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 131 days
  2. Christmas EveThursday, 24 December 2026in 132 days
  3. Christmas DayFriday, 25 December 2026in 133 days
  4. Second Day of ChristmasSaturday, 26 December 2026in 134 days
  5. New Year's EveThursday, 31 December 2026in 139 days
  6. New Year's DayFriday, 1 January 2027in 140 days
  7. Twelfth NightWednesday, 6 January 2027in 145 days

The Yule Lads arrive

  1. Stekkjarstaur - Sheep-Cote ClodSaturday, 12 December 2026in 120 days
  2. Giljagaur - Gully GawkSunday, 13 December 2026in 121 days
  3. Stúfur - StubbyMonday, 14 December 2026in 122 days
  4. Þvörusleikir - Spoon-LickerTuesday, 15 December 2026in 123 days
  5. Pottasleikir - Pot-LickerWednesday, 16 December 2026in 124 days
  6. Askasleikir - Bowl-LickerThursday, 17 December 2026in 125 days
  7. Hurðaskellir - Door-SlammerFriday, 18 December 2026in 126 days
  8. Skyrgámur - Skyr-GobblerSaturday, 19 December 2026in 127 days
  9. Bjúgnakrækir - Sausage-SwiperSunday, 20 December 2026in 128 days
  10. Gluggagægir - Window-PeeperMonday, 21 December 2026in 129 days
  11. Gáttaþefur - Doorway-SnifferTuesday, 22 December 2026in 130 days
  12. Ketkrókur - Meat-HookWednesday, 23 December 2026in 131 days
  13. Kertasníkir - Candle-BeggarThursday, 24 December 2026in 132 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.