You’ve seen the videos. Massive rivers of orange fire swallowing roads, drones melting as they hover over fissures, and the sirens of Grindavík echoing across a mossy, desolate landscape. It looks like the end of the world. But if you’re standing in downtown Reykjavík today, honestly? You’d probably never know anything was happening.
Iceland is basically a giant geological experiment that never ends.
Right now, as we move through January 2026, the situation with active volcanoes in Iceland today is a weird mix of "quiet" and "ticking time bomb." We aren't seeing a massive sky-blackening eruption like Eyjafjallajökull back in 2010. Instead, we’re dealing with a relentless, slow-motion cycle on the Reykjanes Peninsula. It’s a pattern of magma filling up underground, the ground bulging like a balloon, and then—pop—a new fissure opens up.
The Reykjanes Peninsula: Why It Won’t Stop
The "hot spot" (literally) is the Sundhnúkur crater row. This area has been the epicenter of activity for the last few years. The most recent eruption there wrapped up in August 2025, but the story didn't end when the lava stopped flowing.
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Magma is still accumulating.
According to the Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO), the ground near Svartsengi—which is right by the Blue Lagoon and the remains of the town of Grindavík—is rising again. As of mid-January 2026, experts estimate that about 19 million cubic meters of magma have gathered in the reservoir beneath the surface.
That is a staggering amount of molten rock.
The scientists are pretty clear: as long as that magma keeps flowing in from the deep crust, another eruption is basically inevitable. They’re tracking it 24/7. When will it blow? It could be next week. It could be three months from now. The uncertainty is the part that makes travel planning feel like a game of roulette.
What about the "Tourist Volcano"?
People keep asking where they can go to see "the" volcano. There isn't just one. The famous Fagradalsfjall site that went viral in 2021 is currently quiet. You can hike there and see the cold, black lava fields—which are still incredible—but don’t expect a light show.
The current active zone near Sundhnúkur is a different beast.
It’s often closed to the public because it's dangerous. We aren't talking about a pretty mountain peak; we're talking about a 2-kilometer-long crack in the earth that spews gas and fire. If you try to sneak in, the SAR (Search and Rescue) teams will be unhappy. They have enough to do without chasing "lava chasers" through toxic sulfur dioxide clouds.
The Sleeping Giants: Hekla, Katla, and Askja
While everyone is staring at the Reykjanes Peninsula, there are other monsters in the room.
Hekla is the one that keeps geologists up at night. Back in the Middle Ages, people thought it was the actual gateway to Hell. It used to erupt every ten years like clockwork. Now? It’s been quiet since 2000. It is "overdue" by any metric you want to use. The pressure readings at Hekla are now significantly higher than they were before the last eruption.
The scary thing about Hekla is the warning time. You usually get about 30 to 80 minutes of earthquake activity before the mountain literally unzips. If you’re hiking on it when that happens, you’re in serious trouble.
Askja, way up in the remote Highlands, is also acting up. The lake there, Öskjuvatn, usually stays frozen deep into the year, but recently it's been melting early because of geothermal heat. The ground is rising there, too. It’s remote, so an eruption wouldn’t hurt anyone, but it sure would make for some wild satellite photos.
Katla is the big one. It sits under the Mýrdalsjökull glacier. When Katla goes, it doesn't just produce lava; it produces "jökulhlaups"—massive, catastrophic floods of meltwater and ice. There was a small earthquake swarm there recently, but for now, the "Queen of Iceland" is just snoring.
Is it actually safe to visit Iceland right now?
Kinda. Mostly.
The biggest misconception is that a volcano in Iceland means the whole country is on fire. Iceland is roughly the size of Kentucky or South Korea. If there’s an eruption on the Reykjanes Peninsula, people in Akureyri (the north) or even Vík (the south) are going about their lives, drinking coffee and complaining about the price of gas.
Here is the reality of active volcanoes in Iceland today for a traveler:
- The Airport: Keflavík International Airport is very close to the active zone. However, these Reykjanes eruptions are "effusive," meaning they produce runny lava, not massive ash clouds. Flights have rarely been cancelled during this recent cycle.
- The Blue Lagoon: This is the tricky part. The lagoon has had to evacuate several times in the last year. If you book a slot, just know there's a 10% chance it might get cancelled due to "seismic unrest."
- The Air Quality: This is what most people forget. Even if you can’t see the lava, the wind can carry sulfur dioxide (SO2) for miles. If you have asthma or heart issues, you need to check the forecast on Vedur.is every single morning.
Practical Steps for Your Trip
If you’re heading to Iceland this month, don't just wing it. The landscape is literally changing under your feet.
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First, download the SafeTravel.is app. It’s the gold standard. They send push notifications if a road is closed or if a volcano starts acting up. Honestly, it’s better than any weather app.
Second, don't rely on Instagram for your "active" volcano info. A photo from three days ago might as well be from three years ago in Iceland. Check the live webcams hosted by RÚV (the national broadcaster). If you don't see orange on the screen, there's no lava flowing.
Lastly, respect the closures. If the police have blocked a road near Grindavík, it’s not because they want to ruin your vacation. It’s because the ground could literally crack open or a pocket of invisible, lethal gas could be sitting in a valley.
Iceland is a place where nature doesn't care about your itinerary. Embrace the chaos, stay flexible, and keep your gas tank full. Whether an eruption happens today or three months from now, the raw power of the land is always there, bubbling just a few kilometers beneath your boots.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check the daily status of the Reykjanes Peninsula at en.vedur.is before booking any tours.
- Register your travel plan at SafeTravel.is so authorities know where you are if a sudden eruption occurs.
- Monitor the SO2 air quality levels if you are staying in the Reykjanes or Reykjavík area.
- If the Sundhnúkur area is closed, book a hike to the Fagradalsfjall 2021/2022 lava fields to see the fresh (but cooled) volcanic terrain safely.