ReykjavÃÂk Pride (Icelandic: Hinsegin dagar ÃÂ ReykjavÃÂk) is Iceland's largest human rights festival, focused on LGBT+ issues. The festival has been held annually in ReykjavÃÂk since 1999.
The first queer celebration in ReykjavÃÂk, a queer weekend (Icelandic: Hinsegin helgi), was held by Samtökin '78 in 1999 with a program at Ingólfstorg square. About 1,500 visitors attended to commemorate the 30 years anniversary of the Stonewall riots. A year later, in August 2000, the first Pride Parade was held in ReykjavÃÂk, which was given the Icelandic name Gleðigangan (English: the joy walk) and was part of a three-day celebrations in ReykjavÃÂk. Reykjavik Pride had then been founded as an independent organisation under the leadership of Heimir Már Pétursson and ÃÂorvaldar Kristinsson. Previously, freedom marches had taken place in ReykjavÃÂk in 1993 and 1994 where gays and lesbians demanded equality. The attendance of the first ReykjavÃÂk Pride Parade was beyond expectations and it has been stated that up to 12,000 visitors attended the city centre. Since then, ReykjavÃÂk Pride has been held annually in the ReykjavÃÂk, the festival's program is longer and the number of events has increased. Today, ReykjavÃÂk Pride is Iceland's biggest annual festival, with over 100,000 guests visiting the city centre during the Pride Parade.