2026 Besta deild karla
| Season | 2026 |
|---|---|
| Dates | 10 April 2026 – 24 October 2026 |
← 2025 2027 → | |
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]
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 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 | Heimir Guðjónsson | Björn Daníel Sverrisson | Nike | Auður |
| Fram | Rúnar Kristinsson | Kennie Chopart | Erreà | Michelsen 1909 |
| ÍA | Lárus Orri Sigurðsson | Rúnar Már Sigurjónsson | Puma | Norðurál |
| ÍBV | Þorlákur Már Árnason | Alex Freyr Hilmarsson | Nike | N1 |
| KA | Hallgrímur Jónasson | Ívar Örn Árnason | Macron | N1 |
| 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 | Sölvi Ottesen | Oliver Ekroth | Macron | Húsasmiðjan |
| Þór Akureyri | Sigurður Heiðar Höskuldsson | Aron Birkir Stefánsson | Macron | Egils Appelsín |
| Keflavík | Haraldur Guðmundsson | Frans Elvarsson | Adidas | Blue Car Rental |
Stadia and locations
Regular season
League Table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Breiðablik | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Qualification for the Championship Round |
| 2 | FH | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 3 | Fram | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 4 | ÍA | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 5 | ÍBV | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 6 | KA | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 7 | Keflavík | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Qualification for the Relegation Round |
| 8 | KR | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 9 | Stjarnan | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 10 | Valur | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 11 | Víkingur Reykjavík | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 12 | Þór Akureyri | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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 played each other twice (once at home and once away) for a total of 22 games each.[8]
Championship Round
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | TBD | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Qualification for the Champions League first qualifying round |
| 2 | TBD | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Qualification for the Conference League second qualifying round |
| 3 | TBD | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Qualification for the Conference League first qualifying round |
| 4 | TBD | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 5 | TBD | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 6 | TBD | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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.[9]
Results
Teams play each other once for the third time (either at home or away) for a total of 5 games each.
References
- ^ Magnússon, H. "Mótalisti KSÍ 2026: Upphaf Bestu deildarinnar". ksi.is (in Icelandic). Knattspyrnusamband Íslands. Retrieved 18 January 2026.
- ^ "Íslenskur fótbolti: Spá og leikjadagskrá 2026". fotbolti.net (in Icelandic). 10 January 2026. Retrieved 18 January 2026.
- ^ Ólafsson, H. "Víkingur Íslandsmeistari 2025". mbl.is (in Icelandic). Morgunblaðið. Retrieved 18 January 2026.
- ^ "Lengjudeild karla 2025: Lokastaða". ksi.is (in Icelandic). Knattspyrnusamband Íslands. Retrieved 18 January 2026.
- ^ "Baráttan í neðri hlutanum: Vestri og Afturelding falla". fotbolti.net (in Icelandic). September 2025. Retrieved 18 January 2026.
- ^ "Besta deild karla 2026 - Season rules". Soccerway. Retrieved 18 January 2026.
- ^ "Reglugerð KSÍ um knattspyrnumót" (in Icelandic). Knattspyrnusamband Íslands. Retrieved 18 January 2026.
- ^ "2025 Besta deild karla". voetbal. 16 February 2025. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
- ^ "Besta-deild karla 2022 – Season rules". Scoresway. Archived from the original on 24 January 2018. Retrieved 27 January 2018.