 1986 Reykjavík summit between U.S. President Ronald Reagan and Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev.
It also marks 70 years of diplomatic relations between Japan and Iceland, making 2026 a vital milestone for both nations.
To celebrate the occasion, Reykjavík is hosting Peace Week, featuring a diverse program that commemorates these milestones.
Exhibit on the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Reykjavík City and the University of Iceland will host exhibits on the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki from Oct. 6 to Nov. 7, 2026. The exhibits feature photographs and explanations detailing the impact of the 1945 atomic bombings. They aim to build an understanding of the devastation nuclear weapons cause and highlight the importance of peace and disarmament.
Since 1995, the exhibit has appeared 73 times in 61 cities across 22 countries. This marks the first time the exhibit has been displayed in Iceland.
Organizers:
- Reykjavík City
- President of Iceland
- University of Iceland
- Hiroshima-borg
- Nagasaki-borg
Partners:
- Embassy of Japan in Iceland
- Hiroshima National Peace Memorial Hall for the Atomic Bomb Victims
- Nagasaki National Peace Memorial Hall for the Atomic Bomb Victims
The Tjarnarsalur hall exhibit officially opens Tuesday, Oct. 6, at 4 p.m.
- Björg Magnúsdóttir, president of City Council, will welcome guests.
- Yahata Teruko will speak about her experience in Hiroshima. She was 8 years old during the atomic bombings.
- President of Iceland Halla Tómasdóttir will then officially open the exhibit alongside Yoshifumi Ishida, director of the Hiroshima/Nagasaki museum.
The exhibit features artifacts, historical records, photographs, and survivor accounts related to the bombings. Visitors can also explore a virtual reality station.
The Tjarnarsalur hall exhibit remains open to the public through Nov. 1.
The University of Iceland exhibit will officially open on Wednesday, Oct. 7, from noon to 1 p.m. at Veröld – House of Vigdís, in the Language Commons (the second-floor library). Teruko Yahata will speak there about her experience in Hiroshima. She was 8 years old during the atomic bombings. The opening event is open to the public.
Located on the lower floor of Háskólatorg, the exhibit runs through Nov. 7, 2026. This exhibit features photographs and explanations detailing the bombings' impact on the two cities.
War and Peace in Reykjavík
The Icelandic National Broadcasting Service premiered the first episode of the documentary series “War and Peace in Reykjavík” on Sunday, Oct. 4.
The series spans three episodes. It covers the period surrounding the October 1986 superpower summit in Reykjavík, where U.S. President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev met at Höfði.
The Rás 2 radio programs Konsert and Rokkland will dedicate their broadcasts to John Lennon, the Imagine Peace Tower, and Peace Week in Reykjavík.
On Oct. 8, 2026, Konsert will broadcast a concert originally held at Háskólabíó on Dec. 1, 2006. Jón Ólafsson's rock band and members of the Iceland Symphony Orchestra perform Lennon's songs alongside Eivör, Daníel Ágúst, Björn Jörundur, KK, and Magnús Þór.
On Sunday, Oct. 11, at 4 p.m., Rokkland will present an episode titled "War and Peace." Host Óli Palli will offer a broad overview, with the Imagine Peace Tower, John Lennon, and Yoko Ono taking center stage.
Exhibit on the summit at Höfði
An exhibit detailing the summit will be on display on the second floor of Höfði on Oct. 10. The Reykjavík City Museum coordinated the exhibit.
Selected 1986 photographs from the Reykjavík Museum of Photography collection will be on display alongside summit-related artifacts.
Höfði will be open to the public on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Admission is free, and all are welcome.
Kaldastríðsborg
The book Kaldastríðsborg ("Cold War City") debuted on Thursday, Oct. 8, to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Reagan-Gorbachev summit. History professor Rósa Magnúsdóttir authored the book, with publication support from Reykjavík City.
Kaldastríðsborg sheds light on Reykjavík during the Cold War, exploring how international conflicts affected city life and Icelandic society.
From the end of World War II until the Soviet Union's collapse in 1991, Iceland sat within a conflict zone where ideas, culture, and lifestyle became a battleground.
The cultural Cold War took many forms, influencing everything from the arts and chess to entertainment, business, and daily life.
You can hear an interview with Rósa Magnúsdóttir about Kaldastríðsborg on Blanda, the Icelandic Historical Society's podcast.
Imagine Peace Tower lighting
The Imagine Peace Tower will be illuminated in Viðey on Oct. 9 at 8 p.m.
The island will host a peaceful ceremony featuring musical performances by Árný Margrét and remarks from Mayor Hildur Björnsdóttir. Organized walks will be available.
The artist Yoko Ono offers free trips to Viðey, departing from Skarfabakki at 5:30 p.m.
Höfði Peace Center Imagine Forum
The Höfði Peace Center will host its 10th annual international peace conference, the Imagine Forum, at Harpa on Oct. 12, 2026. This year's theme is “From Cold War Lessons to Modern Challenges.”
This conference specifically commemorates the 40th anniversary of the summit. The Höfði Peace Center is hosting the conference in partnership with the Office of the President of Iceland, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Reykjavík City, and the University of Iceland's Faculty of History and Philosophy. A select group of global experts will discuss the vital importance of cooperation, trust, and peacebuilding amid growing tensions and uncertainty regarding defense, security, and disarmament. The conference is open to the public. You can register on the conference web page.
Film screening and origami workshop
The Embassy of Japan in Iceland invites you to a special screening of the Japanese film “Prayer: "Figments of Nagasaki" on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026, at 4 p.m. at the Vigdís International Center, Brynjólfsgata 1, 107 Reykjavík.
Before the film, guests can join a short workshop introducing the Japanese creative arts of origami and chigiri-e, an art form utilizing torn paper.
Following the screening, the floor will open for audience questions.
The event is free and open to the public.
