The allocation committees of the Music Fund have now completed their work for the first allocation round of 2026.

A total of 342 applications were submitted to the fund, requesting a combined amount of ISK 538,327,318. Funding amounting to ISK 91,645,000 was available for distribution and was awarded to a total of 80 projects, divided across the fund’s four divisions.

Creation and Publication Division – Music Grants

A total of 184 applications were submitted, requesting ISK 242,742,198. Funding of ISK 32,885,000 is allocated to 36 projects.

The highest project grants, ISK 2 million each, are awarded to Emilíana Torrini and Lovísa Elísabet Sigrúnardóttir (Lay Low). Árni Vilhjálmsson and Dagur Kristinn Sigurðsson Björnsson each receive ISK 1.7 million.

The success rate for applications in this division is 20%.

Of the allocated funding:

• 23% goes to classical and contemporary music
• 40% to pop, rock, and indie
• 13% to electronic music
• The remainder to other genres

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Live Performance Division – Performance Grants

A total of 78 applications were submitted, requesting ISK 99,785,974. Funding of ISK 20,010,000 is allocated to 22 projects.

The highest project grant, ISK 1.5 million, is awarded to marvaða ehf. for the experimental opera LOVE. Sambandið óperukompaní, Sinfóníuhljómsveit Austurlands, and Þórunn Guðmundsdóttir each receive project grants of ISK 1 million.

The success rate for applications in this division is 28%.

Of the allocated funding:

• 78% goes to classical and contemporary music
• 5% to pop, rock, and indie
• The remainder to other genres

This distribution broadly reflects the genre breakdown of submitted applications.

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Long-Term Contracts

Two new long-term contracts are awarded:

• Elja Chamber Ensemble receives ISK 3.5 million for a two-year contract covering 2026–2027
• Baroque Ensemble Brák receives ISK 2.5 million for a two-year contract covering 2026–2027

The following projects hold active long-term contracts in 2026:

• Nordic Affect – ISK 2.5 million (2025–2026)
• Caput – ISK 6 million (2024–2026)
• Reykjavík Chamber Orchestra – ISK 5 million (2024–2026)

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Development and Infrastructure Division – Business Grants

A total of 65 applications were submitted, requesting ISK 172,918,260. Funding of ISK 32,300,000 is allocated to 17 projects.

The highest project grants, ISK 3 million each, are awarded to Tales from Iceland ehf. for the project Revitalisation of Austurbæjarbíó and to Skálholt Summer Concerts. Hannesarholt and Reykjavík Early Music Festival each receive ISK 2 million.

The overall success rate in this division is 26%.

Of the allocated funding:

• 43% goes to classical and contemporary music
• 20% to jazz and blues
• 15% to cross-genre projects
• The remainder to other genres

Long-Term Contracts

Three new long-term contracts are awarded:

• Aldrei fór ég suður, the grassroots rock festival in Ísafjörður: ISK 3 million per year for a two-year period
• Reykjavík Jazz Festival: ISK 4 million per year for a three-year period
• Seigla Music Festival: ISK 2 million per year for a three-year period

The following projects hold active long-term contracts in 2026:

• Dark Music Days – ISK 4 million (2025–2026)
• Reykjavík Opera Days – ISK 4 million (2024–2026)
• Song Festival in Hafnarborg – ISK 2 million (2024–2026)
• Reykholt Festival – ISK 1 million (2024–2026)
• Bræðslan – ISK 1.5 million (2024–2026)
• Iceland Airwaves – ISK 6 million (2024–2026)

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Additional Allocation from the Guðjón Sigurðsson Music Fund

An additional contribution from the City of Reykjavík was allocated to the Development and Infrastructure Division through the Guðjón Sigurðsson Music Fund, which was established by testament on 14 July 1908 and has now been dissolved.

The total additional contribution amounted to ISK 11 million and was allocated by the committee to four projects. This contribution does not constitute a separate funding category, but rather a supplement linked to specific projects and/or parts of certain long-term contracts.

Projects and agreements receiving additional funding:

• Reykjavík Jazz Festival and Seigla: the Guðjón Sigurðsson Music Fund fully finances the first contract year, as well as children’s programming in the second and third years – ISK 500,000 per year for Reykjavík Jazz Festival and ISK 350,000 per year for Seigla
• Hannesarholt: ISK 2 million in project funding, of which ISK 500,000 is earmarked for children’s programming
• Revitalisation of Austurbæjarbíó: ISK 3 million in project funding

Export Division – Marketing Grants

A total of 15 applications were submitted, requesting ISK 22,880,886. Funding of ISK 6,450,000 is allocated to five projects.

The highest grants, ISK 1.7 million each, are awarded to Ásgeir, Daði Freyr, and Elín Hall.

The success rate in this division is 33%.

Of the allocated funding:

• 60% goes to pop, rock, and indie
• 14% to classical and contemporary music
• 26% to world and folk music

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Distribution by Gender, Region, and Applicant Type

Most applications were submitted by projects led by men (56%), while 40% were submitted by women. The success rate was 21% for applications led by men and 26% for those led by women.

Most grants (51%) are awarded to individuals, 18% to companies, with the remainder going to associations, institutions, and other applicants.

The overall success rate across all divisions is 23%.
Of the total funding awarded:

• 66% goes to projects based in the capital area
• 26% to projects elsewhere in Iceland
• 8% to projects taking place abroad

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Allocation Committees

Music Grants – Creation and Release Division
Sindri Ástmarsson (Chair)
Hafdís Bjarnadóttir
Kristjana Stefánsdóttir

Performer Grants – Live Performance Division
Guðmundur Birgir Halldórsson (Chair)
Ása Dýradóttir
Þorbjörg Daphne Hall

Business Grants – Development and Infrastructure Division
Hildur Kristín Stefánsdóttir (Chair)
Freyr Eyjólfsson
Melkorka Sigríður Magnúsdóttir

Marketing Grants – Export Division
Sindri Magnússon (Chair)
Elíza Geirsdóttir Newman
Melkorka Ólafsdóttir

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List of all allocated grants

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Performance grants

Elja kammersveit
Long term contract for two years
Allocated amount: ISK 3.500.000 per year

Barokkbandið Brák
Long term contract for two years
Allocated amount: ISK 2.500.000 per year

marvaða ehf.
LOVE
Allocated amount: ISK 1.500.000

Sinfóníuhljómsveit Austurlands
Dichotomies
Allocated amount: ISK 1.000.000

Þórunn Guðmundsdóttir
Sæmundur fróði, ópera
Allocated amount: ISK 1.000.000

Sambandið óperukompaní, félagasamtök
Þunnt skæni á logandi vök – ópera úr íslenskum samtíma
Allocated amount: ISK 1.000.000

Bylgjur í báðar áttir ehf.
Sóljafndægur II – Samtíma tónleikaröð í Fríkirkjunni í Reykjavík
Allocated amount: ISK 900.000

marvaða ehf.
viibra frumflytur nýtt verk eftir Bergrúnu Snæbjörnsdóttur
Allocated amount: ISK 900.000

Sölvi Kolbeinsson
Collage – Tónleikaferð um landið
Allocated amount: ISK 800.000

Þorsteinn Eyfjörð Þórarinsson
Harmonic Tremor
Allocated amount: ISK 750.000

Brekvirki ehf.
Brek – Útgáfutónleikar og tónleikaferð
Allocated amount: ISK 700.000

Hjálmar Helgi Ragnarsson
Yerma – leikhústónlist Hjálmars H. Ragnarssonar
Allocated amount: ISK 600.000

Fischersund ehf.
Fischersund Scented Concert
Allocated amount: ISK 600.000

Romain Þór Denuit
Cinde(fucking)rella
Allocated amount: ISK 600.000

Andri Pétur Þrastarson
Ásta X Gosi – tónleikaferð
Allocated amount: ISK 500.000

Sólrún Ylfa Ingimarsdóttir
Ástin, ástin – Tríó Sól & vinir á Sígildum sunnudögum
Allocated amount: ISK 500.000

Kristín Ýr Jónsdóttir
Spönn collective – þrennir tónleikar
Allocated amount: ISK 500.000

Félag íslenskra tónlistarmanna
Klassík í Salnum
Allocated amount: ISK 500.000

Teitur Magnússon
Supernatural Suburbia tónleikaferð
Allocated amount: ISK 500.000

Tónlistarfélagið Mógil
Mógil og Sölvi Helgason á Listahátið í Reykjavík
Allocated amount: ISK 460.000

Guðmundur Steinn Gunnarsson
Steinalda út í sjoppu
Allocated amount: ISK 400.000

Jóhann Kristinsson
Robert Schumann, Dichterliebe
Allocated amount: ISK 300.000

Marketing grants

Dauðaþögn ehf.
Ásgeir – Julia
Allocated amount: ISK 1.700.000

Klapp ehf.
Þriðja breiðskífa Daða Freys
Allocated amount: ISK 1.700.000

Elín Sif Halldórsdóttir
Cinephile – alþjóðleg markaðssetning fyrstu ensku breiðskífu Elínar Hall
Allocated amount: ISK 1.700.000

Valgerður G Halldórsdóttir
GROWL POWER – Björg Brjánsdóttir; heildstæðir tónleikar með verkum Báru Gísladóttur
Allocated amount: ISK 900.000

The Orchid slf.
JFDR Tour of North America
Allocated amount: ISK 450.000

Music grants

Emilíana Torrini
The creation of Emilíana Torrini’s ninth studio album
Allocated amount: ISK 2.000.000

lalala ehf.
Sameiginlegir þræðir – þróun tónverka
Allocated amount: ISK 2.000.000

Árni Vilhjálmsson
Lukewarm
Allocated amount: ISK 1.700.000

Dagur Kristinn Sigurðsson Björnsson
Rista-vél
Allocated amount: ISK 1.700.000

Una Stefánsdóttir
Huldumál
Allocated amount: ISK 1.500.000

Björg Brjánsdóttir
MAGNESIA – einleiksplata
Allocated amount: ISK 1.500.000

Pamela De Sensi Kristbjargardóttir
Icelandic nuances – geisladiskur með 8 nýjum íslenskum verkum fyrir flautu og saxófón
Allocated amount: ISK 1.300.000

Þórhildur Magnúsdóttir
Tríó Sól – fyrsta plata
Allocated amount: ISK 1.200.000

Andri Pétur Þrastarson
Gosi – Af fjöllum
Allocated amount: ISK 1.000.000

Herdís Stefánsdóttir
SCAM
Allocated amount: ISK 1.000.000

Birgir Steinn Theodórsson
Hljómplatan Agata
Allocated amount: ISK 1.000.000

Kerúb ehf.
Róshildur – Flækja LP
Allocated amount: ISK 1.000.000

Sensory Music slf.
Ný tónlist með Ragnheiði Gröndal
Allocated amount: ISK 1.000.000

Magnús Jóhann ehf.
See Instructions
Allocated amount: ISK 1.000.000

Iceland Sync Management ehf.
Jóhanna Guðrún – EP plata
Allocated amount: ISK 1.000.000

Álfgrímur Aðalsteinsson
Rísandi stjarna
Allocated amount: ISK 900.000

Ingibjörg Fríða Helgadóttir
ÞJÓÐSÖGUKISTAN – ný tónlist fyrir börn og fjölskyldur
Allocated amount: ISK 900.000

Hrafnkell Orri Egilsson
L’amour fou – Fleiri íslensk lög
Allocated amount: ISK 900.000

Jón Frímannsson
Jónfrí – Djúpfalsað efni
Allocated amount: ISK 900.000

RVK Record Shop ehf.
AAIIEENN – Phonetically Ayen
Allocated amount: ISK 700.000

Zoe Ruth Erwin
TÁR
Allocated amount: ISK 700.000

Una Margrét Jónsdóttir
Hljóðfærasaga Íslands 874 til 1900
Allocated amount: ISK 700.000

Funi Berglindarson Gunnarsson
Nútíðarfónía
Allocated amount: ISK 700.000

ErkiTíð, íslensk tónlistarhátíð
ErkiTíð 2025 – útgáfa á streymisveitum
Allocated amount: ISK 650.000

Ingi Bjarni Skúlason
FLUG: Tónlist fyrir trompet og píanó
Allocated amount: ISK 600.000

María Agnesardóttir
Break a leg EP
Allocated amount: ISK 580.000

Daníel Friðrik Böðvarsson
Daníel Friðrik & Hilmar Jensson – gítardúó
Allocated amount: ISK 500.000

B.G. Bros ehf.
Ný plata með SúEllen – 10 ný frumsamin lög tekin upp og gefin út á streymisveitum
Allocated amount: ISK 500.000

Cantores Islandiae, félagasamtök
Hljóðritun á fyrri aftansöng (vesper I) Þorlákstíða í sögulegum flutningi
Allocated amount: ISK 500.000

Kammerkór Norðurlands
Þrjú ný íslensk kórverk
Allocated amount: ISK 500.000

Haukur Þór Harðarson
Hljóðritun af kammerverkum eftir Hauk Þór Harðarson með Ensemble Mosaik
Allocated amount: ISK 500.000

Stefán Páll Ívarsson
Einseta í Breiðdalnum til að leggja lokahönd á plötu
Allocated amount: ISK 500.000

Hróðmar Sigurðsson
Tónsmíðar fyrir nýja plötu, vinnutitill “+2”
Allocated amount: ISK 500.000

Róberta Andersen
8 laga breiðskífa – Íslenskar dægurperlur fluttar í búningi nútíma spunatónlistar
Allocated amount: ISK 500.000

Birgir Steinn Stefánsson
Lifandi (vinnuheiti)
Allocated amount: ISK 400.000

Kormákur Jarl Gunnarsson
Útgáfa fyrstu plötu Flesh Machine, The Fool
Allocated amount: ISK 355.000

Business grants
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Jazzhátíð Reykjavíkur
Long term contract for three years
Allocated amount: ISK 4.000.000 per year

Tónlistarhátíðin Seigla
Long term contract for three years
Allocated amount: ISK 2.000.000 per year

Aldrei fór ég suður, rokkhátíð alþýðunnar á Ísafirði
Long term contract for two years
Allocated amount: ISK 3.000.000 per year

Tales from Iceland ehf.
Endurreisn Austurbæjarbíós
Allocated amount: ISK 3.000.000

Sumartónleikar Skálholtskirkju
Frumflutningar, barokk-óperur og barnastarf. Sumartónleikar í Skálholti
Allocated amount: ISK 3.000.000

Þjóðlagahátíð á Siglufirði
Þjóðlagahátíðin á Siglufirði 1.–5. júlí 2026
Allocated amount: ISK 2.500.000

Hannesarholt ses.
Tónleikahald í Hannesarholti
Allocated amount: ISK 2.000.000

Snemmtónlistarfélagið fta.
Reykjavík Early Music Festival
Allocated amount: ISK 2.000.000

Músik í Mývatnssveit, félag
Músík í Mývatnssveit 2026
Allocated amount: ISK 1.500.000

Múlinn – jazzklúbbur
Tónleikaröð jazzklúbbsins Múlans í tónlistarhúsinu Hörpu
Allocated amount: ISK 1.500.000

Félag Áhugafólks um Íslenska Jaðartónlist
Norðanpaunk 2026
Allocated amount: ISK 1.500.000

Lilja María Ásmundsdóttir
Hverafugl
Allocated amount: ISK 1.500.000

ErkiTíð, íslensk tónlistarhátíð
ErkiTíð – Fjölbreytni
Allocated amount: ISK 1.500.000

Tónlistarfélag Akureyrar
Hvítar Súlur – Vortónleikaröð Tónlistarfélags Akureyrar
Allocated amount: ISK 1.000.000

Blúshátíð í Reykjavík
Blúshátíð í Reykjavík 2026
Allocated amount: ISK 1.000.000

Ung nordisk musik
Tónlistarhátíðin Ung Nordisk Musik 2026
Allocated amount: ISK 800.000

Sophia Luise Kistenmacher
15:15 Tónleikasyrpan
Allocated amount: ISK 500.000

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