2026 Besta deild karla
Football league season
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The 2026 Besta deild karla is the 115th season of top-flight Icelandic Football. It is the fifth season following the league's rebrand as Besta deild karla.[1][2]
| Season | 2026 |
|---|---|
| Dates | 10 April – 24 October 2026 |
← 2025 2027 → | |
Teams
The league consisted of twelve teams; the top ten teams from the previous season, and two teams promoted from the 1. deild karla. Víkingur Reykjavík entered the season as defending champions after winning their seventh title during the previous season.[3]
The promoted teams were the 2025 1. deild karla champions Þór Akureyri and play-off winners Keflavík (promoted to the top division after absences of eleven and two years respectively).[4] They replaced the 2025 Besta deild karla bottom two teams, Vestri and Afturelding.[5]
Changes from the previous season
Promoted to the Besta deild
Relegated to the 1. deild
Personnel and kits
| Team | Manager | Captain | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor (chest) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Breiðablik |  Ólafur Ingi Skúlason |
Höskuldur Gunnlaugsson |
 Nike |
Vörður |
| FH | Jóhannes Karl Guðjónsson |
Ísak Snær Ólafsson |
Nike |
Auður |
| Fram | Rúnar Kristinsson |
 Kennie Chopart |
 Erreà |
Michelsen 1909 |
| KA | Hallgrímur Jónasson |
Ívar Örn Árnason |
Macron |
N1 |
| Keflavík | Haraldur Guðmundsson |
Frans Elvarsson |
 Adidas |
Blue Car Rental |
| KR | Óskar Hrafn Þorvaldsson |
Aron Sigurðarson |
Macron |
Alvotech |
| Stjarnan | Jökull I Elísabetarson |
Guðmundur Kristjánsson |
Puma |
TM |
| Valur | Hermann Hreiðarsson |
Hólmar Örn Eyjólfsson |
Macron |
Saltverk |
| Víkingur Reykjavík | Sölvi Ottesen |
 Oliver Ekroth |
Macron |
Húsasmiðjan |
| ÍA | Lárus Orri Sigurðsson |
Rúnar Már Sigurjónsson |
Puma |
Norðurál |
| ÍBV |  Aleksandar Linta |
Alex Freyr Hilmarsson |
Nike |
N1 |
| Þór Akureyri | Sigurður Heiðar Höskuldsson |
Aron Birkir Stefánsson |
Macron |
Egils Appelsín |
Stadia and locations
Regular season
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Víkingur Reykjavík | 14 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 48 | 9 | +39 | 40 | Qualification for the Championship Round |
| 2 | KR | 14 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 48 | 34 | +14 | 29 | |
| 3 | Fram | 13 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 32 | 25 | +7 | 27 | |
| 4 | Breiðablik | 13 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 32 | 25 | +7 | 22 | |
| 5 | Valur | 14 | 6 | 1 | 7 | 24 | 27 | −3 | 19 | |
| 6 | Keflavík | 13 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 18 | 24 | −6 | 16 | |
| 7 | Stjarnan | 14 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 28 | 31 | −3 | 15 | Qualification for the Relegation Round |
| 8 | ÍBV | 13 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 22 | 26 | −4 | 15 | |
| 9 | ÍA | 13 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 17 | 25 | −8 | 15 | |
| 10 | KA | 13 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 19 | 28 | −9 | 10 | |
| 11 | FH | 13 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 18 | 31 | −13 | 8 | |
| 12 | Þór Akureyri | 13 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 14 | 35 | −21 | 8 |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Head-to-head points; 5) Head-to-head goal difference; 6) Head-to-head goals scored; 7) Head-to-head away goals scored; 8) Play-off (only for deciding champion); 9) Draw.[6][7]
Results
Team play each other twice (once at home and once away) for a total of 22 games each.[8]