Taste of Iceland Festival Kicks Off U.S. Tour in Chicago, April 3-5

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Mar 10, 2025, 11:54 ET

The festival will transport visitors to Iceland through free events inspired by, and in celebration of, the best of Icelandic culture

CHICAGO, March 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Taste of Iceland 2025, organized by Inspired by Iceland, returns to Chicago, III., Thursday, April 3 through Saturday, April 5. The cultural festival celebrates the land of fire and ice with events across the city showcasing the best of Icelandic culture, including food, music, nature, literature, art and design, wellness, and more.

Taste of Iceland celebrates and shares Iceland's traditions and culture with the people of North America. In partnership with local businesses and Taste of Iceland's official partners, featured events will be hosted at Bistronomic, Martyrs', The Drake Hotel, NYCH Gallery, Wax Vinyl Bar and Ramen Shop, Yogaview, and 2112.

Most events are free and open to the public. Event tickets are required, and guests are encouraged to arrive promptly to guarantee entry. Tickets are available on the Inspired by Iceland website. Reservations are required for the prix-fixe Icelandic dinner through the Inspired by Iceland website.

FESTIVAL SCHEDULE

Thursday, April 3 - Saturday, April 5

Icelandic Menu at Bistronomic: An Icelandic feast will be prepared by Executive Chef and Owner of Bistronomic, Martial Noguier, in collaboration with Icelandic Chef Kristín Birta Ólafsdóttir, a member of the Icelandic Culinary Team and a chef at Reykjavík's Grand Hotel. Indulge in a showcase of Iceland's finest ingredients and flavors, crafted into an outstanding dining experience inspired by award-winning courses of the 2024 Icelandic Culinary Team. The four-course menu will feature centerpiece ingredients from Iceland, including seafood and lamb. 4:00 PM - 9:45 PM at Bistronomic. Reservations for the prix fixe menu are available through the Inspired by Iceland website.
Wheel of Prizes Presented by Icelandair: A trip for two to Iceland is among the prizes that select Taste of Iceland festival attendees can win during multiple events from April 3 to 5. For those not lucky enough to win the free trip, Icelandair is offering special pricing on roundtrip flights to Iceland from Chicago starting at $549, traveling from April 1- June 12. Learn more here.

Thursday, April 3

Iceland Airwaves Off-Venue: A free concert hosted by Iceland Airwaves will feature shows by Icelandic musicians lúpína and gugusar, with DJ Hermigervill spinning Icelandic tunes between sets. lúpína explores the boundaries of pop music by blending different genres seamlessly to create a fusion of Icelandic lyric-focused Scandi pop. gugusar is the stage name of Guðlaug Sóley Höskuldsdóttir, who writes and composes all of her songs in her home studio and released two albums before turning nineteen. A longtime heavyweight of the Icelandic music scene, Hermigervill, a multi-instrumentalist, producer, composer, and DJ, has worked with many notable Icelandic artists, produced many Icelandic number-one hits, and released innumerable records under various guises. Doors open at 7:00 PM at Martyrs'. Click here for more information.

Friday, April 4

Celebrating the Power of Arts and Festivals: Learn about the transformative role cultural festivals play in shaping urban and creative communities—particularly in Reykjavík and Chicago. A dynamic panel of cultural leaders will discuss how the Reykjavík Arts Festival and Chicago's vibrant arts scene drive creativity, economic growth, and international collaboration. Speakers include Former Prime Minister of Iceland and Chair of the Board for the Reykjavík Arts Festival, Katrín Jakobsdóttir, Artistic Director of the Reykjavík Arts Festival, Lára Sóley Jóhannsdóttir, Executive Director of Court Theater, Angel Ysaguirr, Founder and Director of 2112 and the Center for Creative Entrepreneurship, Scott Fetters, and Chicago entrepreneur, Abby Pucker. The event will be moderated by Althea Legaspi, senior news editor at Rolling Stone. 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM. Click here for more information.
Demo & Dine: Icelandic Lunch Experience: Join Chefs Hafliði Halldórsson and Kristín Birta Ólafsdóttir for a culinary adventure from Iceland. Guests will learn how to prepare and present dishes from the Taste of Iceland menu, including a wild Icelandic cod starter, an Icelandic Lamb main course, and a delicious dessert made with skyr. Guests will then get to enjoy the meal with the chefs. 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM at Bistronomic. Click here for more information.
Icelandic HiFi: DJ Hermigervill: Did Icelandic music exist before Björk? DJ Hermigervill, known for innovative remixes of classic Icelandic songs and a deep passion for vinyl, will host an exclusive high-fidelity listening session, uncovering the forgotten sounds of Iceland's 1970s music scene and exploring the lost gems and hidden influences that shaped the country's musical landscape. 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM at Wax Vinyl Bar and Ramen Shop. Click here for more information.

Saturday, April 5

Elemental Sound Bath with Blue Lagoon Iceland: Bringing Iceland's energy straight to you. Find inner peace and healing during a meditation session with Icelandic energy healer, Jósa Goodlife. Jósa will guide guests through a deeply relaxing, supportive, and uplifting journey with the healing sounds of nature. Sound Bath attendees will receive a complimentary gift bag. 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM at Yogaview. Click here for more information.
Iceland's Crime Fiction Royalty: Join the Queen and King of Icelandic crime fiction, global bestselling Icelandic authors Ragnar Jónasson and Yrsa Sigurðardóttir, for a conversation about their recent novels, Icelandic literature, and the literature festival they run together, Iceland Noir. Ragnar Jónasson will discuss his latest book, "Death at the Sanatorium," as well as "Reykjavík," his crime novel co-authored with former Icelandic Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir. Yrsa Sigurðardóttir will discuss "The Legacy," the first in her popular crime series that has won numerous literature awards. Chicago-based, award-winning crime fiction author, Lori Rader-Day, will moderate the conversation. 1:00 PM at International Club, Drake Hotel. Click here for more information.
Icelandia Presents: Northern Lights in Chicago: Learn about Iceland's fascinating Northern Lights—which are expected to shine even brighter in 2025, 2026, and 2027—with astronomy and science educator, Sævar "Star-Sævar" Helgi Bragason. He will explain why Iceland is a perfect location for viewing the 2026 solar eclipse, discuss his best-selling books, and share his love for looking up into a starry sky and showing others the wonders of the universe. Guests will also be invited to experience Iceland through virtual reality, with a focus on Icelandia's Northern Lights tours, Glacier Hikes, and ATV tours—transporting them to Iceland's vast glaciers, black sand beaches, and beautiful skies. Following the talk, guests will receive a gift from Icelandia, Blue Lagoon Iceland, and Icelandair. 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM at International Club, Drake Hotel Click here for more information.
Icelandair Presents "Viewpoint": A True-to-Life Look at Iceland: Iceland's allure extends far beyond its picture-perfect landscapes. The group photography exhibition "Viewpoint" dispels glossy stereotypes and reveals the island's multifaceted identity. Through a diverse collection of works by five Icelandic artists, the exhibit captures often-overlooked moments and hidden narratives, inviting viewers to experience Iceland through a fresh lens. The exhibit will open at 12:00 PM and the artist talk will start at 3:00 PM at NYCH Gallery, where DJ Hermigervill will spin Icelandic tunes with some complimentary drinks. Click here for more information.

Taste of Iceland is an annual festival celebrating Iceland's vibrant culture. The festival is organized by Inspired by Iceland, which promotes Iceland and Icelandic products. It is presented in partnership and with support from Icelandair, Reykjavík, Icelandic Seafood, Business Iceland, Blue Lagoon Iceland, Icelandia, Iceland Music, Icelandic Lamb, Landsvirkjun, and Isavia Keflavik International Airport. Additional Taste of Iceland 2025 events will be held in Nashville, Tennessee, Boston, Massachusetts, and Toronto, Canada.