World in Words: Icelandic Manuscripts Exhibition at Árnastofnun

World in Words at the Árni Magnússon Institute in Reykjavík offers visitors a rare opportunity to encounter Iceland's most precious cultural heritage: its medieval manuscripts. These extraordinary documents preserve ancient sagas, poems, and a wealth of other texts that illuminate how earlier generations understood their lives, their society, and the world around them.

The exhibition explores the rich and layered world of the manuscripts, where themes of life and death, passion and religion, and honour and power intertwine. It examines how overseas influences shaped Icelandic medieval society and language, while also tracing the lasting impact Icelandic literature has had beyond the country's borders.

Creation sits at the heart of the experience — the physical making of the manuscripts, the world they emerged from, and the living, evolving nature of language itself. Visitors engage with the material through multiple formats: original manuscript displays, informative text panels, touch screens, documentary videos, spoken readings, and hands-on interactive elements.

The exhibition is suitable for adults, seniors, students, children, and visitors with disabilities, with dedicated price categories available for each group. The meeting point is Edda at Arngrímsgata 5 in Reykjavík, and the full experience takes approximately 50 minutes.

Your visit to World in Words begins at the Edda building on Arngrímsgata in central Reykjavík. The exhibition is self-guided and designed to be explored at your own pace within the 50-minute duration.

• Manuscript displays: View original Icelandic manuscripts up close, including celebrated sagas and poems that have shaped the nation's identity.
• Multimedia engagement: Interact with touch screens, watch documentary videos, and listen to readings that bring the texts to life.
• Thematic storytelling: Follow the exhibition's narrative arc — from the physical creation of manuscripts to their cultural legacy and the living nature of the Icelandic language.
• Interactive play: Hands-on elements make the content accessible and engaging for visitors of all ages.

Price categories cover adults, children (0–17 years), seniors (67+ years), students, and visitors with disabilities, ensuring the exhibition is accessible to a wide range of guests.

The World in Words exhibition at the Árni Magnússon Institute is one of the most culturally significant experiences available in Reykjavík. Iceland's manuscript tradition is unique in the world, and this exhibition presents it with scholarly depth and creative flair.

• Operated by Árnastofnun, Iceland's foremost institution for manuscript research and preservation
• Combines original artefacts with modern multimedia for a layered, engaging visit
• Centrally located in Reykjavík, easy to reach on foot or by public transport
• Inclusive pricing for children, seniors, students, and visitors with disabilities
• A compact 50-minute format that fits naturally into any Reykjavík itinerary