Inspired by Iceland

Reykjavík native and two-time Grammy winner Laufey returns to Iceland on March 14 & 15 with her "A Matter of Time" show at Kórinn Arena. The Reykjavík-born artist recently secured her second consecutive Grammy for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album, and her music was the soundtrack to Alysa Liu's gold medal performance at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Wherever you go, you seem to hear Laufey! Now she brings her tour home. Get inspired by Laufey's story: https://lnkd.in/dvN82VAz #Laufey #IcelandMusic #GrammyAwards

Cooking up connections: A Taste of culinary delights from Iceland The 2025 Taste of Iceland festival successfully showcased Iceland’s export industries, culinary riches, nature, and cultural showcases across Chicago, Tokyo, Nashville, Boston, and Toronto. Special recognition goes to the Icelandic National Culinary Team members who led and participated in the Demo & Dine series: Chef Haflidi Halldorsson, Chef Gabriel Bjarnason, Chef Bjarki Snær Þorsteinsson, and Chef Kristín Birta Ólafsdóttir. We also thank our partner venues for their collaboration: Bistronomic in Chicago, Eastern Standard Kitchen & Drinks in Boston, and The Dorset in Toronto (Oliver & Bonacini Hospitality). By bringing premium Icelandic Lamb and Icelandic Seafood to these premier kitchens, Business Iceland creates direct connections between producers and international culinary leaders.

UNESCO has bestowed a meaningful new recognition on Iceland by inscribing Icelandic swimming pool culture on the UNESCO list of Intangible Cultural Heritage for 2025. This designation marks Iceland’s first independent nomination to the list and celebrates a tradition deeply part of everyday life. Iceland built its swimming pools out of necessity. After the tragic loss of many fishermen and sailors throughout its history, Iceland passed national public health laws in 1925 that required all children to learn to swim. Communities across the country responded by constructing pools, often heated with local geothermal water. These facilities saved lives, strengthened public safety, and over time became essential gathering places. Over the decades, these pools grew far beyond their original purpose. Today, more than 120 geothermal pools operate year-round and serve as community hubs where people meet, talk, unwind, and stay connected, and of course, still learn to swim. They offer accessibility, affordability, and a shared space where people of all ages and backgrounds come together. Families gather in shallow play areas, adults tend to congregate in the hot pots, and swimmers of all ages enjoy the daily rhythm of Icelandic pool life. UNESCO’s recognition highlights both the history that shaped this tradition and what it represents today: public health, social connection, sustainable energy use, and an everyday ritual that brings people together. For many Icelanders, the swimming pool serves as a community meeting place, a family gathering spot, and an essential part of well-being. Learn more about the story behind Iceland’s swimming pool culture and why this recognition matters: https://lnkd.in/dsf6k6B8 A big thanks goes to The City of Reykjavik, the Þjóðminjasafn Íslands / National Museum of Iceland, and the Árni Magnússon Institute for Icelandic Studies for leading the work and bringing this recognition to life.

For the first time, Icelandic PC games now live in one place on Steam! It may sound small, but for Iceland, this is a milestone many years in the making. Iceland is a gaming nation with nearly one in five citizens using the Steam platform. Small Indie gaming studios form, grow, and keep pushing forward because they feel connected to something bigger than themselves. In a nation of just 400 thousand people, we have over 20 gaming studios and 500 developers, making it the highest developer density in the world. Developers know each other. They share ideas. They help each other solve problems. Out of that environment, new worlds and new experiences keep emerging. That is why this new Steam page matters. It shows what happens when a tiny country with a strong creative culture decides to stand together. It brings the work of many studios into one home. It makes it easier for players everywhere to see what Icelandic creators are building and why this community has become one of the most interesting in the North. If you want to understand the spirit of Icelandic game development, this is the place to start. See the page here: https://lnkd.in/e_zWHnXx

Even as Iceland leads the world in gender equality, progress is never guaranteed. The next challenge is clear: to protect the progress so far, and make equality real for everyone. Gender-based violence remains too common, care work is still undervalued, and women of foreign origin, LGBTQ+ people, and people with disabilities often face added barriers. Leaders and activists in Iceland agree: inclusion, solidarity, and shared responsibility, especially among men, are key to moving forward. The women who marched in 1975 fought for a better society. Now it’s up to all of us, women, men, and future generations, to carry that courage forward. Watch The Main Challenges for the Future as part of Iceland’s Equality Story: https://lnkd.in/eD_7vRev #GenderEqualityIceland

Iceland’s Path to Political Equality June 19, 1915: Women across Iceland gathered in front of parliament to celebrate a historic victory: the right to vote and run for office. Decades ahead of many nations, it was a landmark achievement, but equality did not come overnight. Voting rights were still restricted, and for years women remained vastly underrepresented in politics. From those first voters to the women now leading Iceland’s parliament, cabinet, and presidency, the path to equality has been shaped by persistence, protest, and the power of collective action. Explore the full story → https://lnkd.in/e4hb2-CG #GenderEqualityIceland #GenderEquity Photographer: Magnús Ólafsson (1862-1937) Source: The National Museum Collection of Photographs and Prints

Equality takes action. Iceland is leading the way globally, but the work still isn’t done in 2025. For more on Iceland's Equality Story: https://lnkd.in/eUp2zUS3 #GenderEqualityIceland #GenderEquity Produced by: Þura Stína Stina Filming and editing: Arnar Tomasson / Eldey Films

Last Friday, on October 24, Iceland celebrated 50 years since the Women’s Strike. On October 24, 2025, the sun came out over Reykjavík as an estimated 50,000 people gathered downtown, making it one of the largest demonstrations in Iceland’s history. The crowds reflected pride, solidarity, and a renewed commitment to working toward equality. Many came dressed as iconic women from Iceland’s equality movements, honoring the trailblazers who guided the path. Fifty years earlier, on the same day in 1975, about 90% of Icelandic women walked out of workplaces and homes to show the essential role of women’s labor in society. That strike changed the nation’s course. Today, Iceland continues to lead globally on gender equality, but the work is ongoing to ensure fair pay, shared care responsibilities, safety, and equal voice for all. Images 1-5 by Anton Brink, image 6 by Aldis Pals Explore Iceland’s Equality Story → genderequalityiceland.is #GenderEqualityIceland #Iceland #inspiredbyiceland #equality

Women at Work in Iceland: Progressive Change, and Next Steps A century ago, employers treated men as the default breadwinners. Women were paid less for the same jobs, tracked into “women’s work,” and invisible care work went uncounted. Change came through pressure and policy: • 1914: Women helped found Iceland’s first women’s labor union in Reykjavík. • 1961: Equal pay for equal work, then 1976: equal pay for work of equal value. • 1975 Women’s Strike made the value of women’s paid and unpaid work impossible to ignore. • 1980: Women’s participation reached about 65%. • 2000: Fathers gained an independent right to paid parental leave, with strong early uptake • 2017: Equal pay certification made fair pay a management standard. Shorter work weeks were tested and later written into many wage agreements. Progress is real, but not finished. Pay gaps remain, care work is still undervalued, and the care gap between leave and preschool hits mothers’ earnings and choices. Question: What one change would make work and care fairer where you live? Longer leave, more childcare, or higher pay check? There's more to the story:  https://lnkd.in/e3Sq37sh #genderequalityiceland #genderequity

Iceland’s Equality Story: 175 Years of consistent and persistent action. Progress did not happen by itself. It was built by women’s movements, community coalitions, and public policy, from 1850 inheritance reforms and 1915 suffrage to the monumental Women’s Strike in 1975 and the first democratically elected woman president in 1980. Hear the voices of the women who marched, organized, and continue to move equality forward in Iceland. For more on the story: https://lnkd.in/eUp2zUS3 #genderequalityiceland Produced by: Þura Stína Filming and editing: Arnar Tomasson / Eldey Films