By Alex J. Coyne © Great Bridge Links
Chess grandmaster Hjörvar Steinn Grétarsson, the author-poet Fríða Ísberg and musician/DJ Björk are all famous personalities from Iceland.
The national alcoholic drink of Iceland is called Brennivín, though often gets referred to by the nickname Black Death. Attempts to make it less visually popular and limit its demand back in its founding days, the label was made all-black (it’s still popular all over the country, and this didn’t work). Editors note: I had the pleasure of tasting this beverage the other day and it’s amazing, but one shot was enough for the evening!
Around the holidays, it’s traditional for Icelanders to drink Malt og Appelsin – or a mixture of malt and orange soda. Bridge also happens to be very popular in Iceland, as it’s home to the Reykjavik Bridge Festival.
We’re not so sure about Malt og Appelsin (recipe here), which literally means malt-and-orange-juice… But we’re pretty sure that we love bridge too!
Here’s everything you should know about the International Reykjavik Bridge Festival, and what’s on the schedule for 2026.
The Reykjavik Bridge Festival takes place annually, and it’s an appropriate tributary festival to the game of bridge that draws bridge players from everywhere – including some of the greatest players in the world.
The 2026 tournament will be held in Harpa Concert hall (see photo) on 29th of January through 1st of February.
While cash prizes and money bridge are not common in the bridge world, the Reykjavík Bridge Festival is a notable exception. The 2026 edition offers significant prize money for both Pairs and Teams events, with top placements earning the equivalent of several thousand US dollars. This financial incentive adds to the festival’s prestige and helps attract competitive players from across the globe.
However in order to accommodate the prizes, entry fees are higher than many tournaments:
Open Teams
62,000 ISK ≈ $486 USD per team
Open Pairs
31,000 ISK ≈ $243 USD per pair
Pre‑registration is required — you must register online in advance and make payment via bank transfer.
Who’s going? You can find a list of current registrations here.
More information about festival and it’s cash prize offerings can be found at on the tournament website here.
The Reykjavík Bridge Festival began in 1982, launched through a collaboration between the Icelandic Bridge Federation, the Reykjavík Bridge Club, and Icelandair. The inaugural event was known as the Icelandair Open and featured 36 pairs and 6 teams, including invited participants from Norway.
Iceland is a member of the European Bridge League (EBL) and is affiliated with the World Bridge Federation (WBF). The national governing body, Icelandic Bridge Federation (Bridgefélag Íslands), oversees organized bridge play and competition in the country.
Please direct all questions about the 2026 festival to bridge@bridge.is
Bridge enjoys strong cultural and competitive support in Iceland. It is one of the most respected card games locally, with many players learning from an early age.
In 1991, Iceland’s national team earned a major international victory by winning the Bermuda Bowl, held in Yokohama, Japan. The tournament is widely regarded as a landmark achievement in Icelandic bridge history. Footage of their gameplay is available for review on platforms such as TheBridgeChannel.se and YouTube.
If you want to go back to the history of the great 1991 Bermuda Bowl first, you can find the series at The Bridge Channel’s YouTube:
Other players have also added their videos or commentaries if you’d like to explore this particular rabbit hole further. Watch the Swiss Round 4 play take place right in front of your very eyes (paying close attention to strategies!) over here thanks to user BradyBot:
Icelandic players also play a three-player game called Manni (or Man), which is somewhat similar to whist in its original form. Here’s an online version of Manni at CardGames.io.
Reykjavik is the capital of Iceland. According to VisitIceland.com the name translates to mean “smoky bay” or “bay of smoke.” The area is named this due to its hot springs, which is one of their most popular local attractions when players might be away from the bridge tables.
Other famous Reykjavik attractions include Höfði, a home constructed in 1909, and believed by many to be one of Iceland’s most haunted locations. You can also embark on the Reykjavik Haunted Walk (Tripadvisor).
There’s more than ghosts and cards to be found here. Reykjavik is also a wonderful location if you want to experience classic art, lively night-life or fascinating and fantastic dishes.
Oh, and remember the word “Jólabókaflóð” – it’s one of their most famous Christmastime traditions, and translates to Christmas Book Flood. Usually, it refers to the “flood “ of new releases before Christmas, and the continuing tradition of gifting books around this time of year.
