What To Do This Week | Aurora, Free Mat Pilates and Other Events
2026-01-26 - 00:00
This week marks the launch of Dark Music Days, Iceland’s celebration of experimental music. While numerous venues are hosting festival performances, there’s also a range of events outside the official program. From a lively jazz night and a traditional music session to mat Pilates and a Northern Lights hunt — this guide will light up your week with an Aurora-like glow. Monday, 26 January Monday Jazz / Mánudjass at Le Kock, 20.30 Titled Mánudjass or Monday jazz, these jam nights started back in 2014. The programme has been held hundreds of Mondays since. Excellent burger place and bakery Le Kock is the Mánudjass host. As the show progresses, more and more musicians are involved, and, finally, in the end it becomes a musical communion. Tuesday, 27 January Photo by Art Bicnick. Trad Session at ÆGIR, 20.00 An event by the Reykjavík Trad Sessions, an informal collective of musicians, running traditional nights with reels, jigs, and songs in a pub atmosphere. Just like the participants, music comes from different regions: Iceland, Appalachia, Ireland, England, and farther afield. Everyone is welcome. Wednesday, 28 January Photo: Troll.is. Northern Lights with Troll.is, 21.00 January is the best time to see the Northern lights. Some operators organise unconventional outings combined with hot chocolate and free photo sessions. Troll.is tours are guided by local experts who take groups to Iceland’s most scenic and dark locations, using real-time aurora and weather forecasts to find the optimal spot. Thursday, 29 January Free Mat Pilates class at The Dance Space Reykjavik, 12.00 Anything free in Iceland feels like a special treat. This complementary class is designed for all those who wish to try pilates for the first time. The session incorporates classic exercises with a focus on core strength, control and precision. Friday, 30 January Moses Hightower, a concert at Austurbæjarbíó, 20.30 Known as a vanguard of Icelandic soul, Moses Hightower has performed sold-out concerts at venues big and small, released two critically acclaimed full-length albums, and received Icelandic Music Awards along the way. This time, they are playing at Austurbæjarbíó, a historical location that hosted The Kinks back in 1965. Saturday, 31 January Hist og, a concert at Mengi, 20.00 The members of hist og have worked with countless outfits over the years, such as múm, Sin Fang, Amiina, Sigur Rós, Kira Kira, Seabear and others. they have also collaborated with supreme jazz entities such as ADHD, Hilmar Jensson, Skúli Sverrisson and Mógil. Sunday, 1 February Tómas Jónson and Magnús Trygvason, a concert at Iðnó, 20.00 The duo comprising two jazz experimentalists, Tómas Jónson and Magnús Trygvason, will perform tracks from their latest album. While certainly jazzy, the compositions have transatlantic references as they were created during their journey across the US.