The Icelandic Music Experiments is an annual competition for aspiring musicians aged 13 to 25. Since its founding in 1982, it has served as a major platform for emerging musical artists in Iceland and offered the public a unique opportunity to experience the grassroots of Icelandic music. Many bands have taken part over the years — including Maus, XXX Rottweiler, Samaris, Vök, Mínus, and Mammút — and gone on to become established names in the Icelandic music scene, while acts such as Of Monsters and Men and Kaleo have achieved international acclaim.

Young people aged 13–25 can apply to participate by submitting an application through the festival’s website and paying a participation fee.

The festival spans five days: four qualifying nights, where approximately 40 acts compete for a place in the finals, followed by a finals night where 10–12 acts perform for top honors. The top three acts receive impressive prizes. Outstanding instrumentalists are also selected by the jury, while the audience votes electronically to choose the most popular act. In recent years, the finals night has been broadcast nationwide on Rás 2, televised on RÚV 2, and streamed at www.ruv.is.

The qualifying nights will take place from March 20–23, 2025, starting at 19:30 each evening, followed by the finals on March 28 at 17:00. The festival takes place in Harpa‘s Norðurljós hall, with tickets priced at ISK 2,200 per qualifying night and ISK 2,700 for the finals.

The Icelandic Music Experiments received the Little Bird Honorary Award at the 2025 Iceland Music Day for “providing a launchpad for young people in music and, over many years, successfully guiding the first steps of the country’s most promising musical talents.”

More information can be found at:

www.musiktilraunir.is

www.facebook.com/musiktilraunir

Icelandair is the main sponsor of the Icelandic Music Experiments.

The ÝLIR Music Fund for Young People (www.ylir.is) is a sponsor of the Icelandic Music Experiments.