Reykjavik Pride’s Rainbow Conference 2026
Pride Centre – Iðnó
The Rainbow Conference at Reykjavík Pride will take place for the fifth time during Reykjavík Pride 2026.
Some programme items are still being finalised and will appear below as details are confirmed. The programme is packed with engaging lectures, panel discussions and sessions that together create a space for thoughtful conversation about queerness from a wide range of perspectives.
The Rainbow Conference is organized in partnership with ÖBÍ Human Rights Association
Thursday August 6 // PRIDE CENTRE
Main Hall // Ground floor
Click on a programme item to read more.
9:30 // OPENING OF THE CONFERENCE
Opening of the Reykjavík Pride Rainbow Conference
Bjarndís Helga Tómasdóttir, Chairman of Samtökin ’78, will formally open the conference.
INFORMATION
10:00 // 10 YEARS OF THE QUEER YOUTH CENTER – A PLACE TO BELONG
10 Years of the Queer Youth Center – A Place to Belong
For 10 years, the Queer Youth Center has been a safe and welcoming space where LGBTQ+ young people have been able to meet, make friends, and be themselves. This talk looks back on the journey so far and explores the importance of creating spaces where young people feel safe, find hope, and experience a sense of belonging. It also looks ahead to the future and what lies ahead for future generations.
INFORMATION
Presenters:
- Hrefna Þórarinsdóttir
11:00 // IS IT SAFE TO WALK HOME NOW?
Is It Safe to Walk Home Now?
| A conversation about terror, survival, memory and rebuilding trust after hate. On June 25, 2022, a terrorist attacked the LGBTQ+ community during Oslo Pride. Two people were killed, many were injured, and an entire community was left shaken. This personal event by the June 25 Support Group and Norwegian author Kristine Meek, offers an opportunity to hear directly from people who survived the attack and continue to live with its consequences. Through testimony, conversation and storytelling, they share what happened that night, how it changed their lives, and why these stories still matter. The June 25 Support Group, was established by survivors, bereaved families and others affected by the attack. Karin Synnøve Terjesen, faced the terrorist outside the bar “Per på Hjørnet” where the attack first started. Henning Meling was sitting at the outdoor seating area at “London Pub” where people were shot around him. Espen Evjenth, now chair of the June 25 Support Group, was on the dance floor at “London Pub” when he was shot in the head and seriously injured during the attack. Together, they share their memories of that night, the aftermath, and how their lives have been shaped by what happened. Norwegian author Kristine Meek´s book Is It Safe to Walk Home Now? documents the terrorist attack and its aftermath through interviews, court proceedings and extensive research. Through readings from the book and reflections on the writing process, she explores how storytelling can help us understand the human consequences of hatred and violence. Through personal testimony and conversation, the audience is invited beyond the headlines and into the lived experiences of those who were there. This is a conversation about terror and trauma, but also about resilience, solidarity, and the importance of defending the freedom to live openly. Supported by NORLA – Norwegian Literature Abroad |
INFORMATION
Panel moderator:
Kristine Meek
Panel Members:
- Espen Evjenth
- Henning Meling
- Karin Synnøve Terjesen
13:00 // MANY BOXES – STORIES OF DISABILITY, QUEERNESS, AND HUMAN RIGHTS
Many Boxes – Stories of Disability, Queerness, and Human Rights
| Queer disabled people are a diverse community, with identities that span many different LGBTQIA+ and disability experiences. But what does it mean to navigate life at the intersection of multiple identities? And how does intersectional discrimination affect people across different communities in Iceland? Inspired by the colours of both the Pride flag and the Disability Pride flag, this session brings together people with different lived experiences who all share one thing in common: they belong to more than one part of these communities. Through personal stories and conversation, we will explore how these intersecting identities shape everyday life, belonging, and inclusion. |
INFORMATION
Panel moderator:
- Kjartan Þór Ingason
Panel Members:
- Anna Guðlaug Gunnarsdóttir
- Reyn Alpha Magnúsdóttir
14:00 // THE STRENGTH TO LET GO: FORGIVENESS FOR QUEER RESILIENCE
The Strength to Let Go: Forgiveness for Queer Resilience
| Forgiveness is often misunderstood, especially in communities that have had to fight hard for dignity, safety, and belonging. This talk by queer author and advisor Luca Oake explores forgiveness not as excusing harm, forgetting the past, or letting anyone off the hook, but as a way of reclaiming energy, freedom, and resilience. Drawing from lived experience, practical wisdom, and decades of forgiveness practice, Luca invites participants to consider how activism burnout, chronic stress, and the weight of systemic oppression can take up residence in the body, mind, and spirit. Together, we’ll explore how forgiveness can help loosen that grip. Grounded in the realities of queer life, this session offers an accessible and practical approach to forgiveness that honors pain without bypassing reality. Participants will leave with new ways to think about forgiveness, tools for navigating resentment and exhaustion, and a deeper understanding of how letting go can be an act of strength, self-respect, and liberation. Luca Oake is an advisor, author, and avid learner with 4 university degrees, decades of experience in adult development, and an irrational passion for forgiveness. Luca is also Founder and Chief Forgiveness Officer of YFFY | You Forgive For You, a movement to make forgiveness a practical, learnable life skill for good. Coming out as queer at 19 years old while in the United States military during the late 1980s was an act of radical authenticity for Luca that nearly ended in suicide. Having survived to tell the tale, Luca has since served on the Board of Monterey Peninsula Pride in California and has written about forgiveness for self-healing in the Amazon Top 20-selling memoir Forgive For You. Luca’s preferred pronoun is oui, but she or they will also do. To say Luca’s last name correctly, just think “oak” like the tree. |
INFORMATION
Presenter:
Luca Oake
15:00 // CHEMSEX – IN SEARCH OF CONNECTION OR A PLACE TO HIDE
Chemsex – In Search of Connection or a Place to Hide
Chemsex has become an increasingly discussed topic within parts of the LGBTQIA+ community, yet many people are still unfamiliar with what the term actually means. In this panel discussion, we will explore chemsex from different perspectives, including lived experience, health, harm reduction, and support, while considering how we can foster open, honest, and stigma-free conversations about the intersection of sex and drug use.
INFORMATION
Panel moderator:
- Villi Vilhjálms
Panel Members:
- Unnsteinn Jóhannsson
- Svala Ragnheiðar-Jóhannesardóttir
- Asa Radix
16:00 // QUEERNESS ON THE OPERA STAGE
Queerness on the Opera Stage
| Opera singer Íris Björk Gunnarsdóttir is the founder of the newly established opera company hinÓperan, which will premiere the opera 27 in collaboration with Reykjavík City Theatre this autumn. In this lecture-recital, Íris shares her research on queerness in opera in an engaging and entertaining way, while performing music from some wonderfully dramatic operas along the way. She is joined by pianist Matthildur Anna Gísladóttir. |
INFORMATION
Presenter:
Íris Björk Gunnarsdóttir
City Hall // Pollurinn
10:00 // NUUK PRIDE – BUILDING A COMMUNITY IN THE NORTH
Nuuk Pride – Building a Community in the North
Representatives from Sipineq+, an LGBTQ+ organization in Greenland, will share their experience of building a queer community and organizing a Pride festival in Nuuk. This talk will explore community, visibility, and the importance of creating safe spaces where LGBTQ+ people can come together, share their experiences, and feel a sense of belonging. It will also offer an opportunity to learn more about the work of Sipineq+/Nuuk Pride and what unites queer communities across borders.
INFORMATION
Presenters:
- Qillaq Ilannguaq Olsen
- Erni kristiansen
- Bjarndís Helga Tómasdóttir
13:00 // PROTECTION, HOPE AND NEW BEGINNINGS
Protection, Hope and New Beginnings
In this panel discussion, we will hear from people who came to Iceland seeking international protection and are building new lives here. Through personal stories and open conversation, the panel will explore the challenges they have faced, the hope that has carried them forward, and what it means to be both LGBTQIA+ and seeking safety in a new country.
INFORMATION
Panel moderator:
Sigga Birna
Panel Members:
- Eric Heinen
- Eric
- Ojok
14:00 // TRANS AND GENDER-DIVERSE EXPERIENCES IN ICELANDIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS
Trans and Gender-Diverse Experiences in Icelandic Secondary Schools
| The Experiences of Trans and Gender-Diverse Students in Icelandic Upper Secondary Schools This presentation introduces the findings of the research project The Experiences of Trans and Gender-Diverse Students in Icelandic Upper Secondary Schools, conducted during the summer of 2026. The research is presented by Francis Laufkvist, a student of Sociology and Gender Studies at the University of Iceland, and is supervised by Árdís Kárs Ingvars. The project explores how trans and gender-diverse young people have experienced the environment of Icelandic upper secondary schools between 2016 and 2026. Its aim is to generate both academic knowledge and accessible insight into the experiences and social position of trans and gender-diverse people in Iceland. Using a range of qualitative interview methods, the project also explores ways of developing social science research in collaboration with the communities being studied. The research is supported by the Icelandic Student Innovation Fund. |
INFORMATION
Presenter:
Francis Laufkvist
15:00 // THE EVOLUTION AND DIVERSITY OF SEX DETERMINATION AND SEX-RELATED TRAITS
The Evolution and Diversity of Sex Determination and Sex-Related Traits
| Sexually reproducing organisms first evolved more than a billion years ago and display remarkable diversity in many traits related to sex. Animals are also diverse in terms of sexual behaviour and sexual orientation, and, at least in humans, gender identity. This talk explores the evolutionary history of sex determination and the development of sex-related traits. There will be no exam. |
INFORMATION
Presenter:
Arnar Pálsson