Ari is Iceland’s biggest comedian. Born and raised in Reykjavík, he has done numerous TV specials, toured extensively across Scandinavia and Europe, sold out the National Theater for months on end, mixed comedy and classical music with the Icelandic National Symphony, and performed with comedians such as Ari Shaffir, Bill Burr, and Ed Byrne. Ari’s international career has seen him sell out entire runs at the Edinburgh Fringe, London Soho Theatre, and Melbourne Comedy Festival.
Pardon My Icelandic is his debut solo show in English, exploring subjects including fatherhood, working as a flight attendant, and living in a country with a population the size of Coventry. Netflix is now streaming the show, recorded live at the National Theatre of Iceland, making Ari the first Icelandic comedian to receive a Netflix Comedy Special.
Ari has also written for the popular Icelandic New Year sketch show Áramótaskaup, performed stand-up on Icelandic chat show Hringekjan, filmed his own stand-up special for RÚV, and written and starred in sketch show Drekasvæðið (RÚV). He also performs with comedy group Mið-Ísland, who have written and starred in their own sketch show for Stöð 2 (Channel 2) and sold over 65,000 tickets.
WINNER: AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD RVK FRINGE FESTIVAL 2022
WINNER: BEST ENTERTAINEMENT SHOW “PARDON MY ICELANDIC” EDDA AWARDS 2021
WINNER: BEST DIRECTOR OF TV PROGRAMME “PARDON MY ICELANDIC” EDDA AWARDS 2021
“A smart, savy comedian with a hugely assured set” ★★★★ CHORTLE
“Hilarious… This modest-seeming man has some impressive comic tricks up his sleeves” ★★★★ THE SCOTSMAN
“Ari Eldjárn is definitely a name to keep an eye on’” ★★★★ THE LIST
“Eldjárn is funny, quick-witted, incredibly expressive … He is already a household name in Iceland, it won’t be long before he is one in the UK” ★★★★ EDFESTMAG
“Very talented comic. An Icelandic treat’” JIM GAFFIGIN