AGP Executive Report

Golden Circle, eclipse and summer travel: A new guide lays out a simple 24-hour Iceland plan built around Þingvellir, Geysir and Gullfoss, with late-night Reykjavík dining and easy pacing. Spacewatch: Iceland is set to see a rare total solar eclipse on 12 August 2026, with totality visible from Reykjavík for just over a minute. Energy & tech: Borealis has signed a 12MW power purchase deal with Landsvirkjun to expand its Blönduós data centre campus, citing growing AI and high-performance computing demand. Whaling debate: An opinion poll finds opponents of fin whale hunting (41%) outnumber supporters (33%), with big gaps by age and gender. Tourism rules: GPS route maps used by a French tourist group for alleged off-road driving in South Iceland were removed from Wikiloc after heavy fines. Payments upgrade: Iceland will join the ECB’s instant-payment system, with the Icelandic króna set to be available in TIPS from 2028. Business & food: Laxey raised EUR 47m for its land-based salmon farm in Vestmannaeyjar. Public safety: About 6,000 devices still can’t reliably call Iceland’s emergency number 112 after the 2G/3G shutdown. Culture: Iceland Airwaves announced a second wave of artists, including Icelandic acts RAKEL, Andervel and SCAM.

Instant Payments Upgrade: The ECB and Seðlabanki Íslands have agreed for Iceland to join the Eurosystem’s TARGET Instant Payment Settlement (TIPS), letting retail instant payments in Icelandic króna be settled in central bank money from 2028. Emergency Calling Glitch: Iceland’s telecom regulator says about 6,000 devices still can’t reliably call 112 after the 2G/3G shutdown, with officials warning some users may not realise their phones won’t reach emergency services. EU Membership Vote: Iceland will hold a late-August vote on restarting EU accession talks, with fisheries exemptions and opt-outs now in the spotlight as Ireland’s fishing industry pushes for similar treatment. Whaling Returns: Iceland has resumed commercial whaling after a two-year pause, with the first fin whales killed since 2023, drawing renewed criticism and protest while the government signals a ban push later this autumn. Local Infrastructure Costs: Reykjavík estimates repairing its worst pavements could cost around ISK 2.2 billion, after a recent accident in Grafarvogur prompted the city to accelerate planned repairs. Earthquake Update: A magnitude 3.3 quake northwest of Þórisjökull was recorded, with no signs of volcanic unrest reported.

EU Membership Vote: Iceland will hold a late-August vote on whether to restart EU membership talks, with EU fisheries commissioner Costas Kadis hinting any deal could include fisheries and aquaculture exemptions. Fishing Politics: Irish fishing groups say they want the same opt-out treatment if Iceland gets special rules for the Common Fisheries Policy. Whaling Returns: Iceland resumed commercial whaling after a two-year pause; two fin whales were killed, and vessels reportedly switched off public tracking while still reporting to the coast guard. Payments Upgrade: Iceland will join the ECB’s instant payment system TIPS, enabling instant retail payments in Icelandic króna from 2028. Reykjavík Streets: The city faces a multi-billion-króna bill for repairing its worst pavements, with funding and priorities under review. Public Safety Reform: The justice minister is considering reducing Iceland’s police districts from nine to four or five without cutting local stations or frontline staffing. Tech & Privacy: An Icelandic cybersecurity expert warns “shadow AI” at work can leak sensitive data to third-party AI providers.

Whaling Resumes: Iceland resumed commercial whaling after a two-year pause, with reports that two fin whales were killed off the coast overnight Sunday—prompting fresh outrage and renewed calls for a ban. Public Safety & Enforcement: Police say off-road driving fines can run from ISK 10,000 up to ISK 1 million, with recent cases involving French nationals near Katla and the Emstruleið route drawing “several hundred thousand” krónur. Local Governance: Reykjavík’s new coalition is starting with unusually high public expectations, with a Maskína survey finding nearly half of residents report high or very high hopes. Education Access: Iceland approved full tuition fees for most non-EEA students from 2027–2028, while also tightening rules affecting international students. Justice & Police Structure: The justice minister is considering cutting Iceland’s police districts from nine to four or five without closing stations or reducing frontline staffing. Business & Growth: Laxey, the salmon producer, completed an oversubscribed €47m equity raise to expand its smolt and production plans. Culture & Travel: A rare total solar eclipse will sweep across Iceland on Aug. 12, 2026, with the longest totality expected near Iceland.

Whaling Resumes: Iceland killed two fin whales overnight Sunday, ending a two-year pause and drawing fresh protest as the government prepares a bill that could ban whaling this autumn. EU Membership Vote: Iceland is set to hold a “Brexit-style” referendum this summer on restarting EU talks, with critics warning it’s a “worst business idea.” Education & Migration: Alþingi approved full tuition fees for most non-EEA students from 2027–2028, while new residents from outside the EEA will get public health insurance sooner (waiting cut to three months). Reykjavík Politics: A Maskína survey finds nearly half of Reykjavík residents have high expectations for the new governing coalition. Environment & Enforcement: Police and rangers are investigating serious off-road damage in the highlands linked to foreign tourists, with calls for tougher penalties. Safety & Weather: A magnitude 3.1 quake was recorded on the Reykjanes Ridge, and a fatal motorcycle crash occurred east of Vík.

Whaling Restart: Iceland’s commercial whaling has resumed after a two-year pause, with the vessel Hvalur 9 harpooning two fin whales—reigniting debate over marine conservation and future rules. EU Referendum Watch: Iceland is preparing a summer vote on restarting EU membership talks, with the government saying a “yes” could move negotiations toward full membership. Security Detention Update: Parliament has approved new laws creating a secure facility for up to 16 high-risk people who aren’t suitable for prison, with court-ordered supervision. Public Safety: Police are investigating a suspected donation scam across Iceland after victims were charged thousands of euros via card payments. Health Insurance Change: New residents from outside the EEA will get public health coverage sooner (cut waiting from six to three months), while travel coverage outside the EEA ends from next year. Geothermal Clean Energy: Colombia and Iceland signed a geothermal alliance to speed up clean energy development through research and training. Local Incidents: Akureyri police reported a spike in assaults and hundreds of traffic offences during the Bíladagar car festival. Earth & Road: A magnitude 3.1 quake was recorded on the Reykjanes Ridge, and a fatal motorcycle crash occurred east of Vík. Energy Tech in Iceland: Syntholene says it has completed an Iceland demonstration plant for geothermal-powered eSAF production. Tourism & Nature: Police are probing reports of off-road driving damage in South Iceland linked to foreign-registered Land Rovers.

EU Referendum Watch: Iceland will hold a “Brexit-style” vote on August 29 on whether to restart EU membership talks, with critics warning it’s the “worst business idea” and opponents pushing a “Keep In Control” message. Whaling Returns: Iceland’s commercial whaling has resumed after a two-year pause, with the vessel Hvalur 9 harpooning two fin whales; the government is also preparing a bill that could ban whaling in the future as protests continue. Public Safety & Justice: Parliament approved a new legal framework for court-ordered security measures outside prison, creating a secure facility for up to 16 high-risk individuals. Health Insurance Rules: New legislation will shorten the waiting period for public health insurance for non-EEA residents (six months to three) and end automatic coverage for healthcare costs incurred outside the EEA from next year. Crime Update: Police are investigating a suspected donation scam using card payments that allegedly charged victims far more than they expected. Environment & Transport: South Iceland police are probing reports of illegal off-road driving linked to French-registered Land Rovers that may have damaged fragile highland areas; meanwhile, a fatal crash east of Vík is under investigation and a magnitude 3.1 quake was recorded on the Reykjanes Ridge. Business & Housing: An Icelandic startup, Fjöldakaup, launches a group-buying model to negotiate discounts on new homes. Aviation: Akasa Air took delivery of its 39th Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, with the delivery route including Reykjavik. Culture & Sports: Icelandic chess grandmaster Vignir Vatnar Stefánsson won ISK 250,000 at the Green Diamond Invitational.

Whaling Restart & Protests: Iceland’s whaling season has resumed after a two-year pause, with two vessels leaving port and fresh international backlash as campaigners and animal welfare groups protest; the government says a bill on banning whaling altogether is expected this autumn, while the Marine and Freshwater Research Institute recommends reduced quotas for fin and minke whales. EU Referendum: Iceland will hold a “Brexit-style” vote on Aug. 29 on whether to restart EU membership talks, with critics warning EU entry would be the “worst business idea” and a “huge step away from democracy,” while supporters argue it could strengthen the economy and trade position. Public Safety & Justice: Parliament approved a new legal framework for court-ordered security measures outside prison, creating a secure facility for up to 16 high-risk individuals needing specialised care. Fraud Probe: Police are hunting a suspect in a fake charity card-payment scam that allegedly charged victims thousands of euros instead of small ISK amounts. Health Study: A nationwide study finds nearly 7% of Icelandic women report trauma-linked nightmares and disruptive sleep symptoms. Culture & Events: Bergmál at Þingvellir draws large crowds with major traffic and police measures, and Of Monsters and Men play Budapest Park on June 22.

EU Referendum: Iceland will hold a “Brexit-style” vote on August 29 on whether to restart EU membership talks, with critics warning it’s the “worst business idea” and a “huge step away from democracy,” while supporters argue EU ties could strengthen trade and growth. Public Safety: Police are preparing for the Bergmál festival at Þingvellir, with road closures and about 100 officers on duty as around 20,000 people are expected. Justice & Care: Alþingi has approved a new legal framework for court-ordered security measures outside prison, creating a secure facility for up to 16 high-risk people needing specialised supervision. Crime Watch: Police are hunting a suspect in a donation scam that allegedly charged victims thousands of euros after steering them to pay by card instead of cash. Whaling Row: Iceland’s whaling hunt has resumed after a two-year pause, despite protests and animal welfare concerns, with fin and minke quotas set for the season. Culture & Community: Reykjavik’s film producers have elected a new chair at SÍK amid funding worries, and the city’s summer events keep rolling with folk dance and trad sessions.

Whaling Returns, Protests Follow: Iceland’s whaling hunt is back after a two-year pause, with two vessels heading out from Reykjavík as animal-rights groups and a lone protester staged actions onboard; one protester says he “broke down” after realizing the ship would sail all the way out to sea, and police escorted him ashore. EU Referendum Push: Iceland will vote on 29 August on whether to restart EU membership talks, as debate heats up over sovereignty, fisheries, and the country’s economic direction. Local Safety at Þingvellir: The Bergmál festival at Þingvellir is underway with major road closures from 3:00 PM to midnight and a large police presence expected for around 20,000 attendees. Reykjavík Pool Repairs: Vesturbæjarlaug’s outdoor pool relining has been deferred; the city will do localised lining repairs after safety assessments found systemic defects. Cybersecurity for Healthcare: Varist launched a DICOM detection engine aimed at spotting malware hidden in medical imaging and health-record file formats. Culture & Immersion: Sigur Rós frontman Jónsi’s Fischersund and the ÁRA spatial-audio experience are bringing a multi-sensory “deep listening” event to the Schwarzman Centre.

Nordic Noir Spotlight: Icelandic series Black Sands returns for a second season on U, picking up 14 months after a serial killer was hiding in plain sight in the coastal town of Glerársandar, with police officer Aníta juggling motherhood and a new suspicious death that drags up old trauma. Rescue & Safety: About 80 rescuers responded to a hiker with a broken leg at Háifoss in Þjórsárdalur, with specialist teams and extra communications support due to unreliable radio coverage. Whaling Clash: Iceland’s whaling hunt resumes after a two-year pause as two vessels head out, drawing fresh protests; one protester says he was distressed when the ship sailed while he was still aboard, and a complaint has been lodged with police over alleged passenger registration without consent. EU Referendum: Iceland will vote on 29 August on whether to restart EU membership talks, with opponents warning it’s a “worst business idea” and a major democratic step away. Local Governance: Reykjavík delays full relining of Vesturbæjarlaug pool, opting for localised repairs after systemic lining defects were found. Culture & Travel: Bergmál festival at Þingvellir goes ahead with road closures and a large police presence, while easyJet announces new winter flights from Liverpool to Reykjavik.

Travel & Transport: easyJet has announced two new winter routes from Liverpool John Lennon Airport—Reykjavik starting 2 Nov 2026 (twice weekly) and Finnish Lapland’s Kittilä from 25 Nov 2026 (twice weekly)—giving UK travellers a direct winter gateway to Iceland’s geothermal sights and Northern Lights. Public Safety: A driver died after a head-on crash on Hálsasveitarvegur north of Reykholt on June 16; two passenger vehicles collided and those involved were airlifted to Landspítali. Whaling & Activism: Icelandic whaling is set to resume after a two-year pause, with two vessels leaving Reykjavík for preparatory work; meanwhile, a protest-related complaint has been lodged after an activist was allegedly registered as a passenger without consent. Civic Life: Reykjanesbær has asked all local institutions to fly the Icelandic flag continuously through summer, following updated rules allowing 24/7 display from 1 May to 15 August. Education Policy: The Teachers’ Association is urging flexibility in proposed primary-school smartphone rules, warning strict bans could create enforcement problems and unnecessary conflict. Cybersecurity: Varist launched a DICOM Detection Engine aimed at spotting malware hidden in medical imaging and health-record files. Midsummer Logistics: Traffic restrictions are planned around Þingvellir for the Bergmál festival on June 20, with road closures from 15:00 to midnight.

Whaling Returns: Icelandic whalers are resuming a controversial fin whale hunt after a two-year pause, with two vessels leaving Reykjavík for preparatory work and a quota of 150 fin whales and 168 minke whales for the year. Protest Fallout: A complaint has been filed with police over an activist allegedly being registered as a passenger on Hvalur 9 without consent, raising questions about how a protest voyage was handled. Information Integrity: Experts at a Reykjavík conference warned that social media and AI are making disinformation harder to contain, stressing the need for trusted journalism to protect public trust. Road Safety: A driver died after a head-on crash near Reykholt, with multiple people airlifted to Landspítali. Travel Disruption: Ten travel firms have collapsed since late 2025, leaving customers chasing refunds and compensation as trips are cancelled. Education Policy: The Teachers’ Association is urging flexibility on smartphone rules in primary schools, warning strict bans could create enforcement problems. Culture & Travel: Reykjavík Arts Festival is using Fischersund’s scent-and-music concept, while midsummer travel interest is surging around the solstice.

Travel Disruption: A UK travel agency, Trav Expert (trading as Best4trips, Travel Crew and Air waay), has lost its Air Travel Organisers’ Licensing (ATOL) status and has cancelled trips after taking down its sites, leaving customers without the usual government-backed protection. Solar Eclipse Tourism: Iceland’s Aug. 12 total solar eclipse is expected to pass over the Reykjanes Peninsula, with the Blue Lagoon pitching a premium viewing package including glasses, masks and transfers. Air Travel Watch: easyJet is expanding winter flying, adding Reykjavik from Liverpool (from Nov. 2) plus Kittilä, while airport data shows European passenger numbers dipped 0.7% in Apr-2026, with Iceland among the smaller declines. Local Infrastructure & Climate Risk: Seward Highway’s Milepost 14 crossing is set for a major overhaul as glacial flood threats (jökulhlaups) rise. Culture & National Day: National Day celebrations drew crowds in Reykjavík, with wreath-laying, performances and a full downtown programme. Sports (Iceland in Europe): Víkingur Reykjavík is in the mix for Israeli club European qualifiers, with a potential Champions League tie path involving Iceland.

US Open Golf: Iceland’s Arni Sveinsson, first from the country to qualify for the tournament, teed off at Shinnecock Hills after a surreal run to the course. Reykjavík Arts Festival: A new “Poetic Perfumes” project for the festival blends scents inspired by Sigur Rós frontman Jónsi and the Fischersund family. National Day Across Iceland: Celebrations marked Iceland’s independence with speeches, wreath-laying in Reykjavík, and events running from Austurvöllur to local programs nationwide. Travel & Connectivity: easyJet announced winter expansion including new Reykjavik flights from Liverpool and more routes across Europe. EU Membership Debate: Iceland’s EU referendum plans are moving toward a “moment of truth,” with the campaign framed against Brexit-style fears and Arctic geopolitics. Fisheries Watch: Cod catches may stay capped for years as weak year classes and capelin troubles ripple through Iceland’s fishing economy. Business: Alvotech updates its public offering and private placement plans as it raises fresh funding. Culture & Film: Munich Industry Days spotlight Nordic producers, with Icelandic talent among the focus.

National Day diplomacy: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio sent congratulations to Iceland on its 82nd National Day, highlighting 75 years of defense cooperation and growing trade in energy, data, biotech and the marine economy. Local celebrations: Reykjavík laid out a full National Day program, including a wreath-laying ceremony at Austurvöllur and events across the city, with festivities also planned nationwide. Sports and Iceland on the move: A young Icelandic golfer, Arni Sveinsson, became the first from Iceland to qualify for the U.S. Open and is teeing off at Shinnecock Hills after training in Iceland’s midnight-sun summer. Weather watch: Southwest Iceland is forecast to be the warmest on June 17, with highs around 12–14°C, while the north and east stay cooler and wetter. Infrastructure and safety: A serious traffic crash in Reykholt, Borgarfjörður, sent an Icelandic Coast Guard helicopter to transport three injured people to hospital. Space weather risk: A report on how New Zealand prepares for rare geomagnetic storms underscores the growing need for grid readiness as solar activity threatens power systems.