Each summer, the town of Húsavík in northern Iceland welcomes a diverse gathering of adventurers, scientists, and artists for the Explorers Festival. Hosted by the Exploration Museum, this four-day event is dedicated to exploring the intersections of geographic discovery, creative expression and scientific inquiry.
Celebrating Iceland’s link to space history
The festival’s origins are closely tied to a significant chapter in space exploration. In 2015, the inaugural event commemorated half a century since Apollo astronauts trained on Iceland’s volcanic terrain, learning how to recognise geological features they would later encounter on the Moon. That year, a monument was unveiled by the family of Neil Armstrong, marking Húsavík’s special place in the story of Apollo 11 and lunar exploration.
Throughout each festival, visitors can attend talks presented by leading explorers and scientists, join workshops focused on storytelling, and experience concerts and exhibitions. The programme is broad, including public lectures, art installations at Húsavík’s local museum and even expeditions to locations of geological interest nearby.
Awards and encounters
At the heart of the festival is the Leif Erikson Awards ceremony, which celebrates achievements in exploration across generations. Prizes are given both for lifetime achievement and for younger explorers, as well as for work in preserving and promoting exploration history. This recognition has helped draw renowned figures to Húsavík, including several Apollo and Space Shuttle astronauts, polar explorers, mountaineers, and artists whose work engages with exploration themes.
Film is another important part of the event. A mini film festival has showcased documentaries and cinema focusing on voyages and discoveries, ranging from historical recreations such as the epic journey of Kon-Tiki to portraits of planetary science and the challenges of extreme environments. One memorable screening marked the Apollo 11 anniversary with the biographical film about Neil Armstrong, attended by his son and contributors to the movie’s authenticity.
Art exhibitions, refreshed annually, offer new perspectives through photography, illustration and painting, all with connections to the idea of travelling beyond the known. Notable past shows include works by the Icelandic artist Erró, whose imagery explores the astronaut’s journey.
The festival has continually welcomed both in-person and virtual participation from leading international figures. Even during global disruptions, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the Explorers Festival adapted, ensuring its tradition of bringing together the world’s explorers and thinkers continued without pause.
