At the heart of Reykjavík’s sports district in Laugardalur lies the future of Icelandic handball: a brand-new national indoor arena with capacity for 8,300 spectators and room for over 12,000 in event mode. The project is a key piece in Iceland’s plan to host part of the 2031 IHF World Men’s Handball Championship alongside Denmark and Norway.
The current venue, Laugardalshöll, dates back to the 1960s and, although iconic, no longer meets the size or facility standards expected of modern top-tier indoor sports arenas. The new hall will be purpose-built for handball, volleyball, basketball and major events, offering vastly improved spectator capacity and technical infrastructure.
With the 2031 World Championship already awarded to the trio of Denmark, Norway and Iceland, Iceland faces a clear imperative: without a compliant arena, the country risks having to pull out of hosting its share of games.
Já Laugardalshöll er krækiber – ný þjóðarhöll verður mun stærri. Þessi staðsetning er ekki rétt en góð til samanburðar – stærð nýrrar þjóðarhallar verður á þessu reiki. Úr 2.200 sæta höll í 8.300 sæta gryfju. Glæst framtíð innanhúsíþrótta er tryggð. #handbolti pic.twitter.com/XhWxULQPrt
— Höllin er úrelt (@Nyjahollstrax) October 24, 2025