IMAGINE PEACE TOWER on Viðey will be lit for the 19th time on Thursday, October 9, at 20:00. A peaceful ceremony will take place on the island, featuring a musical performance by Una Torfadóttir and an address by the Mayor of Reykjavík. Organized guided walks will also be offered. Ferries to Viðey, sponsored by artist Yoko Ono, will depart from Skarfabakki starting at 17:00.
IMAGINE PEACE TOWER is an outdoor artwork by Yoko Ono, inaugurated on Viðey in 2007. Over the years it has become a powerful landmark in Reykjavík and a lasting reminder of the importance of peace—especially in times when conflict persists across the world. Ono created the tower to carry forward the peace message she shared with her husband, John Lennon. Dedicated to him, the light shines every year from his birthday, October 9, until the day of his death, December 8.
The tower’s beam of light, which illuminates the night sky, originates from a sculptural structure in the form of a wishing well, inscribed with the words “IMAGINE PEACE” in 24 languages—echoing John Lennon’s song “Imagine.” Like much of Ono’s art, the work extends beyond one place or moment. It is closely linked to her participatory artwork Wish Tree, which has been shown in hundreds of venues worldwide. Visitors write their hopes and wishes, hanging them on trees; these wishes continue on in connection with the tower, amplifying its message of collective hope.
Sean Lennon, Yoko Ono Lennon, Ringo Starr & Olivia Harrison at the unveiling of IMAGINE PEACE TOWER, Viðey Island, Reykjavík, Iceland. (photo: TetsuRo Hamada © 2007 Yoko Ono)
Yoko Ono (b. 1933) is a pioneering artist, musician, and activist whose work has shaped contemporary art and culture for decades. Emerging in the 1960s, she became a central figure in Fluxus, performance, and conceptual art, often creating participatory works that invite public collaboration. Her practice spans visual art, music, and film, exploring themes of peace, imagination, and collective action.
Ferries and Buses
- On October 9, Yoko Ono is offering free ferry rides to Viðey for the lighting ceremony at 20:00.
- Ferries will depart from Skarfabakki at 17:30, 18:00, 18:30, 19:00, and 19:30, with return trips after the event as needed.
- Each booking is limited to 5 tickets, and a total of 1,200 tickets are available.
- More information is available on Elding’s website.
- Free buses will run from Reykjavík City Hall to Skarfabakki. The first bus departs at 17:30, with service continuing until 19:00.
- The first return ferry after the lighting leaves Viðey at 20:30.
- From 20:40 onward, buses will transport passengers from Skarfabakki back to City Hall until all guests from Viðey have returned.
Programme:
17:45 Guided walk by Reykjavík Art Museum on works by Richard Serra and Yoko Ono
18:00 Historical walk by Reykjavík City Museum
18:45 Guided walk by Reykjavík Art Museum on works by Richard Serra and Yoko Ono
19:00 Historical walk by Reykjavík City Museum
Lighting Ceremony
19:45 Musical performance by Una Torfadóttir at the Peace Tower
19:58 Address by Reykjavík Mayor Heiða Björg Hilmisdóttir
20:00 Lighting of the Imagine Peace Tower accompanied by “Imagine" by John Lennon and Yoko Ono
Refreshments will be available at Viðeyjarstofa.
More information can be found on the websites of the Reykjavík Art Museum, Reykjavík City Museum and IMAGINEPEACETOWER.com
