Funeral Held for Former Prime Minister Davíð Oddsson at Hallgrímskirkja

2026-03-13 - 10:06

A public funeral for former Icelandic prime minister Davíð Oddsson will take place today at Hallgrímskirkja in Reykjavík. As reported by RÚV, the ceremony is open to the public and broadcast nationwide. What's the Story? Funeral of former Icelandic prime minister Davíð Oddsson held at Hallgrímskirkja in Reykjavík; service begins at 13:00 and broadcast live on RÚV from 12:55 Davíð Oddsson died at his home on 1 March aged 78; served as prime minister for 13 years, longer than any other in Iceland Public ceremony open to attendees while space permits Davíð Oddsson, pictured in 2003. Photo: Mikael Risedal. Wikimedia Commons. Public Domain. Public memorial service The service begins at 13:00, with coverage on RÚV starting at 12:55. The ceremony will be led by priest Geir Waage. Attendance is open to all while space permits. Davíð died at his home on 1 March at the age of 78. Over several decades, he held many of Iceland’s most prominent public offices. He served on the Reykjavík City Council from 1974 to 1994 and was mayor of Reykjavík from 1982 to 1991. In 1991 he entered parliament and simultaneously became prime minister, a position he held for 13 years; the longest tenure in Icelandic history. A man listens to a church service with his face in his hands. Photo: Golli. Iceland Review. After leaving the premiership, Davíð served as foreign minister between 2004 and 2005 before becoming governor of the Central Bank of Iceland, a role he held until 2009. For the past 16 years he was editor of the newspaper Morgunblaðið. Today’s edition of Morgunblaðið includes a 28-page supplement dedicated to his life and career, featuring tributes and reflections from political colleagues, including former prime ministers Bjarni Benediktsson, Geir H. Haarde, Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson and Þorsteinn Pálsson, as well as former president Guðni Th. Jóhannesson. Further tributes have been written by political allies, rivals, friends and relatives.