Iceland certainly has its quirky sides. Whilst we look forward to the arrival of spring after Easter, Iceland skips this season altogether. Every year, on the first Thursday after 18 April, ‘Sumardagurinn fyrsti’ takes place – the first day of summer. Curiously enough, the Icelanders even consider this an official public holiday.This year, the festival therefore falls on 23 April 2026. From now on, the thick winter clothes are put away and (especially among younger Icelanders) the summer outfits are taken out of the wardrobe – regardless of what the weather is actually like. Daytime temperatures in April are often in single figures. An old Icelandic folk belief holds that there will be a good summer if, on the night before the first day of summer, temperatures drop below freezing and winter and summer thus ‘freeze together’.
Why is the start of summer a public holiday in Iceland?
This is primarily due to historical reasons, as the Old Norse calendar recognised only winter and summer as seasons. Autumn and spring did not exist. It also marked the point at which the harsh and trying winter months in Iceland were finally behind them. So people celebrated together, took a break from work and put the livestock back out to pasture. Even a person’s age was calculated by counting how many winters they had survived. So it is no surprise that people also exchanged gifts.
How is the day celebrated today?
If you happen to be in Iceland for the ‘Sumardagurinn fyrsti’ public holiday, you should expect many shops to be closed. Nevertheless, it’s well worth spending the day in larger towns and cities. In Reykjavik and other towns, there are parades, festivals and markets. Families and friends like to get together for outdoor activities, or people kick off the year’s barbecue season straight away. Incidentally, there is no comparable holiday marking the start of winter in Iceland.
With that in mind: Gleðilegt sumar! We wish all Icelanders all the best for Sumardagurinn fyrsti, the first day of summer!