In the year 2026, the Minister of Culture has allocated, upon the recommendation of the National Museum Council. 224.600.000 crowns from the collection fund, and a total of 141 grants have been awarded.
From the main allocation of the Museum Fund 2026 On January 24, 2026, 182,700,000 krónur were granted.
123 were awarded one-year grants the total amount 154,700,000 kr. to 51 recipients.
Eight were granted Excellence Scholarships to accredited museums, which is then divided as follows: 28,000,000 kr. for the year 2026, 29,000,000 kr. for the year 2027 and 16,000,000 kr. for the year 2028. The total amount of the 2026 Flagship Grants for all grant years 2026–2028 is then 73,000,000 kr.Assignments for the years 2027 and 2028 are granted subject to the fund's funding.
Previous Excellence Awards For the year 2026, there were 10 in total, and the grant amount for the year is 41,900,000 kr.
Main Allocation 2026 - One-year grants
| Beneficiary | Project | Category | Grant amount | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reykjavik City History Museum | Maritime Archaeology of the Reykjavík City Museum – Long-Term Preservation of Collections, a Prerequisite for Dissemination and Research. | c. Preservation | 2.000.000 | |
| Reykjavik City History Museum | Visibility in the Collection: Queerness in the Collection of the Reykjavík Photograph Collection | d. Research | 1.700.000 | |
| Reykjavik City History Museum | „Although it may not seem remarkable today, perhaps it will seem remarkable later“ - an exhibition to mark the 100th birthday of news photographer Ola K. | e. Communication - exhibition | 1.500.000 | |
| Árnesingar Regional Museum | Registration in Sarp 4.0 and training | b. Registration - general | 1.200.000 | |
| Árnesingar Regional Museum | Onward over the Roaring River - research and outreach | d. Research | 500.000 | |
| Árnesingar Regional Museum | Boats and a farm at the maritime museum | e. Communication - exhibition | 600.000 | |
| Árnesingar Regional Museum | The Story of the House on Eyrarbakki - a new exhibition | e. Communication - exhibition | 1.000.000 | |
| The Dalarna Regional Museum | Measuring instrument | i. Strengthening core operations | 150.000 | |
| Dalvík Municipality Museum - The Hvoll Museum | Registration of collection items in Sarp | b. Registration - general | 1.200.000 | |
| Hafnarfjörður Regional Museum | Improved conditions in storage facilities | c. Preservation | 1.800.000 | |
| Hafnarfjörður Regional Museum | Human Life in the Middle Ages (working title) | e. Communication - exhibition | 1.100.000 | |
| Hafnarfjörður Regional Museum | Outstanding Women in Hafnarfjörður (working title) | e. Communication - exhibition | 1.500.000 | |
| Hafnarfjörður Regional Museum | From Wrestling Clubs to a Golden Age in Handball (working title) | e. Communication - exhibition | 1.500.000 | |
| The Húnvetningar and Strandamanna Regional Museum | Preservation of the women's uniform | c. Preservation | 800.000 | |
| The Húnvetningar and Strandamanna Regional Museum | Restructuring for preservation | c. Preservation | 1.000.000 | |
| The Húnvetningar and Strandamanna Regional Museum | The Regional School at Reykir - a follow-up project | e. Communication - exhibition | 2.000.000 | |
| Reykjanesbær Regional Museum | Development of Museum Education | f. Museum education | 1.000.000 | |
| Reykjanesbær Regional Museum | Changes at the Bryggjuhúsið - a new space for our youngest guests | h. Other | 1.400.000 | |
| Reykjanesbær Regional Museum | Improved packaging in the museum shop | i. Strengthening core operations | 700.000 | |
| Skagfjordur Regional Museum | Comprehensive catalog of the collection | b. Registration - general | 2.000.000 | |
| Skagfjordur Regional Museum | Improvement of preservation conditions for museum objects | c. Preservation | 1.000.000 | |
| Skagfjordur Regional Museum | Life in turf houses for everyone – digital and accessible visits with virtual reality | e. Media - digital media | 2.500.000 | |
| Snæfellsnes and Hnappdæla Regional Museum | Registration of museum objects | b. Registration - general | 2.000.000 | |
| Snæfellsnes and Hnappdæla Regional Museum | The Shooting Cap 2026 | e. Communication - Other | 800.000 | |
| Westfjords Regional Museum | New exhibition space | c. Preservation | 900.000 | |
| Westfjords Regional Museum | Our Daily Bread - A History of Bakeries in Ísafjörður | e. Communication - exhibition | 800.000 | |
| Westfjords Regional Museum | Emergency trunks | i. Strengthening core operations | 300.000 | |
| The Garðskagi Museum | Registration of artifacts and photographs at the Garðskagi Folk Museum | b. Registration - general | 2.000.000 | |
| The Regional Museum in Göður | Registration of museum objects in Sarp | b. Registration - general | 1.500.000 | |
| The Regional Museum in Göður | Exhibition opening and presentation in the boathouse of the Folk Museum in Görðum | e. Communication - exhibition | 2.500.000 | |
| The Regional Museum in Skógar | Preventive conservation of paper-based artworks and photographs | c. Preservation | 1.000.000 | |
| The Regional Museum in Skógar | Equipment Prevention | c. Preservation | 1.200.000 | |
| Icelandic Aviation Museum | New Sarpur - new possibilities and procedures | b. Registration - general | 1.200.000 | |
| Icelandic Aviation Museum | An airline with a fresh feel - 50 years since the founding of Arnarflug | e. Communication - exhibition | 1.000.000 | |
| Icelandic Aviation Museum | Welcome Aboard - The History of Icelandair Since 1937 | e. Communication - exhibition | 2.000.000 | |
| Gerðarsafn - Kópavogur Art Museum | Data review and photography facilities for a new Sarp | b. Registration - general | 1.000.000 | |
| Gerðarsafn - Kópavogur Art Museum | HÖRÐUR I Exhibition, Publication, and Event Series | e. Communication - exhibition | 1.800.000 | |
| Gerðarsafn - Kópavogur Art Museum | Performances I From Grassroots to Preservation | e. Communication - Other | 1.000.000 | |
| Gerðarsafn - Kópavogur Art Museum | A community project alongside the Jeremy Deller exhibition | f. Museum education | 1.000.000 | |
| Gljúfrasteinn - the poet's house | The poet, works and contemporaries. Podcast episodes. | e. Media - digital media | 1.000.000 | |
| Gljúfrasteinn - the poet's house | The White Castle | e. Media - digital media | 1.500.000 | |
| Gljúfrasteinn - the poet's house | Dream Ring | e. Communication - exhibition | 1.500.000 | |
| Reykjavik Botanical Garden | Visitor Survey at the Reykjavik Botanical Garden | d. Research | 1.500.000 | |
| Reykjavik Botanical Garden | The Floral Flurry: A Visitor's Journey Through the Wonders of Plants | e. Communication - exhibition | 1.200.000 | |
| Hafnarborg | The Prophecy - Fall Show | e. Communication - exhibition | 1.500.000 | |
| Hafnarborg | Runa - version | e. Communication - Edition | 1.200.000 | |
| Hafnarborg | In My Language - Museum Education in Foreign Languages | f. Museum education | 900.000 | |
| The Home Industries Museum | Sarpur 4, adaptation, new registration and re-registration. | b. Registration - general | 1.000.000 | |
| The Home Industries Museum | Strengthening prevention | c. Preservation | 900.000 | |
| The Home Industries Museum | Response following inspection. | i. Strengthening core operations | 800.000 | |
| The Whale Museum in Húsavík | The Ocean is Alive – Interplay of Ecosystems and Human Life | e. Communication - exhibition | 800.000 | |
| The Whale Museum in Húsavík | Heart of the Arctic Circle - History and Future of the Arctic | e. Communication - exhibition | 1.200.000 | |
| The Whale Museum in Húsavík | Seaweed Thread – Creative Workshop | f. Museum education | 800.000 | |
| The Whale Museum in Húsavík | Pallet racks in storage warehouse | i. Strengthening core operations | 500.000 | |
| Icelandic Design Museum | Registration of the works of Kristín Þorkelsdóttir | b. Registration - general | 1.800.000 | |
| Icelandic Design Museum | BIKE - Lauf Cycles from concept to product | e. Communication - exhibition | 1.800.000 | |
| Icelandic Design Museum | Sewing Circles, the invisible social network of women | e. Communication - exhibition | 1.000.000 | |
| Akureyri Industrial Museum | Is the digital address correct? | e. Media - digital media | 1.000.000 | |
| Icelandic Film Museum | Purchase of specialized equipment | h. Other | 2.500.000 | |
| Icelandic Agricultural Museum | New collection item | b. Registration - general | 450.000 | |
| Icelandic Agricultural Museum | Preservation of the country's oldest tractor | c. Preservation | 1.500.000 | |
| Icelandic Agricultural Museum | Siggi Skarp's Living Room | e. Communication - exhibition | 1.200.000 | |
| The Icelandic Art Museum | A book about the works of Sigrid Valtingojer | e. Communication - Edition | 1.200.000 | |
| The Icelandic Art Museum | The Folklore Films of Kristinn Petursson | e. Communication - Other | 1.000.000 | |
| Árnesingar Art Museum | Registration for the 2026 Archive | b. Registration - general | 1.300.000 | |
| Árnesingar Art Museum | Women's Relationships II / Relations II Females | e. Communication - exhibition | 1.800.000 | |
| Árnesingar Art Museum | Sýningar Listasafns Árnesinga 2026: Art and Power in the Contemporary Era | e. Communication - exhibition | 1.000.000 | |
| Reykjanesbær Art Museum | Solo exhibition by Tumi Magnússon | e. Communication - exhibition | 1.000.000 | |
| Reykjanesbær Art Museum | Method and Experience: This Summer's Exhibitions | e. Communication - exhibition | 1.200.000 | |
| Reykjanesbær Art Museum | A Lifelong Work in Danger: The Rescue and Preservation of the Works of Vilhjálmur Bergsson | i. Strengthening core operations | 1.200.000 | |
| Reykjavik Art Museum | Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Response | c. Preservation | 900.000 | |
| Reykjavik Art Museum | Drone footage of the outdoor artworks and museum buildings of the Reykjavík Art Museum for digital media | e. Media - digital media | 300.000 | |
| Reykjavik Art Museum | Karin Sander: Self-Portrait at an Exhibition | e. Communication - exhibition | 1.000.000 | |
| Reykjavik Art Museum | Guðrún Kristjánsdóttir - exhibition at Kjarvalstaðir | e. Communication - exhibition | 1.000.000 | |
| Reykjavik Art Museum | Reykjavik 240 | e. Communication - exhibition | 1.500.000 | |
| Reykjavik Art Museum | Kjarvalshvammur – a creative space for children and families | f. Museum education | 1.500.000 | |
| Akureyri Art Museum | Conservation of Works in the Collection of the Akureyri Art Museum - Phase 1 | c. Preservation | 1.000.000 | |
| Akureyri Art Museum | Zimoun in Iceland 2026 | e. Communication - exhibition | 1.000.000 | |
| Akureyri Art Museum | In the shadow of conflict | e. Communication - exhibition | 2.000.000 | |
| Akureyri Art Museum | A Mixed Bag - A Creative Learning Space | f. Museum education | 500.000 | |
| Hornafjörður Cultural Center | Uses - edition | e. Communication - Edition | 700.000 | |
| Hornafjörður Cultural Center, Svavar Museum | Home Port, exhibition project by Arna G. Valsdóttir and Svavar Safn | e. Communication - exhibition | 1.000.000 | |
| Þingeyingi Cultural Center | Audio Tour at Snartarstaðir | e. Communication - exhibition | 1.100.000 | |
| Þingeyingi Cultural Center | Beituskúr connection to the Maritime Museum | e. Communication - exhibition | 1.600.000 | |
| Þingeyingi Cultural Center | Improvements to the description at the Maritime Museum | i. Strengthening core operations | 1.500.000 | |
| East Iceland Museum | Textile Preservation Grant, Eastland Museum | c. Preservation | 800.000 | |
| East Iceland Museum | Preparation and preliminary design of the basic exhibition | e. Communication - exhibition | 1.600.000 | |
| East Iceland Museum | SafnAri – expert in collections - pilot project | h. Other | 1.600.000 | |
| Egils Ólafsson Museum | Summer at Hnjóti 2025 | e. Communication - exhibition | 300.000 | |
| Egils Ólafsson Museum | Fireflower x Hnjótur | e. Communication - exhibition | 600.000 | |
| Egils Ólafsson Museum | Preventive conservation and procedures in storage | i. Strengthening core operations | 1.200.000 | |
| Akureyri Museum | Prevention for the future | c. Preservation | 1.000.000 | |
| Akureyri Museum | Eyjafjörður in enemy hands | e. Communication - exhibition | 2.000.000 | |
| Akureyri Museum | Artifacts at Victory Heights - Inventory and Preservation Assessment | g. Collaboration with an accredited museum in other museum activities | 1.200.000 | |
| The Museum at Bustarfell | Record Keeping and Organization of the Archive | b. Registration - general | 2.000.000 | |
| The Museum at Bustarfell | Audio tour | e. Communication - Other | 1.000.000 | |
| The Museum at Bustarfell | Strengthening basic activities | i. Strengthening core operations | 500.000 | |
| Kópavogur Nature Museum | Curation of Collection Items and Registration Initiative of the Kópavogur Natural History Museum | b. Registration - general | 2.000.000 | |
| Kópavogur Nature Museum | The Experimental Collection | f. Museum education | 1.500.000 | |
| The Living Art Museum | A Campaign for the Preservation of Time-Based Media – Part 3 | c. Preservation | 1.000.000 | |
| The Living Art Museum | Exhibition: Harmonic Tremor | e. Communication - exhibition | 600.000 | |
| The Living Art Museum | The Living Art Museum | e. Communication - exhibition | 700.000 | |
| Borgarfjörður Museum | Prevention of damage to the works of the Borgarnes Art Museum | c. Preservation | 600.000 | |
| The Museum Collection | Safnasafnið's Summer Exhibitions 2026 | e. Communication - exhibition | 1.000.000 | |
| The Museum Collection | In the Light of the Bend - Edition and Study of the Works of Bjarni H. Þórarinsson | e. Communication - Edition | 800.000 | |
| Sagnheimar, local history museum | Registration of objects in Sarp | b. Registration - general | 2.000.000 | |
| Sagnheimar, local history museum | Organization of storage space | c. Preservation | 2.000.000 | |
| Sheep farm in Strandir | A Look at the Present | a. Collection | 800.000 | |
| Sheep farm in Strandir | Photograph registration and analysis | b. Registration - general | 1.000.000 | |
| Sheep farm in Strandir | Basic research and literature review on financial rights | d. Research | 2.000.000 | |
| Icelandic Herring Museum | Strengthening the foundations – increased quality. The importance of strong cooperation between museums and the tourism industry. | g. Collaboration with an accredited museum in other museum activities | 2.400.000 | |
| East Iceland Maritime Museum | Follow-up on comments from the board of trustees, response plans, and emergency kits | c. Preservation | 2.000.000 | |
| East Iceland Technical Museum | Rescue and cataloging of artifacts from the Viking House | g. Collaboration with an accredited museum in other museum activities | 1.000.000 | |
| Fishing Museum | Icelandic Gunsmiths – Research – Registration - Exhibition | d. Research | 1.200.000 | |
| FÍSOS - Association of Icelandic Museums and Museum Professionals | The Museum Magazine Kvistur, Issue 13. | e. Communication - Edition | 1.000.000 | |
| FÍSOS - Association of Icelandic Museums and Museum Professionals | International Museum Day in Iceland, May 18, 2026 | h. Other | 700.000 | |
| FÍSOS - Association of Icelandic Museums and Museum Professionals | FÍSOS School - Ísafjörður | h. Other | 2.000.000 | |
| Icelandic Chapter ICOM | Project of the Icelandic Section of ICOM 2026 | h. Other | 1.500.000 | |
| Icelandic Chapter ICOM | Icelandic Museum Awards 2026 | h. Other | 2.000.000 | |
| The Icelandic Committee of the Blue Shield | Course – First Response to Threats for Museum Staff | c. Preservation | 1.700.000 | |
| Research Center for Museum Studies and AlmaDís Kristinsdóttir | A book about a professional approach to museum education. | e. Communication - Edition | 1.400.000 | |
| Center for Creative Industries Research (Bifröst University) | Museums in Iceland | d. Research | 1.500.000 | |
| Sarps Management Company | DAM System Requirements Analysis for Sarp | h. Other | 2.500.000 | |
| 123 grants | Total | 154.700.000 |
Main Allocation 2026 - Excellence Scholarships
| Beneficiary | Project | 2026 Grant Award | Grant Award 2027 (subject to funding from the Museums Fund) | Grant award 2028 (subject to funding from the Museum Fund) | Total strength |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dalvík Municipality Museum - The Hvoll Museum | Basic exhibition of a new collection, storage locations, and installation of the exhibition | 3.000.000 | 5.000.000 | 3.000.000 | 11.000.000 |
| Hornafjörður Cultural Center | Gamlabud, Honn | 4.000.000 | 3.000.000 | 7.000.000 | |
| Kópavogur Nature Museum | A Community Approach to Museum Research | 2.500.000 | 2.500.000 | 2.500.000 | 7.500.000 |
| The Living Art Museum | The Museum of Modern Art 50 Years | 4.000.000 | 4.000.000 | 4.000.000 | 12.000.000 |
| Borgarfjörður Museum House - Borgarfjörður Folk Museum | A New Permanent Exhibition at the Borgarfjörður Museum | 4.000.000 | 4.000.000 | 8.000.000 | |
| The Museum Collection | Archives of the Margins: Registration, Display, and Responsibility | 3.000.000 | 3.000.000 | 3.000.000 | 9.000.000 |
| Sagnheimar - Local History Museum and Natural History Museum | 400 years since the Turkish raid; New permanent exhibition | 4.000.000 | 4.000.000 | 8.000.000 | |
| East Iceland Maritime Museum | Merger of Fjarðabyggð's museums | 3.500.000 | 3.500.000 | 3.500.000 | 10.500.000 |
| 28.000.000 | 29.000.000 | 16.000.000 | 73.000.000 |
Older Öndvegis Allocations - for the year 2026
| Strengthening | Beneficiary | Project name | 2026 Grant Award |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fellowship 2024-2026 | Reykjavik City History Museum | Handling of the collection in the new storage facility of the Reykjavík City History Museum – cataloging, photography, repacking, and research. | 5.000.000 |
| Fellowship 2024-2026 | Icelandic Film Museum | Film Research at the National Film Archive of Iceland: Standing on the Shoulders of Giants; Loftur Guðmundsson (1892 - 1952) | 5.000.000 |
| Fellowship 2025-2027 | Gerðarsafn - Kópavogur Art Museum | A Research Project on the Artistic Creation of Valgerður Briem | 4.500.000 |
| Fellowship 2025-2027 | Icelandic Design Museum | Designers in an open studio, live exhibition | 3.500.000 |
| Fellowship 2025-2027 | Akureyri Industrial Museum | The Industrial Museum in Akureyri - A New Beginning: Changes to the Permanent Exhibition, Preservation, and Education | 3.000.000 |
| Fellowship 2025-2027 | Reykjanesbær Art Museum | In a new light | 3.000.000 |
| Fellowship 2025-2027 | Reykjavik Art Museum | Graphics - Reykjavík Art Museum | 4.400.000 |
| Fellowship 2025-2027 | Akureyri Art Museum | Preserving Cultural Heritage for the Future - Improving the Documentation, Storage, Conservation, and Presentation of the Art Collection of the Akureyri Art Museum | 5.000.000 |
| Fellowship 2025-2027 | Icelandic Herring Museum | Roald's Break; a new permanent exhibition | 5.000.000 |
| Fellowship 2025-2027 | East Iceland Technical Museum | Design, installation, and material procurement for inaugural exhibitions in the museum's new facility. | 3.500.000 |
| 41.900.000 |
Supplemental Allocation 2026
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