Höfn Lobster FestivalHumarhátíð Þorláksmessu

The Höfn Lobster Festival is a lively local celebration held in late June in the small town of Höfn on Iceland’s southeast coast. Featuring Höfn’s title as the nation’s "lobster capital", it showcases local langoustine (lobster) dishes, seafood markets and live music. The festival originated to honor the town’s prime catch and involves communal dinners, cooking competitions, and tavern nights. It is a quarterly highlight where Icelanders and guests enjoy lobster platters, folk music, and cultural exhibitions. Tourists attending Höfn at this time can enjoy fresh-melted lobster dishes and partake in town parades and harborfront gatherings 1.

Höfn’s identity is tied to its unique catch of spiny lobsters (langoustines). The festival reflects the community’s pride in its fishing heritage and brings together families and fishermen alike. It has become an annual midsummer tradition that highlights local gastronomy and the sea-faring lifestyle of Hornafjörður. The celebrations give visitors a taste of East Icelandic culture and underscore the town’s connection to the ocean.