May in Iceland is that slightly unhinged time of year where the sun starts flirting with us again and everyone collectively decides it’s basically summer; even if it’s still 6 degrees and windy. The result? A queer calendar that leans hard into going out, showing up, and shaking off whatever winter did to us.
Unsurprisingly, Kiki Queer Bar remains the gravitational centre of it all, with its weekly rhythm of drag, karaoke, and beautifully chaotic nights out. From Faye Knús holding court every Friday to the gloriously unpredictable Kikioke Thursdays, there’s something comforting about knowing exactly where the party is, and that it will, at some point, descend into absolute nonsense. Add Heart Attack’s monthly drag spectacle into the mix and you’ve got your core nightlife sorted.
But May isn’t just about losing your voice by midnight. There’s a quieter, more intentional side to things too. Community spaces continue to hold strong, whether that’s through the Queer AA meetings or gatherings like the Ace and Aro cosy evening; low-pressure, welcoming, and just as vital as anything happening on a dancefloor. It’s that balance Iceland does well: high energy when you want it, softness when you need it.
Culturally, the month has some real weight. Ég, Jóhanna brings a raw, gender-expansive retelling of Joan of Arc to the stage; intense, political, and very much not playing it safe. Meanwhile, the Queer Book Club takes on Girl, Woman, Other, opening up space for conversations around identity, intersectionality, and the messy, overlapping realities of how we live and relate to each other.
And then, just as you’re finding your rhythm, the month pivots. Reykjavík Arts Festival arrives, and with it Move With Pride; a launch into a more expansive, festival-driven energy where performance and nightlife start to blur. It’s a reminder that queer spaces don’t just exist in bars or meeting rooms, but across stages, dancefloors, and anywhere people gather with intention.
So whether you’re out every weekend, picking your moments carefully, or just tentatively re-entering society after winter, May gives you options. Loud, soft, chaotic, reflective, it’s all there.
Heart Attack: Sun’s Out Buns Out! Drag at Kiki!
When: Saturday May 2
Time: 21:00
Where: Kiki Queer Bar, Laugavegur 22, 101 RVK
Cost: 2900kr (available at the door)
Heart Attack is a monthly drag show, hosted by the drag family House of Heart! This extravagant group of performers brings you a different show each month, filled with music, dance and laughter. This is one of the best ways to experience and support local drag so mark it in your calendars and bring a few bills to tip your kings and queens.
The sun has shown its pretty face so we are ready to be delulu and pretend like it’s summer!
Performing are:
From the HOUSE OF HEART:
Lola Von Heart (The Matriarch)
Chardonnay Bublée (She’s a cool mom)
Úlla la Delish (SHE’S BACK AND SHE’S A BABY)
Iconic guest:
Gógó Starr, the icon, the myth, the legend!
Kikioke – Karaoke at Kiki!
When: Thursdays (May 7, 14, 21 & 28)
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 (May 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29 )
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.
Queer AA Meeting
When: Sundays (May 3, 10, 17, 24 & 31)
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.
I, Jóhanna (Ég, Jóhanna)
When: Thursday May 7 & Sunday May 17
Time: 20:00
Where: Tjarnarbíó, Tjarnargata 12, 101 Reykjavík
Cost: 4,900kr
A bold, contemporary theatre piece that reimagines the story of Joan of Arc through a queer lens. I, Jóhanna is described as a powerful and deeply personal “rebellion against gender binaries,” blending history with a modern, gender-fluid perspective.
Written by award-winning playwright Charlie Josephine, the play first gained international attention at Shakespeare’s Globe in London in 2022. The Icelandic production brings together a large ensemble cast and a strong creative team, combining theatre, movement, and music into an intense, emotionally charged performance.
The show leans into themes of identity, conflict, and self-definition, framing Joan’s story as both a personal and political struggle. Expect something raw, expressive, and unapologetically queer in tone.
Kósi Kvöld Ása og Óróa / Cosy Evening with Ace and Aro
When: Monday May 11
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 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 a stress free cosy event intended to welcome all those interested. There are no age restrictions
Hinsegin Bókaklúbbur (Queer Book Club) – Kvar
When: Tuesday 19 May
Time: 20:00
Where: Samtökin ‘78, Suðurgata 3, 101 RVK
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 gathering to discuss queer works of literature. This month’s book is Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo.
Winner of the Booker Prize, Girl, Woman, Other is a bold, polyphonic novel that follows the interconnected lives of twelve characters, primarily Black British women, across generations and social contexts.
Told through a fluid, genre-bending style that blends prose and poetry, the book explores identity, gender, sexuality, race and belonging with both sharp insight and warmth. Its structure allows each voice to stand alone while also forming part of a wider, interwoven narrative.
At its core, the novel challenges singular perspectives – offering instead a layered portrait of contemporary Britain, where personal histories, relationships and identities collide and evolve.
Girl, Woman, Other creates space for nuance and complexity, inviting readers to reflect on intersectionality and the many ways people define themselves and their place in the world.
The book can be found in bookstores, libraries and online. Cake and coffee will also be provided.
Opening Party: Move With Pride: IÐNÓ
When: Friday 30 May
Time: 21:00
Where: IÐNÓ
Cost: Free
Reykjavík Arts Festival kicks off with Move With Pride, a high-energy opening night that blends performance and nightlife into one immersive experience. The evening begins with a dance piece celebrating queer club culture, its stories, emotions, and community, before shifting seamlessly into a full dancefloor moment with a live DJ.
Part performance, part party, this is a vibrant entry point into the festival’s queer programming and a strong reminder of the power of the dancefloor as a space of expression, connection, and release.