Is Katla Volcano Erupting? 2026 Update

As of May 2026, Katla, Iceland's most powerful subglacial volcano, remains under close watch. While it hasn't erupted since 1918, scientists continue to track every seismic shift and meltwater change. In July 2024, a significant jökulhlaup (glacier-outburst flood) from Katla's caldera caused damage to parts of Iceland's Ring Road, briefly raising the Aviation Color Code to Yellow before it was downgraded back to Green.

Katla remains unpredictable. Volcanologists from Iceland and worldwide are closely monitoring its activity using advanced technology, tracking potential warning signs.

Katla sits beneath the Mýrdalsjökull glacier in south Iceland, north of the village of Vík í Mýrdal. The caldera measures 9 x 14 km (5.6 x 8.7 miles) and is buried under ice up to 700 m (2,300 ft) thick, which is what makes Katla's eruptions so dangerous: when magma melts the ice above it, the meltwater can be released in hours as a glacier-outburst flood (jökulhlaup). Katla has erupted at least 21 times over the past 1,100 years, with an average gap of about 50 years between events. Its last major eruption was in 1918.

For Katla's full geology, mythology, and visiting info, see our Katla volcano attraction page.

Scientists can't predict the exact timing, but the 1918 silence is now the longest in Katla's recorded history. The most recent significant unrest was the July 2024 jökulhlaup, when 30 earthquakes up to magnitude 2.2 were detected near the volcano, and the Aviation Color Code briefly rose to Yellow before returning to Green. The Icelandic Meteorological Office continues to monitor seismicity, geothermal activity, and meltwater chemistry around Mýrdalsjökull, and as of May 2026, there is no immediate sign of an eruption.

Seismic activity around Katla has been observed at multiple points over the past decade. The last major earthquake in the region was a 4.5-magnitude tremor on July 27, 2017, followed by a 3.2-magnitude aftershock, which temporarily raised the aviation warning level to Yellow.

In 2018, volcanologists noted significant CO₂ emissions from Katla, but Icelandic geophysicists emphasized that further research was needed before drawing conclusions about an imminent eruption. In §May 2023, an intense seismic swarm produced three earthquakes between magnitudes 4.5 and 4.8 within ten minutes, again raising the Color Code to Yellow before it returned to Green within a week. The July 2024 jökulhlaup was the most recent significant event. A small earthquake swarm in January 2026 produced no alert change.

Iceland has had nine eruptions on the Reykjanes Peninsula since December 2023, all in the Sundhnúkur crater series north of Grindavík. The most recent ended on August 5, 2025, after 21 days. All nine have been fissure lava flows rather than explosive ash, so air travel and Reykjavík haven't been affected. As of April 2026, the IMO reports more magma is now stored beneath the area than at any prior point in the series, with another eruption considered likely in the coming months. For live updates on Iceland's volcanic activity, see our Iceland eruption updates page.

From around 1500, most eruptions in the historical record have begun between late spring and autumn. There’s no clear reason for this, but it might be caused by added pressure under the glacier in spring, summer, and fall.

Katla is a volcano, so there’s no set time frame, but eruptions have ranged from two weeks to five months or longer. In 1823, Katla erupted for 28 days, which is considered a short Katla eruption. In 1755, Katla erupted for 120 days, the longest one on record.

Katla last erupted on October 12, 1918. The eruption lasted 24 days, sent an ash plume up to 14 km (8.7 miles) into the atmosphere, and melted enough ice to produce a glacial flood with peak flow around 300,000 m³/s (11 million cubic feet per second). The flood briefly extended Iceland's south coast by 4 km (2.5 miles) before the meltwater drained.

There may have been minor subglacial eruptions in 1955, 1999, and 2011 that didn't break through the ice, but none qualified as full eruptions. So 1918 is the date that counts, and 108 years later, that silence is the longest pause in Katla's recorded history.

Damage and environmental impact due to eruptions from the Katla volcanic system are mainly caused by tephra, runoffs from a subglacial eruption, lava flows, lightning strikes, and earthquakes. Tephra and meltwater runoffs from subglacial eruptions are the most common cause of damage. Katla has sometimes ruined the land for farmers, and some farms were even deserted. Animals have had to seek grass in new places and/or be taken inside.

The record for the most damage still dates to around the year 934 when the Eldgjá eruption flowed lava down into Álftaver, Meðalland, and Landbrot. Nowadays, an eruption could affect air transportation, and roads might be closed.

For generations, Icelanders have lived alongside active volcanoes; it’s just part of life here. There’s a reason Iceland is called the Land of Fire and Ice. Eruptions happen every few years, sometimes even more frequently, and locals are used to the cycle.

When Fagradalsfjall erupted in 2021, ending 800 years of silence on the Reykjanes Peninsula, many Icelanders headed straight out to see it. The eruption was far enough from any community that no evacuations were needed, and it became known as Iceland's first "tourist eruption," with hundreds of thousands of visitors hiking out to watch lava up close.

So when Katla shows signs of stirring, there's a similar mix of curiosity and anticipation. It's a powerful force of nature, but one that Icelanders have learned to live with.

Iceland knows how to handle eruptions. With top-tier monitoring, clear evacuation plans, and swift action, volcanic activity rarely causes real danger. Scientists track every tremor, gas release, and temperature shift, so authorities can respond before things escalate.

The 2010 Eyjafjallajökull eruption proved this system works. Flights were grounded for around six days, but no one was harmed, and residents were safely evacuated within hours. More recently, the ongoing Reykjanes eruption series, with nine events between December 2023 and August 2025, has shown how smoothly Iceland manages volcanic events. Visitors have been able to watch from safe distances without disruption to daily life.

If Katla erupts, the same level of preparedness applies. Iceland’s emergency teams are always ready, keeping locals and travelers informed, safe, and, if needed, swiftly relocated.

If you want to see Katla up close, the Kötlujökull ice cave on its glacier is open year-round. See our Katla ice cave tour for departure times and pickup options.