The University of Iceland is a public research university in Reykjavík, Iceland, and the country's oldest and largest institution of higher education. Founded in 1911, it has grown steadily from a small civil servants' school to a modern comprehensive university, providing instruction for about 14,000 students in twenty-five faculties. Teaching and research is conducted in social sciences, humanities, law, medicine, natural sciences, engineering and teacher education. It has a campus concentrated around Suðurgata street in central Reykjavík, with additional facilities located in nearby areas as well as in the countryside.

Guðni Thorlacius Jóhannesson is an Icelandic historian and politician who became the sixth president of Iceland in 2016. He was reelected in 2020 with 92.2% of the vote. On 1 January 2024, Guðni announced in his new year's address to the Icelandic people that he would not stand for election again in 2024.