Earthquakes in Iceland — January 2026
3 earthquakes were recorded in Iceland during January 2026, an average of 0.1 per day.
3 reached magnitude 4 or above and 1 reached magnitude 5 or above. The average focal depth was 10 km.
The month's largest event in Iceland was a magnitude 5.3 earthquake near Akureyri, Iceland on 31 January 2026 at 11:54 UTC. A magnitude 5.3 earthquake radiates roughly 1,344 tons of TNT equivalent in seismic energy.
That is well above the Iceland monthly average of 2 events over the period we cover — an unusually active month, and up from the 1 recorded the previous month.
100% of events here are shallow (under 70 km), 0% intermediate (70–300 km) and 0% deep-focus (over 300 km). Almost everything here is crustal. That is characteristic of transform faulting or continental deformation rather than subduction — and it means shaking at the surface is strong for the magnitudes involved.
By band, the catalogue holds 2 in the magnitude 4 range, 1 in the magnitude 5 range.
The month's largest events were M5.3 near Akureyri, Iceland on 31 January at 10 km; M4.5 near Akureyri, Iceland on 22 January at 10 km; M4.4 near Akureyri, Iceland on 01 January at 10 km.
That is 27% above the 2 events Iceland averages per month across the 14 months on record.
Largest earthquakes in Iceland, January 2026
3 events listed below, newest first. Times are UTC. Click any column header to re-sort.
| Time (UTC) | Mag | Location | Depth (km) | Country | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.3 | Akureyri, Iceland | 10.0 | Iceland | View details View | |
| 4.5 | Akureyri, Iceland | 10.0 | Iceland | View details View | |
| 4.4 | Akureyri, Iceland | 10.0 | Iceland | View details View |
Frequently asked questions
How many earthquakes hit Iceland in January 2026?
3 earthquakes were recorded in Iceland during January 2026, of which 3 were magnitude 4 or above.
What was the biggest earthquake in Iceland in January 2026?
A magnitude 5.3 event near Akureyri, Iceland on 31 January 2026.
Other months in Iceland
Magnitudes for January 2026 reflect the current USGS review status and may have been revised since first publication. See our guides on the magnitude scale, focal depth and why earthquakes cluster.