Taste of Iceland Festival Debuts in Vancouver November 11-14

For the first time in Vancouver, the festival will transport visitors to Iceland through a curated lineup of events inspired by and celebrating the best of what Iceland has to offer.

VANCOUVER, BC, Oct. 15, 2026 /CNW/ -- Taste of Iceland 2026, organized by Inspired by Iceland, arrives in Vancouver on Wednesday, November 11, through Saturday, November 14. The cultural festival celebrates Iceland with events across the city showcasing the best of Icelandic culture, including food, music, nature, travel, design, innovation, and more.

Taste of Iceland celebrates and shares Iceland's 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 The Pearl, Hawksworth Restaurant, J Lounge, and The Hargrove.

Most events are free and open to the public. Tickets are required, and guests are encouraged to arrive promptly to guarantee entry. Learn more and reserve tickets on the Taste of Iceland website.

FESTIVAL SCHEDULE

Wednesday, November 11

• Iceland Airwaves Off-Venue: Enjoy a free concert curated by Iceland Airwaves, an award-winning music festival in Reykjavík, featuring virgin orchestra and SCAM, with DJ Hermigervill spinning Icelandic tunes between sets. virgin orchestra is a trio on cello, guitar, and vocals that combines post-punk, electronic influences and sultry dreampop. SCAM makes face-melting techno bangers with enough euro-pop tendencies to keep everyone moving. DJ Hermigervill is a multi-instrumentalist, producer and composer. Doors open at 7:00 PM at The Pearl. Learn more here.
• Wheel of Prizes Presented by Icelandair: During multiple events, select guests will have the opportunity to spin the Wheel of Prizes for a chance to win amazing prizes from all festival partners, including a trip for two to Iceland. Learn more here. Icelandair is also offering a special rate on round-trip flights to Iceland from Vancouver.

Thursday, November 12 - Saturday, November 14

• Icelandic Menu at Hawksworth Restaurant: Taste Iceland without leaving Vancouver. Icelandic Chef Ísak Darri will collaborate with celebrated Canadian Chef David Hawksworth to prepare a feast inspired by Iceland's natural beauty and local flavours, including cod from Icelandic Seafood and lamb from Icelandic Lamb. This pop-up dining experience is available from November 12-14 for lunch and dinner at Hawksworth Restaurant. Reservations for the prix fixe menu are available here.

Friday, November 13

• Iceland by the World's Worst Photographer: Exhibition: Why did Icelandair conduct a search for the World's Worst Photographer? Because they wanted to prove that even a really bad photographer can take great photos of Iceland. Out of nearly 130,000 applicants, one rose above the rest, Blanche Mortemard, who spent 10 days photographing Iceland's most iconic landscapes. Pushing back against the onslaught of AI-generated travel images, each of her photos tell a story. Stop by the exhibit between 12:00 - 5:00 PM on November 13 and 3:00 - 5:00 PM on November 14 at J Lounge. Learn more here.
• The Reykjavík Jazz Festival Presents: Skúli Sverrisson and Óskar Guðjónsson: Two of Iceland's most distinctive voices in contemporary jazz, Óskar Guðjónsson on saxophone and Skúli Sverrisson on electric bass, will be in Vancouver for an intimate concert curated by the Reykjavík Jazz Festival. Together they have built a body of work that sits at the quieter, more searching end of jazz: melodic, atmospheric, and precise. The show offers a rare opportunity to experience the understated power and musical intimacy that define Iceland's jazz scene. 6:00 – 7:00 PM at The Hargrove. Learn more here.
• Across Iceland: A Guided Cocktail Journey: Part travelogue, part love story, told one glass at a time. Storyteller Ragnar Bragason travels across Iceland's regions and the hotels of Iceland Hotel Collection by Berjaya, while telling the story of one Icelandic man: his loves, his heartbreaks, and everything they taught him along the way. At each stop, mixologist Arnór Gísli shakes up a signature cocktail, inspired by the landscape, mood, and character of each region. Three drinks. One story running through them all. 5:00 - 7:00 PM at J Lounge. Adults only, 19+. Learn more here.

Saturday, November 14

• A Social Ride in Stanley Park with Lauf Cycles: Grab your bike and get ready to roll around Stanley Park with Lauf Cycles and Canadian Lauf rider, Oskar Stack-Michasiw. This relaxed morning ride with Vancouver's cycling community will follow a 24km (15 mile) route at a welcoming pace, where riders can learn all about Lauf. Afterward, join us for food, good company, and a raffle with a chance to win a trip to Iceland and the Lauf Rift Gravel Race. 11:00AM -1:00PM. Learn more here.
• Northern Lights Over Vancouver: Ready to chase the aurora without leaving Vancouver? Join astronomy and science educator Sævar Helgi Bragason for a crash course in Iceland's northern lights, expected to put on an even brighter show in 2026 and 2027, plus his personal picks for the best tours to see them in person. Then strap in for a virtual reality trip to Iceland, exploring Icelandia's Northern Lights tours, glacier hikes, and ATV adventures from the comfort of the room. Stick around for a spin on the Wheel of Prizes for a chance to win a trip for two to Iceland and other festival prizes. Hosted by Icelandia 1:00 - 3:00 PM at J Lounge. Learn more here.
• Iceland by the World's Worst Photographer: Exhibition Talk: Why did Icelandair conduct a search for the World's Worst Photographer? Because they wanted to prove that even a really bad photographer can take great photos of Iceland. Out of nearly 130,000 applicants, one rose above the rest, Blanche Mortemard, who spent 10 days photographing Iceland's most iconic landscapes. Join the World's Worst Photographer on Saturday at 3:00 PM as she tells the full story of her journey through Iceland. Learn more here.
• Iceland Unfiltered: The comedians Ragnar and Bergur Ebbi are flying in from Reykjavík to tell you what Iceland actually tastes like. They are qualified, in the sense that they have lived there their whole lives and have opinions about all of it. Through funny and awkward stories from their own lives they cover the full sensory experience of being Icelandic: wind, darkness, more wind, a summer that lasts about a weekend, and the quiet certainty that whoever you are talking to is your cousin. This is like sitting across from two old friends who happen to have a country's worth of stories to tell, and no particular interest in making any of it sound better than it is. By the end of the night, you'll know what Iceland tastes like. 5:00 - 7:00 PM at J Lounge. Adults only, 19+. Learn more here.

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 with Icelandair, Reykjavík, Icelandic Seafood, Business Iceland, Blue Lagoon Iceland, Icelandia, Icelandic Lamb, Iceland Hotel Collection by BERJAYA, Keflavik Airport, and Lauf Cycles; and in collaboration with Iceland Music and the Reykjavík Jazz Festival.

For more information about Inspired by Iceland and Taste of Iceland, visit www.inspiredbyiceland.com.

For media inquiries or to attend Taste of Iceland events, contact [email protected].

CONTACT: Martie Lane
915-637-7181 | [email protected] 

SOURCE Taste of Iceland