Today, Iceland Airwaves, Reykavík’s critically acclaimed new music festival and music industry conference, has confirmed the first topics and speakers for its annual conference programme. The two day programme runs alongside Airwaves’ critically acclaimed new music showcase, taking place 6th - 8th November 2025.
A vital meeting point for the global music industry, the Iceland Airwaves conference offers a diverse, future-facing programme featuring a variety of panel conversations, artist-driven sessions, keynotes, and curated networking events.
Leading the first panel of 2025, non-profit collective rights management society STEF, will present, ‘Dinosaurs or Digital Pioneers? The Future of Collective Rights Management’. The panel invites a discussion on the effectiveness of traditional rights management models in an evolving industry where artists are increasingly required to act as their own marketers, managers, and monetisers.
Addressing the matter of AI and its impact on the music industry, the panel, ‘AI’m not your enemy: Rethinking Strategy in the Age of Automation’, cuts through the noise with a practical roadmap for how the music industry can actually work with AI today. From personalised fan engagement to smarter A&R, rights management, and smarter business processes, this session will explore the advantages of unlocking new potential through creative, strategic partnership.
Elsewhere in this year’s conference programme, panels will examine the evolving landscape of the live music industry. Presented by IQ Magazine, the panel ‘The State of Live: Fickle fans, brutal budgets, and moving markets’ brings together agents and promoters to unpack the mounting pressures facing the future of live music beyond headline acts. Meanwhile, ‘Are the Kids Alright? What Young Audiences Want from Showcase Festivals’ will explore how showcase events can remain relevant and sustainable as they adapt to the expectations of a new generation of music fans.
The first wave of speakers announced for day one of the 2025 Iceland Airwaves Conference includes Guðrún Björk Bjarnadóttir, Board Member of Icelandic Music and CEO of STEF, alongside Gordon Masson (IQ Magazine), Neal Thompson (Focus Wales), Daddi Gudbergsson (Senior Consultant), Saga Úlfarsdóttir (Independent Advisor), Lama-Sea Dear (Marvada), Will Larnach-Jones (London Records), composer and producer Pétur S. Jónsson, artist manager Snorri Ástráðsson, with more to be announced.
Iceland Airwaves 2025 - Conference Speakers: Guðrún Björk Bjarnadóttir (STEF / Icelandic Music) // Daddi Gudbergsson (E4) // Gordon Masson (IQ Magazine) // Lama-Sea Dear (Marvada) // Neal Thompson (Focus Wales) // Pétur S. Jónsson (Medialux) // Snorri Ástráðsson (Garcia Events / All Things Live Denmark) // Saga Úlfarsdóttir (Independent Advisor) // Will Larnach-Jones (London Records)
Based in the heart of Downtown Reykjavík, Iceland Airwaves offers festival goers the unique opportunity to combine a weekend of world class music discovery with some of the world’s most breathtaking tourism experiences. Visitors can spend their days visiting hotspots like the Sky Lagoon or Lava Caves and discovering the city’s evolving food scene before returning to the festival for a night of electric showcases and parties; offering awe-inspiring discovery at every corner.
Revered for its ability to curate and nurture one of the European festival scene’s most eclectic and creative communities, Iceland Airwaves’ 26th edition sees one of its most diverse offerings to date. From the viral energy of US stars ian and Joey Valance & Brae to global rising talents including Kenya Grace, Saya Gray, Fat Dog, Antony Szmierek and jasmine.4.t, all the way to TV on the Radio frontman Tunde Adebimpe and Manchester’s WU LYF, 2025’s lineup offers vital new music discovery for every taste.
Undoubtedly one of the most exciting aspects of Iceland Airwaves is its dedication to platforming the very best of the country’s own creative community, a commitment that has previously led to breathtaking performances from Icelandic heroes like Björk and Sigur Rós. Amongst this year’s local spotlight artists are a reunited Retro Stefson, artist and actress Elín Hall, musician and film composer JFDR, and some of the newest stars on Reykjavik’s thriving hip-hop scene, Ala$$$ka1867 and Herra Hnetusmjör.
Commenting on the lineup for the upcoming edition of Iceland Airwaves, Ísleifur Þórhallsson, Festival Manager for Iceland Airwaves said: “Every year, our mission is to bring together the most exciting new talent from Iceland and around the world — and this year’s lineup is shaping up to be one of our strongest yet. From the much-anticipated return of Retro Stefson, to the riotous energy of Joey Valance & Brae, and the iconic voice of Tunde Adebimpe, we’re proud to showcase the kind of creative spirit that makes Reykjavík and Iceland Airwaves so unique. This mix of raw newcomers, beloved local legends, and bold global voices is exactly what Airwaves is all about.”
Iceland Airwaves 2025 - Music Lineup: Ala$$$ka1867 (IS) | Antony Szmierek (UK) | Ari Árelíus (IS) | Babymorocco (UK) | BALTHVS (CO) | Bricknasty (IE) | Colt (FR) | Creature Of Habit (IS) | Daniil (IS) | DEADLETTER (UK) | Drengurinn fengurinn (IS) | Drinking Boys and Girls Choir (KR) | Elín Hall (IS) | Emma (IS) | Enji (MN) | FABRÄK (DK) | Fat Dog (UK) | Floni (IS) | Geðbrigði (IS) | Getdown Services (UK) | gugusar (IS) | Hasar (IS) | Herra Hnetusmjör (IS) | I Am Roze (US) | ian (US) | Iðunn Einars (IS | Inki (IS) | Izleifur (IS) | jasmine.4.t (UK) | Jelena Ciric (IS) | Jeshi (UK) | JFDR (IS) | Joey Valance & Brae (US) | Kári Egils (IS) | Katie Gregson-Macleod (UK) | Kenya Grace (UK) | KUSK + Óviti (IS) | Lilyisthatyou (CA) | lúpína (IS) | Magnús Jóhann (IS) | Maya Delilah (UK) | Mermaid Chunky (UK) | Milkywhale (IS) | Nabeel (US) | Night Tapes (UK) | Panic Shack (UK) | PUNCHBAG (UK) | ratbag (NZ) | Retro Stefson (IS) | Saint Pete (IS) | Saya Gray (CA) | Snorri Helgason (IS) | So Good (UK) | Spacestation (IS) | Sunna Margrét (IS) | Superkoloritas (LT) | superserious (IS) | The Orchestra (For Now) (UK) | The Scratch (IE) | Tófa (IS) | Tunde Adebimpe (US) | Valdimar (IS) | Vtoroi Ka (KG) | WU LYF (UK)
Iceland Airwaves is dedicated to booking gender-balanced line-ups as part of the festival’s ongoing work with Keychange and having honoured the pledge just as soon as it was signed in 2019, gender parity still remains a vital part of what the festival represents and the community of creatives that it reflects. You can view the full musical lineup thus far below.
Tickets for Iceland Airwaves 2025 are available to purchase now, including package travel and festival tickets in partnership with Icelandair: tickets
here.
