IS - Íslenska

Christmas in Iceland 2026

An Icelandic Christmas is a thirteen-day festival - from Christmas Eve to Twelfth Night - and the run-up begins when the first Yule Lad comes down from the mountains on 12 December 2026. Here is the whole 2026 season in one place.

The holidays

  1. St. Thorlak's DayWednesday, 23 December 2026in 85 days
  2. Christmas EveThursday, 24 December 2026in 86 days
  3. Christmas DayFriday, 25 December 2026in 87 days
  4. Second Day of ChristmasSaturday, 26 December 2026in 88 days
  5. New Year's EveThursday, 31 December 2026in 93 days
  6. New Year's DayFriday, 1 January 2027in 94 days
  7. Twelfth NightWednesday, 6 January 2027in 99 days

The Yule Lads arrive

  1. Stekkjarstaur - Sheep-Cote ClodSaturday, 12 December 2026in 74 days
  2. Giljagaur - Gully GawkSunday, 13 December 2026in 75 days
  3. Stúfur - StubbyMonday, 14 December 2026in 76 days
  4. Þvörusleikir - Spoon-LickerTuesday, 15 December 2026in 77 days
  5. Pottasleikir - Pot-LickerWednesday, 16 December 2026in 78 days
  6. Askasleikir - Bowl-LickerThursday, 17 December 2026in 79 days
  7. Hurðaskellir - Door-SlammerFriday, 18 December 2026in 80 days
  8. Skyrgámur - Skyr-GobblerSaturday, 19 December 2026in 81 days
  9. Bjúgnakrækir - Sausage-SwiperSunday, 20 December 2026in 82 days
  10. Gluggagægir - Window-PeeperMonday, 21 December 2026in 83 days
  11. Gáttaþefur - Doorway-SnifferTuesday, 22 December 2026in 84 days
  12. Ketkrókur - Meat-HookWednesday, 23 December 2026in 85 days
  13. Kertasníkir - Candle-BeggarThursday, 24 December 2026in 86 days

Each lad stays thirteen nights: Stekkjarstaur heads back on Christmas Day and Kertasníkir says goodbye on Twelfth Night, 6 January 2027.

Questions & answers

When do the Yule Lads arrive in 2026?
The first Yule Lad, Stekkjarstaur, comes down on 12 December 2026 and the last on Christmas Eve. They return to the mountains one per day from Christmas Day until Twelfth Night.
When does Christmas start in Iceland?
Christmas is rung in at 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve, 24 December, and lasts until Twelfth Night on 6 January - thirteen days of Christmas.
Which Christmas days are public holidays?
Christmas Day and the Second Day of Christmas are public holidays, and Christmas Eve is a holiday from noon. New Year's Eve is likewise a half day and New Year's Day a public holiday.

More on the lads, Grýla and the Christmas Cat in the Yule Lads article - and see what's open over the holidays.