BORGARBÓKASAFNIÐ
A festive atmosphere filled Borgarleikhúsið (Reykjavík City Theatre) on Saturday evening as Stories: The Children's Awards 2026 was celebrated for the seventh time. Awards were presented based on the results of a nationwide children's vote recognizing the best and most entertaining children's cultural content of the past year.
Inga Sóllilja Arnarsdóttir received two awards: TV Star of the Year and Best Voice Performance for her dubbing of Lilo in Lilo & Stitch. The children's book The Principal by Ævar Þór Benediktsson also won two awards at the ceremony. The book was named Best Book and Best Illustrated Book, with illustrations by Elín Elísabet Einarsdóttir.
A total of ten awards were presented for the best books, television programs, stage productions, and music for children and young people, in addition to an honorary award. This year's honorary award went to TV-show Our Time (Stundin okkar), which is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year.
Last but not least, children themselves were recognized for their own creative work, with awards presented for categories including original songs, short stories, short films, and plays.
Best Short Stories 2026: Emma, the Polar Bear and the Purple Shovel (Emma, ísbjörninn og fjólubláa skóflan) by Valdís Eir Óskarsdóttir and The Keepsake (Nistið) by Lovísa Hind Þorsteinsdóttir.
Best Short Films 2026: The Black Hole (Svartholið) by Móeiður Ronja Davíðsdóttir, The Lost Milk (Týnda mjólkin) by Karítas Magnúsdóttir and The Glasses (Gleraugun) by Þórunn Obba Gunnarsdóttir and Guðfinna Kristný Helgadóttir.
Best Plays 2026: The Square (Torgið) by Ásgeir Atli Rúnarsson and Aliens on a Visit! (Geimverur í heimsókn!) by Axel Freyr Garðarsson, Hilmar Birkisson, Hreinn Atli Gunnarsson, and Sævar Hrafn Garðarsson
Best Songs 2026: School Friend (Skólavinur) by Auður Helga Aradóttir Einarsdóttir, performed by Klara Elías, Pajama Party (Náttfatapartý) by Eva Máney Ingibergsdóttir and Sara Lovísa Gunnarsdóttir, performed by Jóhanna Guðrún, and Let's Go Into Space (Förum út í geim) by Ómar Elí Fannarsson, performed by VÆB
Stories (Sögur) is a collaborative project involving seven organizations: the Reykjavík City Library, Reykjavík City Theatre, UNESCO City of Literature Reykjavík, KrakkaRÚV, Arts for All, the Centre for Education and School Development, and the Department of Education and Youth of the City of Reykjavík.
Further information about the winners in each category can be found here.
Further information about Stories (Sögur) can be found here.