Come to the Multicultural Congress on Thursday

Around forty people have already registered for the Hafnarfjörður Multicultural Congress 2026, which will be held at Hafnarborg on 16 April from 18:00 to 20:30. The congress is a platform for residents, NGOs, and staff to discuss diversity, community participation, and how to strengthen a good community for all.

“We intend to discuss the work being done to strengthen the community in a multicultural context. There will also be guest presentations from the organisation GETA and the Icelandic Red Cross, who will go over their support work here in Hafnarfjörður,” says Hildur Ýr Jónsdóttir, Multicultural Project Manager at the Municipality of Hafnarfjörður.

“A congress like this is important for having the conversation about how we can strengthen our work and do better so that our community can grow and meet multiculturalism in a natural way.”

But is there really much multiculturalism in Hafnarfjörður? “Yes, 18.8% of residents here have foreign citizenship according to the National Registry. That is a similar proportion to the national average, and we care deeply that the entire community welcomes new residents well,” says Hildur Ýr.

“At the Multicultural Congress, we will work on projects together and identify initiatives we can take forward. This is a dialogue with residents about multiculturalism. After the presentations there will be workshops where we discuss points of contact with multiculturalism in Hafnarfjörður. There we want to hear personal experiences, ideas, and different perspectives so that we can strengthen what is being done well and find ways to improve what needs improvement.”

Hildur Ýr Jónsdóttir leads the way at the first Multicultural Congress of the Municipality of Hafnarfjörður. The aim is to create an open dialogue about the state of multiculturalism in Hafnarfjörður, the challenges faced by people of diverse backgrounds, and the opportunities found in a diverse community. Emphasis will be placed on solutions, cooperation, and services that reach everyone.