Iceland holds an almost mythical place in Lithuanian cultural memory as a political David – a small but courageous nation that was the first to express political support for Lithuania’s independence through the Icelandic Althing’s vote on 11 February 1991, followed by the establishment of diplomatic relations in August of the same year.
The year 2026 will mark the 35th anniversary of these historic milestones. Since then, political, business, and cultural ties between the two countries have steadily deepened. Today, an Icelandic community has taken root in Lithuania, while the Lithuanian diaspora in Iceland ranks among the country’s largest foreign communities. Diplomatic relations are maintained through ambassadors accredited to each other’s states, complemented by active honorary consulates in both countries.
However, little is known about the earlier history of these ties, which can be traced back to the Viking era, took intriguing turns during the interwar period and Word War Two, and persisted throughout the Cold War. A key figure who maintained this thread at a time when no official links were possible – since Lithuania did not exist as an independent state – was the linguist and specialist in Indo-European languages, including Lithuanian, and pioneer of Tocharian studies, Jörundur G. Hilmarsson. He was the first to conduct the Icelandic seminar at Vilnius University, the first to teach Lithuanian at the University of Iceland, the first translator of a Lithuanian book into Icelandic, and the first Honorary Consul of Lithuania in Iceland. He would have turned 80 in 2026, and this conference is dedicated to his memory.
The conference will feature a series of talks examining the parallels, contrasts, and interactions between the two countries over time, while also addressing topics directly connected to Jörundur Hilmarsson’s academic and cultural legacy. The conference will also feature an exhibition dedicated to Jörundur Hilmarsson’s memory, followed by a second exhibition by the Icelandic artist Þorgerður Jörundsdóttir who is Jörundur Hilmarsson’s daughter.
The detailed program of the conference and accompanying events can be found here. All events will be held in English.