About us

Where art is everywhere and all are welcome!

Hamraborg Festival is a vibrant, week-long celebration of art and community in the heart of Kópavogur. Taking place annually at the end of August, the festival marks the end of summer with a rich program of exhibitions, performances, workshops, concerts and public events – all free and open to everyone.

This year’s festival runs from August 28 to September 4 in 2026, happening all across Hamraborg. Throughout the years events took place at locations such as Catalina, Visitor, EuroMarket, Polo Vape Shop, Krónan, Ég C, the Kópavogur Library, Gerðarsafn, the Natural History Museum, and public spaces all around. Visitors might stumble upon artworks while picking up groceries or running errands, or choose to experience the full program by following the festival map.

Each year, art spills from almost every corner of the neighborhood, inviting residents and visitors alike to explore and celebrate art in all its forms. The festival is built in close collaboration with the local community, with many works responding to the architecture, history, and everyday life of the area.

It is a love letter to Hamraborg – its residents, history, spirit, and architecture.

An open call is held annually at the beginning of the year, inviting artists and makers to submit proposals and ideas. Throughout the years, the festival has welcomed a broad audience and presented works by artists of all ages, backgrounds, and experience levels, including artists connected to Kópavogur as well as many arriving from abroad.

We believe in art that brings people together and events for children and families are an integral part of the program, together with the dedication to show works by artists from marginalised communities.

The first edition of the festival took place in 2021 and was founded by Ragheiður Bjarnason, Snæbjörn Brynjarsson, Jo Pawlowska, and Sveinn Snær Kristjánsson. Hamraborg Festival grew out of Midpunkt, an artist-run space that was run by the same group from 2018 to 2021. Currently the Hamraborg Festival team consist of curators and artists Jo Pawlowska, Pétur Eggertsson, Ásgerður Arnardóttir and Erla Sverrisdóttir, graphic designer Agnar Freyr Stefánsson and web designer and artist Alex Diljar Birkisbur Hellsing.

In 2025, together with Gerðarsafn Kópavogur Art Museum, we started a regular performance series called Gjörningakvöld. Every few weeks we present performance art. The event is open to all, and artists present both new and older works.

Hamraborg Festival collaborates closely with cultural institutions and local partners across the neighborhood and is supported by Kópavogsbær through a long-term agreement running until 2028.

GO HAMRABORG!

Hamraborg Festival is collectively artist-run and consists of:

Jo Pawlowska (co-founder and curator), Pétur Eggertsson (curator and music projects) Ásgerður Arnardóttir (curator) og Erla Sverrisdóttir (curator).

Graphic design is by Agnar Freyr Stefánsson, and the website + production help is by Alex Hellsing.

Inquiries: hamraborgfestival@gmail.com