UArctic Congress 2026: A Wonderful Reception in Tórsgøta

The Municipality of Tórshavn sponsored the official reception in Tórsgøta this evening, where guests attending UArctic Congress 2026 enjoyed a rich taste — and sound — of the Faroe Islands.

Just after dinner time this evening, Tórsgøta in downtown Tórshavn became the setting for some of the very best the Faroe Islands have to offer from both kitchen and instruments, as the official reception for participants at the major UArctic conference took place.

Despite the unpredictable May weather, the event was held mostly outdoors, although guests could also enjoy the welcoming atmosphere inside Reinsaríið and Perlan. And the weather certainly did not keep anyone away, as a great number of conference guests from all corners of the world joined the celebration.

A delicious selection of local food was served, including fish soup, scallops, grilled lamb and beef — and naturally there were vegan alternatives as well as sweet treats for dessert.

After a long day at Við Tjarnir filled with speeches, presentations, and discussions, the audience only had to listen to two — shorter and lighter — speeches this time around.

Jóan Petur Hentze, Municipal Director in Tórshavn, and Martin Tvede Zachariasen, Rector of the University of the Faroe Islands, both addressed the crowd, with Magni Mohr, Pro-Rector for Research, serving as master of ceremonies.

As people arrived in Tórsgøta, Sunneva Háberg Eysturstein DJ´ed. Later, Harmadun took the stage and played folk rock deeply rooted in Faroese tradition. The audience may not have known the music beforehand, but they certainly seemed to love it. Later in the evening, a talented ensemble of young students from the Faroese School of Music performed inside Reinsaríið. The group, called Alto, captivated many researchers in attendance — even those with greying temples sat listening with shining eyes to every note.

“Didn’t I promise you this morning a conference dinner unlike anything you had experienced before?” called out Magni Mohr, who had also served as host earlier in the day in the arena at Við Tjarnir.

“And haven’t I kept that promise?” he asked the crowd, who responded with loud applause and a resounding YES!

Jóan Petur Hentze delivered warm greetings from the capital municipality, which has the ambition of making Tórshavn a true university city.

Martin Tvede Zachariasen, Rector of the University of the Faroe Islands, also took the opportunity to explain to the cheerful audience the Faroese tradition of “open house” — something every Faroese person knows well:

"Dear guests, dear colleagues,

Welcome to the opening reception of UArctic Congress 2026. On behalf of the University of the Faroe Islands, host of this conference, I am delighted to welcome you to an evening of Faroese food, culture, and conversation.

Thanks to the municipality, Tórshavnar Kommuna, for sponsoring this event in this charming location right in the heart of Tórshavn — and perhaps the heart of the Faroe Islands as well.

The Faroe Islands has a rapidly growing tourism industry, which means that our hotels and private accommodation are now able to host a relatively large number of guests. At the same time, the number of flights to and from the islands — as well as the number of direct destinations — continues to grow.

As visitors here, let me share a couple of secrets about the Faroese people. I hope that you will experience some of this firsthand during your stay in the Faroe Islands.

The Faroese language is rich in words that carry deep cultural meaning. One of them is gestablíður. The word gestur means “guest”, and blíður means “friendly”. 

Together, the word expresses the Faroese tradition of being welcoming and hospitable towards guests. Just a few decades ago, tourists visiting our small villages might spontaneously have been invited into private homes for food and drink.

Going a bit further back, the tradition was to place so much food and drink on the table for guests to share that the intention was not necessarily for everything to be eaten, but rather to show that there was more than enough for everyone.

And of course, whatever remained could always be enjoyed after the guests had left — which was not a bad outcome either!

More recently, the concept of gestablídni has evolved into the more commercial idea of heimablídni — or “home hospitality” — where private homes are opened to visitors for food and other cultural experiences.

Tonight, you are going to experience something that is closely related to another old Faroese tradition, namely opið hús — or “open house”. This simply means that everyone is welcome to visit a private home for a special occasion, such as a milestone birthday, a christening, or a confirmation celebration.

Forget the bureaucracy of invitation lists and keeping track of "répondez s'il vous plaît" — just announce the time and place.

My mother, who is half Danish and half Faroese, never really got used to this concept and was always worried that she might run out of food. After all, this tradition requires a proper supply of food that can quickly be served to unexpected guests! 

Tonight’s dinner is an “open house” for all participants at UArctic Congress 2026. I am certain that we will not run out of food, so please have a most enjoyable evening!"