The World of Icelandic Music

About the museum

The World of Icelandic Music is an exhibition in Harpa, just inside the main entrance on the ground floor, which traces the history of Icelandic music over more than a thousand years. Visitors follow an audio guide through the exhibition, which is built on music, archive recordings, film, original soundscapes and interactive elements. It looks at how landscape, history and society shaped the music, from rímur and folk songs to artists such as The Sugarcubes, Björk, Sigur Rós, Of Monsters and Men and Laufey.

The exhibition was founded by the exhibition designer Axel Hallkell Jóhannesson and the entrepreneur Þorsteinn Jóhannesson. Þórarinn Eldjárn wrote the script, Úlfur Eldjárn composed the original music, and the scholarly contributions come from Arnar Eggert Thoroddsen, Árni Heimir Ingólfsson and Þorbjörg Daphne Hall. The exhibition was produced in cooperation with Harpa and the Iceland Symphony Orchestra.

Highlights

• More than a thousand years of Icelandic music history
• Audio guide in Icelandic, English, Spanish, German, French and Chinese
• Recordings from archives and an original soundscape
• Located in Harpa by the main entrance

Permanent exhibition

• The World of Icelandic Music – Audio guide through the history of Icelandic music from the Viking Age to the present, with music, archive recordings, film and interactive elements.

Admission & discounts

The adult price applies to ages 13 and over. Tickets are recommended to be booked online in advance, but they can also be bought at the Harpa ticket desk on arrival.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The exhibition is said to suit all ages and abilities. Three lifts connect the car park with the ground floor, and the building is step-free. Visitors with visual impairments can get help finding their way if the ticket office is informed in advance on 528 5050. Guide dogs are welcome if they wear a harness or vest.

Kids & families

Only partly suitable for kids

The exhibition is designed mainly for visitors aged 10 and over, although younger children may also enjoy it. Parents are responsible for their children. Children aged 6 and under enter free.

Getting there & parking

Harpa is about a 5-minute walk from the Sun Voyager sculpture (Sólfarið), about a 15-minute walk from Hallgrímskirkja and about a 6-minute walk from Kolaportið.

Amenities & dining

The Harpa reception desk is at the main entrance.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit