Hot Queer Summer? Confirmed. And Iceland is not taking a day off.
Buckle up, babes, July is here, and Iceland’s queer calendar is serving drag, drama, deep feels, and disco-level joy. Whether you’re howling into the mic at Kikioke, sobbing/laughing through Góðan Daginn, Faggi, or basking in queer art in the wild north of Húsavík, this month is stacked with sparkle.
We’re talking exhibitions that challenge bigots, shows that heal trauma through song, open houses for every identity under the rainbow, and a book club tackling horror, Hollywood, and queer rage. Oh, and did someone say Marvel Pub Quiz with a drag queen? (Yes. Yes, we did.)
Reykjavík Pride is just around the corner, but don’t sleep on July, the pre-party is in full swing. So fluff your wig, charge your mic, and stretch those chosen-family group chats. Queer Iceland is not waiting for August to make magic happen.
Out of the Shadows/Back Lash: Two Exhibitions at the Museum of Húsavík
When: Monday to Saturday
Time: The museum is open Mon-Fri 10-18, Sat 10-14
Where: Safnahúsið The Húsavík Museum, Stórigarður 17, Húsavík, Iceland
Cost: Entry to the Museum is 2.200 ISK
Two powerful exhibitions take over the ground floor of Húsavík’s Culture House this summer. Out of the Shadows brings queer lives and stories into the light, showcasing experiences that have too often been hidden or ignored. Its companion exhibition, Back Lash, takes on the rising tide of anti-queer sentiment with defiance and artistry – confronting backlash head-on through bold visual work and installation.
Curated by Nicola van Kuilenburg, the exhibitions explore queer identity across time, space, and resistance. Visitors are encouraged to wear rainbow colours, show solidarity, and engage deeply with these timely, necessary works.
Kikioke – Karaoke at Kiki!
When: Thursdays (July 3, 10, 17, 24 &31)
Time: 22:00 to late
Where: Kiki Queer Bar, Laugavegur 22, 101 RVK
Cost: Free
Every Thursday people from all over descend on Iceland’s premier queer bar to share the joys of their vocal talents. The karaoke typically kicks off around 10pm and goes till late so do your warm ups and make your song selections.
Faye Knús Friday Drag Show at Kiki
When: Fridays (July 4,11,18 & 25)
Time: Doors open 20:00, show starts 21:30
Where: Kiki Queer Bar, Laugavegur 22, 101 RVK
Cost: 1,500 ISK (tickets on the door only), entry is free for VIQ-Card holders.
Kiki’s resident drag queen AKA “the hardest working woman in show business,” Faye Knús (body of a dancer, voice of your father) hosts an evening of drag, comedy, mid-life crisis and acts that cannot be unseen. It’s the perfect way to start your evening and the rest of your life.
Lesbian*/Bi+ Event – In English
When: Saturday July 5
Time: 14:00-17:00
Where: Samtökin ’78 Suðurgata 3, 101 Reykjavík
Cost: Free
Samtökin ‘78 is inviting queer women and non-binary people to a casual gathering with a Queer Quiz in English!
Queer AA Meeting
When: Sundays (July 6, 13, 20, 27)
Time: 13:00
Where: Gula húsið, Tjarnargata 20, 101 RVK
Cost: Free
This is a special Alcoholics Anonymous meeting that is dedicated to members of the queer community. The meeting is in Icelandic.
Góðan daginn, faggi: Special Return Summer Season
When: July 11, 13 & 24
Time: July 11 @ 18:30, July 13 @ 20:00, July 24 @ 18:00
Where: Háskólabíó, Reykjavík
Cost: 4.990 ISK
Góðan Daginn, Faggi is an autobiographical documentary musical in which a forty-something gay man searches for answers after suffering a sudden nervous breakdown on a beautiful sunny day.
Both hilariously sharp and deeply vulnerable, the show is a fearless exploration of shame and humanity. It has been performed over 140 times across three countries to widespread acclaim.
Originally premiering at the National Theatre of Iceland in 2021, Góðan Daginn, Faggi went on to tour internationally, including a celebrated run at the Edinburgh Fringe. Now, it returns to Reykjavík for a limited season at Háskólabíó, presented by Afturámóti in collaboration with Stertabenda.
This particular run of the show is in Icelandic.
Heart Attack – The Summer Party
When: Saturday July 12
Time: 21:00
Where: Kiki Queer Bar, Laugavegur 22, 101 RVK
Cost: 2.900 ISK (at the door)
HEART ATTACK is a monthly drag show, hosted by the drag family House of Heart!
This month the house is bringing the summer fun to Kiki!
Performing are the HOUSE OF HEART:
Lola Von Heart (The Matriarch)
Chardonnay Bublée (She’s a cool mom)
Milo de Mix (Funniest dad award winner)
Úlla la Delish (Is she still just a baby?)
Kósi Kvöld Ása og Óróa / Cosy Evening with Ace and Aro (open house)
When: Monday July 14
Time: 20:00
Where: Suðurgata 3, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland
Cost: Free
Ace & Aro Iceland is an interest and activism association for asexual and aromantic people in Iceland as well as all the subgroups. The purpose of the association is that everyone under the ace umbrella will become recognized and enjoy the full rights in Icelandic society. The association intends to achieve its goals by increasing visibility through education and collaborating with similar organizations, groups, and enthusiasts in Iceland and abroad that aim for the same goals.
This is an open house event intended to allow a space for those who would like to know more about the work that Ace and Aro are doing to come along and get the low down on all that’s happening.
Marvel Pub Quiz hosted by Miss Mandy Licious
When: Wednesday July 16
Time: 20:00
Where: Bird, Naustin, 101 Reykjavík
Cost: Free
Ever wanted to see if you have what it takes to prove you know all there is to know about Marvel? Want to combine this with drag? Well get down to this unique pub quiz hosted by one of Reykjavik’s newest additions to the entertainment scene, Miss Mandy Licious.
Bókaklúbbur Samtakanna 78/Samtökin 78 Book Club – Bury Your Gays by Chuck Tingle
When: Thursday July 24.
Time: 8pm.
Where: Suðurgata 3, 101 Reykjavík.
Cost: Free.
For literary fans within the community, Iceland’s national queer organisation Samtökin 78 hosts a monthly book club open to all interested in getting together to discuss queer works of literature. This month’s book is Bury Your Gays by Chuck Tingle.
Bury Your Gays follows Misha, a closeted bisexual screenwriter in Hollywood, who’s confronted by studio executives demanding he kill off queer characters in his TV show to satisfy algorithmic and corporate pressures. When he refuses, the horror he wrote begins to haunt him; his monstrous creations come to life and stalk him and those he cares about. Equal parts splatterpunk horror, sharp social satire, and queer resilience, the novel tackles the notorious “bury your gays” trope head-on, ultimately offering a tense, cathartic rebellion, and a reminder that “on a long enough timeline… tragedy is inevitable. Fortunately, so is joy.”