The event

Landsmót, The National Icelandic Horse Competition

The National Icelandic Horse Competition, known to Icelanders as the “Landsmót” is the largest outdoor sporting event in Iceland showcasing Iceland’s best horses and riders. Information for tickets are available here

Started in 1950 at Thingvellir National Park

The first Landsmot was held at the Thingvellir National Park in 1950, and has since then grown into the full blown bi-annual country festival that it is today.  The Landsmot has been held at rotating locations around Iceland since the beginning  in 1950. At Landsmot at Hella South Iceland in 2008, attendance reached a record high of 14.000 people.  

Gæðingakeppni, Tölt and breeding horses

The main theme of the event is an all Icelandic Riding Horse Competition“Gæðingakeppni” where riders of all ages and their horses compete in an event composed of showing all five gaits of the Icelandic horse,  Tölt, trot, walk, gallop and Pace.  The parallel theme is a competition and show of breeding horses, were the best stallions and breeding mares are shown and rated.   As Tölt is the most treasured gait of the Icelandic horse, the highlight of the Landsmot is always the Tölt Competition where the best Tölt horses and their riders compete for the Landsmot Tölt Champion Title.

All Icelandic Country Festival for the whole Family

The event is a week long, acquiring over 100 volunteers a total staff of over 200.  Apart from being a horse competition, the event is a popular spectator and family Country Festival.  The Landsmot area is transformed into a village featuring a large camp site,  markets with a variety of goods, children’s playgrounds,  a line-up of Icelandic entertainers performing during the week,  and a number of Icelandic food vendor offering a wide variety of culinary choices.