Aurora
Destinations · Iceland
Iceland northern lights forecast
Tonight · Thursday 29 October
Good tonight
A good night to plan around.
Medium confidenceBest viewing hours
In the app
Clearest dark hours tonight
Why
Updated 12:55 local time · A forecast, not a guarantee
Tomorrow and the night after are in the app
Can you see the northern lights in Iceland?
At Keflavík Airport, at least two dark hours were free of low cloud on 48% of September–March nights over 10 winters (2016–26); December was the clearest month (58%).
For the night of Thursday 29 October 2026, the chance of seeing the northern lights in Reykjavík is 50% (Good, medium confidence), with mostly clear skies, a bright moon and quiet solar activity.
Best time to see the northern lights in Iceland
| Month | Low cloud clear1 | Darkness2 |
|---|---|---|
| Sep | 41% | 8 h |
| Oct | 41% | 11 h |
| Nov | 54% | 14 h |
| Dec | 58% | 15 h |
| Jan | 50% | 14 h |
| Feb | 45% | 12 h |
| Mar | 44% | 9 h |
- Share of nights with at least two dark hours free of broken or overcast low cloud in the reports from Keflavík Airport, 10 winters (2016–26). Airport reports often can't see cloud above 1,500 m, so this counts low cloud only.
- Hours with the sun 12° or more below the horizon, on the 15th of the month.
Dark, moon-free nights in Iceland
Each night shows how many dark hours have no moonlight. Plan your trip around the long stretches, then let the forecast pick the night.
October 2026
November 2026
December 2026
January 2027
Next moon-free stretches
- 2–19 Novemberup to 13 dark hours a night without moonlight
- 29 November – 18 Decemberup to 15 dark hours a night without moonlight
- 28 December – 15 Januaryup to 14 dark hours a night without moonlight
- 25 January – 12 Februaryup to 13 dark hours a night without moonlight
How accurate is the Iceland aurora forecast?
The forecast hasn't been tested against aurora cameras here, because no public labelled camera data exists for this region. It runs at medium confidence, and we make no accuracy claim for it.
Tips for seeing the aurora in Iceland
- Darkness is the first limit: about 8 dark hours in mid-September, 15 in mid-December and 9 in mid-March.
- Clouds are the second. October had the fewest nights free of low cloud at the airport (41%), so plan a few nights, not one.
- A bright moon washes out faint aurora; strong displays still show. Use the calendar above to find the moon-free stretches.
- Get away from street lights and give your eyes 15 minutes to adjust. A phone camera often shows more colour than the eye.
Iceland northern lights: questions
Can I see the northern lights in Iceland tonight?
For the night of Thursday 29 October 2026, the chance of seeing the northern lights in Reykjavík is 50% (Good, medium confidence), with mostly clear skies, a bright moon and quiet solar activity. The forecast on this page is issued once a day; the app updates it through the evening.
What is the best month to see the northern lights in Iceland?
In our data the sky was clearest in December (58% of nights). The season runs from September to March, when the nights are dark enough.
When is the next dark, moon-free stretch in Iceland?
2–19 November: up to 13 dark hours a night without moonlight. Whether aurora shows on those nights depends on activity and clouds, which can only be forecast a few days ahead.
How accurate is the aurora forecast for Iceland?
The forecast hasn't been tested against aurora cameras here, because no public labelled camera data exists for this region. It runs at medium confidence, and we make no accuracy claim for it.
Do I need the app?
No. This page shows one forecast a day for free. The Aurora app adds live cloud updates, the next two nights, any location, and an alert when a night is worth going out.
