Landsmot Hestamanna
Landsmot Hestamanna takes place Approx. early Jul 2028 (biennial; the 2026 edition ran Jul 5 - 11 at Holar) in Holar, Iceland. The dress code is Outdoor casual with proper waterproofs and warm layers for changeable Icelandic summer weather; sturdy footwear for wet ground. Typical cost ranges from 600 to 2000 EUR per person.
The biennial national championship of the Icelandic horse, gathering around a thousand horses and several thousand spectators at rotating venues, most recently the historic bishopric of Holar in Hjaltadal. Riders compete in tolt, flying pace and gaited classes that exist nowhere else, alongside breeding evaluations that effectively set the direction of the breed. It runs for a week and functions as a national gathering as much as a competition, with campsites, music and long light evenings.
- When
- Approx. early Jul 2028 (biennial; the 2026 edition ran Jul 5 - 11 at Holar)
- Where
- Holar, Iceland
- Dress code
- Outdoor casual with proper waterproofs and warm layers for changeable Icelandic summer weather; sturdy footwear for wet ground.
- Cost
- Typical cost ranges from 600 to 2000 EUR per person.
- Weather
- 8 - 15C, mild and changeable with long daylight, wind and showers likely
- When to book
- Held every two years, so plan far ahead: camping pitches, guesthouses and hire cars in Skagafjordur go many months out, and the full programme lands a few months before.
- Getting there
- AEY (Akureyri), 1 hr 30 min to venue (KEF Keflavik, around 4 hr 30 min)
- Where to stay
- Hotel Varmahlid, Skagafjordur, Hotel Tindastoll, Saudarkrokur, Deplar Farm, Fljot
- Official site
- https://www.landsmot.is/en
How to attend
Day tickets and full-week passes are sold through landsmot.is, with day passes typically in the ISK 6,000 to 9,000 range and week passes higher. Open to all, no membership needed. Venues rotate between editions, so confirm the location before booking - the north-Iceland sites are a long drive from Reykjavik and a hire car is essential. On-site camping and nearby guesthouses fill early, so book accommodation as soon as the venue is announced.
Insider tip
The breeding evaluations early in the week are quieter and let you stand far closer to the horses than the weekend finals - and the whole thing pairs naturally with a north-Iceland road trip, which is the only sane way to justify the drive.
Get inside Landsmot Hestamanna
Booking matters here: held every two years, so plan far ahead: camping pitches, guesthouses and hire cars in Skagafjordur go many months out, and the full programme lands a few months before. Members track that window, what it really costs, and 573 more events across the season.
Free while in beta. One email when your invitation is ready, nothing else.