AGP Executive Report

Iceland-Inspired Music: QUOIA brought an all-star group to Flóki Studios in northern Iceland to create music inspired by the country’s landscapes and wild salmon; its debut album arrives Oct. 23. On Stage: Icelandic sound artist Sigtryggur Berg Sigmarsson, known for his work with Stilluppsteypa, performs in San Francisco on Oct. 17. European Film Awards: Iceland is among the co-producing countries behind Brace Your Heart, named to the 2027 awards’ fiction shortlist. Hildur Guðnadóttir: The composer has released an orchestral version of “In Gray” ahead of her upcoming album This Will Be Us. Nobel in Reykjavík: Poet and essayist Anne Carson, who lives in Reykjavík, won the 2026 Nobel Prize in Literature; she marked the news with plans to retreat to the woods and listen to the quiet.

Live Music: Icelandic sound and visual artist Sigtryggur Berg Sigmarsson is performing in San Francisco this week, bringing work shaped by his solo releases and long-running experimental group Stilluppsteypa. Literature: Nobel laureate Anne Carson is in Reykjavík, where she told the prize organizers she planned to retreat to the woods and listen to the quiet; her wide-ranging work spans poetry, essays, translation and scholarship. Music: Hildur Guðnadóttir has reimagined “In Gray” for orchestra ahead of her album This Will Be Us, while QUOIA’s debut collaboration was created at Flóki Studios in northern Iceland and draws inspiration from the landscape and wild salmon. Film: Iceland is represented among the European Film Awards shortlist through the Nordic co-production Brace Your Heart.

Nobel Spotlight: Reykjavík-based writer Anne Carson won the 2026 Nobel Prize in Literature. Former students describe her as quietly brilliant and much like the inventive, genre-crossing work that earned her the award. Film News: Iceland-linked titles made the European Film Awards shortlist, including Brace Your Heart, a Swedish-Danish-Norwegian-Bulgarian-Icelandic co-production. Music from Iceland: QUOIA brought musicians to northern Iceland to create an album inspired by the landscape and wild salmon conservation; the collaboration’s debut is due Oct. 23. Hildur Guðnadóttir: The Icelandic composer has reimagined “In Gray” for orchestra on her upcoming album This Will Be Us, featuring her cello performance with the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin. Media Rules: A survey of 37 European countries found only Iceland and Malta, besides the UK, had recent examples of serving politicians presenting current-affairs TV programmes.

Music: Icelandic composer Hildur Guðnadóttir has reimagined “In Gray” for orchestra ahead of her album This Will Be Us, drawing on pieces from her early records. Film: Icelandic co-production Brace Your Heart has made the shortlist for the 2027 European Film Awards; nominations are due November 14. Icelandic Collaboration: QUOIA brought musicians from Goose, Dawes and Lettuce to northern Iceland’s Flóki Studios to create an album inspired by the landscape and wild salmon conservation, due October 23. Screen: The creature feature OMEGA, filmed in Iceland and Texas, is set for a Thai cinema release on October 29. Icelandic drama Elma is also heading to Síminn.

Music in the Landscape: QUOIA’s first Iceland session brought musicians from Goose, Dawes and other bands to Flóki Studios in northern Iceland. Their new group, Rainbow Body, releases its debut album Oct. 23, with proceeds supporting wild Atlantic salmon conservation. Eurovision Fallout: Iceland was among five countries whose broadcasters withdrew from the 2026 contest over Israel’s participation; the Dutch broadcaster says it will continue its boycott next year. Icelandic Screen: Crime drama Hildur has sold to broadcasters across Europe and Australia, while Icelandic producer Glassriver is introducing NCU at MIPCOM. Fjord is also among 68 films shortlisted for the European Film Awards. Björk Live: The Icelandic artist has announced a new orchestral live album.

Film: Iceland’s Fjord has made the 68-title shortlist for the 39th European Film Awards, adding awards-season momentum to the crime drama. Literature: Nobel winner Anne Carson was in Iceland when the prize news broke; she divides her time between Iceland and the U.S. Live Music: Shygirl is set to bring her first full-band tour to Iceland Airwaves on Nov. 4. Icelandic Screen: Crime drama Elma is headed to Síminn, while Glassriver is presenting new series NCU at MIPCOM. Music: Björk has announced a new orchestral live album.

Literature: Anne Carson won the 2026 Nobel Prize in Literature while in Iceland. The Canadian-Icelandic poet divides her time between Iceland and the U.S. Film: Icelandic feature Fjord is among 68 films shortlisted for the European Film Awards. Music: Shygirl is booked for Iceland Airwaves in Reykjavík on November 4, while Björk has announced a new orchestral live album. Heilung has also released “Læknisgaldr,” recorded for its Sagas project at Iceland’s LAVA Studios. Icelandic TV: Drama Elma is set for a Síminn debut, as local production company Glassriver introduces NCU at MIPCOM. Art: Reykjavík’s Imagine Peace Tower has been illuminated for the 20th time, and Icelandic artist Ragnar Kjartansson has a new exhibition at Buffalo AKG Art Museum.

Live Music: Shygirl has added Reykjavík’s Iceland Airwaves to her schedule for Nov. 4, ahead of her first full-band tour in 2027. Björk has also announced a new orchestral live album. Icelandic Screen & Games: Icelandic crime drama Hildur, filmed in the Westfjords, has landed international sales, while Elma is set for a Síminn premiere. Icelandic studio Aska’s co-op shooter Gang of Frogs has a new publisher and is planned for Early Access. Literature: Nobel laureate Anne Carson was in Iceland, “listening to the wind,” when she learned she had won the prize. Visual Arts: Icelandic artist Ragnar Kjartansson’s work is featured at Buffalo AKG Art Museum, and Reykjavík’s Imagine Peace Tower was lit for the 20th time.

Icelandic TV: Nordic crime drama Hildur, co-produced by Iceland’s Sagafilm, has sold to broadcasters in France, the Netherlands, Australia and several other markets. Icelandic series Elma and Fjord also drew international attention at MIPCOM. Icelandic Games: Reykjavík developer Aska Studios has teamed up with Megabit Publishing for Gang of Frogs, a co-op shooter planned for Early Access; there’s no release date yet. Music: Björk has announced a new orchestral live album. Art: Ragnar Kjartansson’s work is on view at the Buffalo AKG Art Museum, while a new exhibition spotlights Icelandic painter Jóhannes Kjarval. Literature: Anne Carson won the 2026 Nobel Prize in Literature while in Iceland, where she said she was “listening to the wind.”

Screen Exports: Icelandic-Finnish crime drama Hildur, filmed in Iceland’s Westfjords, has sold to broadcasters in France, the Netherlands, Australia and other markets. Icelandic Games: Reykjavík studio Aska Studios has signed Megabit Publishing for its co-op shooter Gang of Frogs, which is planned for Early Access. Music: Björk has announced a new orchestral live album. Literature: Anne Carson was in Iceland, listening to the wind, when she learned she had won the 2026 Nobel Prize in Literature. Homegrown TV: Icelandic drama Elma is set for a Síminn debut, while the series Fjord has been picked up by international sales outfit Reinvent Yellow. Art: A feature revisits painter Jóhannes Kjarval and his vision of spirits in Iceland’s lava fields.

Icelandic TV: Nordic crime drama Hildur, made by Iceland’s Sagafilm with Finland’s Take Two Studios, has sold to broadcasters in Europe and Australia. Set in the Westfjords, the series follows a detective haunted by her sisters’ disappearance. Literature: Anne Carson won the 2026 Nobel Prize in Literature while in Iceland, where she said she was “listening to the wind.” The award celebrates her boundary-crossing blend of poetry, essays, scholarship and classical translation. Games: Icelandic developer Aska Studios’ co-op shooter Gang of Frogs has signed with Megabit Publishing. The game is planned for Early Access, though it has no release date yet. Music and art: Reykjavík’s Imagine Peace Tower was lit for the 20th time, with a performance by Árný Margrét. Yoko Ono’s work will shine on Viðey until January 1. Björk has also announced an orchestral live album.

Iceland on Screen: Icelandic drama Elma is set for a Síminn debut, while Fjord has been picked up for international sales. A Death Stranding film update also points to Iceland as a location under consideration. Music & Film: Björk has announced a new orchestral live album, and La Gradiva has won Reykjavík’s Golden Puffin. Arts & Heritage: Reykjavík’s Imagine Peace Tower was lit for the 20th time, with Árný Margrét performing at the ceremony; it will shine through January 1. A new look at painter Jóhannes Kjarval explores the mystical side of his work. Literature: Nobel laureate Anne Carson was in Iceland when the award was announced, “listening to the wind,” and called the win “crazy” in an interview with RÚV.

Publishing: Icelandic crime writer Ragnar Jónasson has taken a special-adviser role at law firm LOGOS, while continuing a writing career whose books have been published in 35 countries. Arts & Culture: Yoko Ono’s Imagine Peace Tower was lit for the 20th time on Viðey, with a performance by Árný Margrét; it will shine through January 1. Literature: Nobel laureate Anne Carson was in Iceland when she learned she had won the 2026 prize, later telling RÚV she thought the Academy was “crazy.” Music: Björk has announced a new orchestral live album. Screen: Icelandic production company Glassriver is taking drama Elma to Síminn and presenting NCU at MIPCOM. Film: The director of the upcoming Death Stranding movie is scouting locations in Iceland.

Live Arts: Reykjavík’s Imagine Peace Tower was lit for the 20th time, with Icelandic singer Árný Margrét performing at the ceremony. Yoko Ono’s installation will shine on Viðey until January 1. Boxing: Icelandic fighter Erika Nótt Einarsdóttir, known as Erika Night, made her Misfits Boxing debut against Carla Jade in a title bout in London. Literature: Nobel winner Anne Carson was in Iceland, “listening to the wind,” when she learned she had won. She later told RÚV the news was “crazy.” Icelandic Screen: Drama Elma is set for a Síminn debut, while Glassriver introduced series NCU at MIPCOM. Iceland is also being scouted as a filming location for the Death Stranding movie. Art and Music: A feature revisits painter Jóhannes Kjarval’s mystical works, and Björk has announced a new orchestral live album.

Peace & Music: Yoko Ono’s Imagine Peace Tower was lit on Viðey for the 20th time, with a performance by Árný Margrét. The beam will shine through January 1. Literature: Anne Carson won the Nobel Prize while in Iceland, listening to the wind; she told RÚV the news was “crazy” and joked that her books would get a Nobel sticker. Icelandic Art: A feature revisits Jóhannes Kjarval’s mystical paintings, spotlighted in Reykjavík’s “Dreamland” exhibition. Film & TV: Iceland-made Cold War drama The Brink of War, filmed at Höfði House and around the country, opened in cinemas. Crime series Elma starts on Síminn on October 15, while thriller Fjord, starring Anita Briem and set in northern Iceland, has joined an international sales slate. Music & Contemporary Art: Björk announced a new orchestral live album, and Ragnar Kjartansson’s work is featured in a Buffalo AKG Museum exhibition.

Nobel Moment: Anne Carson won the 2026 Literature Nobel while in Iceland, “listening to the wind.” The Canadian poet, who holds Icelandic citizenship, joked to RÚV that the judges were “all crazy”; the award recognizes her boundary-bending work inspired by classical literature. Icelandic Screen: Crime drama Elma, adapted from Eva Björg Ægisdóttir’s novels and filmed around Akranes, arrives on Síminn on October 15. Producer Glassriver is also presenting the northern Iceland thriller Fjord to international buyers. Local Film: The Brink of War, shot inside Reykjavík’s Höfði House and across the Icelandic countryside, opened at Sambíó on October 9, with local production company Pegasus Pictures among its collaborators. Art & Music: Reykjavík collective Fischersund’s immersive Faux Flora exhibition, pairing imagined flowers with scent, sound and visual art, is showing at the Anchorage Museum. Björk has also announced a new orchestral live album.