Althingi opens with music honoring late recipients of parliamentary awards

Iceland’s parliament, Althingi, opens its 158th legislative session today with a ceremony that will honor two recently deceased artists who received parliamentary honorary salaries.

The proceedings begin at 1:30 p.m. with a service at Reykjavik Cathedral. The president of Iceland, the bishop, the speaker of parliament, government ministers and members of parliament will walk together from the parliament building to the church.

Oddur Bjarni Þorkelsson, parish priest in the Dalvík parish, will preach. Cathedral priest Sveinn Valgeirsson will serve at the altar, while Bishop Guðrún Karls Helgudóttir will deliver the blessing. Cathedral organist Matthías Harðarson will lead the cathedral chamber choir and play the organ.

After the service, officials and lawmakers will return to parliament, where President Halla Tómasdóttir will formally open the session. The group Sönghópurinn við Tjörnina, conducted by Gunnar Gunnarsson, will perform “By the Calm Mist” by Jón Ásgeirsson and “Your First Smile” by Gunnar Þórðarson.

Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir’s policy address and the debate on it are scheduled for tomorrow evening. Parliament’s first debate on the 2027 budget bill will follow on Thursday and Friday.