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December 31, 2025 - January 3, 2026
Reykjavík, Iceland

The European Founders New Year 2026

The European Founders New Year 2026 is our third annual winter holiday, for founders, investors, and other members of Europe’s startup ecosystem.

Hosted by Startup Network Europe, this year’s version will happen in Iceland, between December 31st – January 3rd.

Costs

There is no ticket fee to attend. You just take care of your own expenses, such as:

  • Food
  • Flights
  • Accommodation
  • The three-day tour (see next section – a tour company will provide this for €783)

Agenda

We will celebrate NYE in Reykjavík, and then we will do a three-day tour of Iceland, in which we will see waterfalls, geysers, a black sand beach, a glacier lagoon, and a blue ice cave. We will also swim in geothermal hot springs.

Day 1: Wednesday, December 31, 2025 – Arrival & New Year’s Eve in Reykjavík

  • Morning/Afternoon: Arrive in Iceland by plane.
  • Evening: At 20:00, we’ll kick off the trip with a special dinner, which will include goal-setting activities for the year ahead.
  • Night: Celebrate New Year’s Eve and enjoy the spectacular celebrations in Reykjavík!
  • Accommodation: You will need to book and pay for your own hotel in Reykjavík for this night.

Day 2: Thursday, January 1, 2026 – The 3-Day Tour Begins

  • Activity: We will embark on our guided 3-day winter tour, heading out to explore the Golden Circle and South Coast.
  • Accommodation: Provided by the tour in Hveragerði Village.

Day 3: Friday, January 2, 2026 – South Coast Adventure Continues

  • Activity: Continuing our journey through Iceland’s stunning winter scenery, including glaciers, lagoons, and ice caves.
  • Accommodation: Provided by the tour in Suðursveit County.

Day 4: Saturday, January 3, 2026 – Tour Finale & Return to Reykjavík

  • Activity: We’ll conclude our three-day tour and travel back to the capital. The tour’s rural accommodations provide a great opportunity to see the Northern Lights!
  • Estimated arrival time in Reykjavík: Around 17:00 for Standard Option and 20:00 if optional Hvammsvík Spa is chosen (depending on weather and road conditions).
  • Accommodation: If you stay in Reykjavík for this night, then you will need to book and pay for your own hotel.

3-Day Winter Tour Details

This is the main event of our trip, covering the best of Iceland’s winter scenery.

  • Tour Link: https://nicetravel.is/iceland-tours/ice-cave-iceland-hot-spring-3-day/
  • Description: This tour will take us to see waterfalls, geysers, a black sand beach, a glacier lagoon, a blue ice cave, and provide opportunities to soak in geothermal hot springs.
  • Cost: The special price for our group is €783, which is a 10% discount from the original €870.
  • Discount Code: startup
  • What’s Included: The tour package includes transportation and two nights of accommodation (Thursday and Friday).

To confirm your attendance:

  • Just book your place on the tour for January 1-3, and let us know.
  • Please note that we make no commissions from your tour purchase.
  • This holiday event is non-profit for us. We enjoy bringing together, and meeting, like-minded people with a passion for startups.
  • Please book your hotels, flights, etc only after reserving your place in the tour (December 14th Update: Only 2 tour places are left – please check this before booking flights, etc).

About the Host: