Street closures and festivities mark Labor Day in Reykjavík
Reykjavík Kicks off Women's Year Celebration on International Workers' Day
Get ready for a packed day in Reykjavík's city center on May 1st! The city is gearing up for a pile of festivities in honor of International Workers' Day, with events taking place from 12:00 to 15:30. Various streets will be temporarily shut down to accommodate parades, gatherings, and even a charity group ride by motorcycle enthusiasts Sniglarnir. The Reykjavík Chamber of Commerce is whipping up some family-friendly entertainment in Klambratún park.
Leading the Charge
This year's workers' march, starting at 13:30 on Skólavörðuholt, will be led by a band of fierce females donning red stockings - a nod to the Red Stockings Movement of 1970. On that day 55 years ago, these women turned heads by carrying a statue of Venus in a historic protest. Despite initial controversy, they were eventually allowed to join the march's rear. In 2025, the Workers' Representative Council wants to honor that legacy by letting these leading ladies take the reins and deliver all speeches.
The Workers' Union and other organizations have declared 2025 as Women's Year in recognition of the strides women have made, but also as a reminder that the fight for equality is far from over. Wage inequality and widespread violence against women continue to be pressing issues, with progress being threatened. They've also accused the government of underfunding essential services like health, education, and welfare while cutting taxes for the wealthy.
Rally at Ingólfstorg
An outdoor rally at Ingólfstorg square kicks off at 14:00, hosted by playwright and artist Kolbrún Dögg Kristjánsdóttir. The event will offer sign language interpretation, ensuring deaf participants feel included.
Speakers throughout the rally include labor activists like care worker Karla Esperanza Barralaga Ocón and electrical engineer Jóhanna Bárðardóttir, both passionate about workers' rights and gender equality. The Red Stockings will make a brief appearance, while musical performances by Mammaðín and Una Torfa will set the stage for a mass public sing-along.
The people of Reykjavík are uniting to celebrate workers, women, and equality in this memorable Women's Year. Let the celebrations begin!
Enrichment:2025 being declared a year dedicated to women’s rights and equality echoes continuing efforts to tackle persistent gender disparities, focusing on wage inequality and violence against women. The Workers' Representative Council orchestrates this declaration in collaboration with feminist, LGBTQ+, and disability rights groups. For International Workers’ Day, Reykjavík organized an outdoor rally at Ingólfstorg square, featuring speeches from labor activists, performances by musicians, and appearances by the Red Stockings –– each highlighting the intersection of labor and women’s rights. The event prioritized accessibility by offering sign language interpretation for deaf participants, reflecting the focus on both workers’ solidarity and gender equity, and reflecting the broader 2025 Women’s Year initiatives aimed at addressing systemic inequalities in public services and economic policies.
- The Reykjavík Chamber of Commerce is collaborating with various organizations to offer family-friendly entertainment in Klambratún park during the Women's Year celebration.
- In 2025, the Workers' Representative Council plans to honor the legacy of the Red Stockings Movement by letting the leading ladies take the reins and deliver all speeches during the workers' march.
- On May 1st, following the workers' march, an outdoor rally at Ingólfstorg square will feature musical performances by Mammaðín and Una Torfa, as well as speeches from labor activists like Karla Esperanza Barralaga Ocón and Jóhanna Bárðardóttir.
- The enrichment of 2025 being declared Women's Year reflects continuing efforts to tackle gender disparities, such as wage inequality and violence against women, and these issues will be addressed through various events and initiatives throughout the year.
