'Music moves us. It can transform the space we’re in; can transform the mood we’re in. It can transform who we are.’
– Hildur Guðnadóttir
Her music – often intense, poetic and unpolished – moves effortlessly from intimate and vulnerable to overwhelming and immersive. This range is also reflected in four different productions at the festival: her latest work Where To From; a full-length concert at The Concertgebouw with the Iceland Symphony Orchestra; a free-of-charge performance in the Westerpark featuring a new composition written especially for the occasion; and the
music of Chernobyl at the Gashouder.
Camille Blake
Hildur Guðnadóttir associate artist 2026
Icelandic composer Hildur Guðnadóttir (Reykjavik, 1982) is one of the most influential and versatile composers of her generation. She plays the cello, sings and has built an impressive solo repertoire where experimental pop and contemporary music meet. A wide audience may know her music from films such as Joker, for which she won an Academy Award, Tár or the HBO drama series Chernobyl.
Guðnadóttirs personal selection
She also brings a personal selection of works, such as Honor by Suzanne Bocanegra and compositions by Kaija Saariaho, Ryuichi Sakamoto and Arvo Pärt in Naermynd. In addition, Guðnadóttir highlights the groundbreaking composer and vocalist Meredith Monk, with the documentary Monk in Pieces, followed by a conversation between Guðnadóttir and Monk, and Duet Behavior 2026, a collaboration between Monk and the versatile drummer John Hollenbeck. Partly because of her success, Guðnadóttir noticed she became a role model for young, female composers. Therefore, the festival places strong emphasis on female pioneers in (electronic) music.
Hildur’s Movie Picks
Hildur Guðnadóttir presents her personal film selection at Eye Filmmuseum: Hildur’s Movie Picks. Four films in which themes of power and vulnerability, identity and transformation, loneliness and obsession take center stage - each connecting in its own way to her musical universe.
In Joker and Joker: Folie à Deux, Guðnadóttir’s haunting, layered score underscores the portrait of a man - and, in the sequel, a duet - teetering on the edge of the abyss. In Tár, the composer explores the fragility of power and reputation through music. Also featured is the classic Persona by Ingmar Bergman from 1961, one of Guðnadóttir’s favorite films.
Together, these titles form a compelling film program that shows how image and music can elevate, unsettle, and deepen each other - offering a unique opportunity to experience Hildur’s artistic vision through cinema.
listening, transformation and empathy
As the associate artist of the Holland Festival 2026, Hildur Guðnadóttir’s ideas centre around listening, transformation and empathy. Listening helps us pay closer attention and remain open to others. She sees music as a force that can reshape our experience of space and time, and as a means of reconnecting in a world where empathy is in decline. These ideas form the backbone of her role within the festival, guide the programming team’s thematic choices, and are reflected throughout the work of other artists in the programme.