18–20 September 2026

On Saturday, Skúli Bragi Geirdal, head of department at Netvís, and Ólafur Stefánsson, former captain of the Icelandic national handball team, each gave a talk before leading workshops with the participants. Skúli talked about how apps and algorithms are designed to keep users glued to the screen – and how we can take back control. Ólafur talked about psychological flexibility and how this ability helps us stay true to our own values and goals.

The talks were the starting point for three workshops – Grow Stronger, Blossom and Connect – on physical, mental and social health in relation to screen use. The Youth Council itself led Connect, which looked at how screen use affects communication and relationships with other people.

The weekend also offered a variety of team-building activities, a pool party, evening events and home group work, where participants worked together across ages and regions.

On Sunday, participants took part in café conversations with members of parliament and other influential people. The guests included:

• Bergþór Ólason, MP for the Centre Party.
• Guðmundur Ari Sigurjónsson, MP for the Social Democratic Alliance.
• Halla Hrund Logadóttir, MP for the Progressive Party.
• Bryndís Haraldsdóttir, MP for the Independence Party.
• María Rut Kristinsdóttir, MP for the Liberal Reform Party.
• Ingvar Þóroddsson, MP for the Liberal Reform Party.
• Silja Sóley Birgisdóttir, Socialist Party city councillor in Reykjavík.
• Einar Jóhannes Guðnason, Centre Party representative in Kópavogur.
• Salma Björt Önnudóttir, representative of the Centre Party youth movement.
• Embla Líf Hallsdóttir, chair of Ungar athafnakonur (Young Businesswomen).
• Þórhildur Vala Kjartansdóttir, police duty officer.
• Jóhann Steinar Ingimundarson, Chair of UMFÍ.
• Kolbrún Ósk Pétursdóttir, project manager at Æskulýðsvettvangurinn.
• Patrekur Jóhannesson, former elite handball player, coach and staff member at the ÍSÍ Elite Sport Centre.
• Silja Úlfarsdóttir, sports punk, coach and athletes’ agent.

The guests sat at tables and participants chose where to sit depending on who they wanted to talk to – about every 10 minutes a signal was given and people moved on to talk to someone new. Participants were happy with the conversations: “It went really well and the discussions were varied. The decision-makers did well,” said one, and another added: “A great idea and an opportunity you really don’t often get, to talk to MPs and other people.”

In a survey after the weekend, participants expressed great satisfaction with the programme and the organisation: “It was good encouragement to get off the phone and get to know people, and it was very well organised,” said one participant, and another: “The speakers and the workshops were very good.” The home groups also received kind words: “It was really fun to have home groups like this because you get to know them so well, and it creates such a fun atmosphere, competitive spirit and team spirit in the group.”

Participants came from all parts of the country. A bus left Reykjavík with a stop in Borgarnes, another left Akureyri with a stop in Sauðárkrókur, and rental cars brought participants from Egilsstaðir and Höfn – while some came on their own.