Hafnarborg is home to a vibrant exhibition programme and activities, where visitors can enjoy visual art, music, and a diverse range of cultural events. The museum also places an emphasis on education and research, which serve to deepen the understanding and experience of the art itself.

Hafnarborg’s exhibition programme is diverse, spanning everything from national treasures by the pioneers of Icelandic art to the innovative and experimental works of contemporary artists. Each year, 8–10 exhibitions are held that highlight different perspectives and themes within Icelandic visual art.

Lectures and guided tours are a regular part of the museum’s programme, creating a space for conversation about the art and its context. This gives visitors the opportunity to meet artists and curators, learn about their processes, and deepen their understanding of the works on display.

Hafnarborg offers a vibrant cultural scene throughout the year, with a diverse range of events for guests of all ages.

Music has long been a key part of the programming at Hafnarborg, which features a diverse and ambitious schedule of live music.

Hafnarborg emphasizes strong collaboration with other museums and cultural institutions. This happens both formally, through The Icelandic Museums Association (FÍSOS) and the Icelandic National Committee of ICOM (the International Council of Museums), and through informal cooperation with the country’s art museums. These relationships are important, especially when it comes to matters such as copyright and contract negotiations with artists.

Collaboration with sister institutions is key to strengthening the work of museums and finding solutions to the challenges they face. Many of these institutions are small and have limited staff, so cooperation is crucial when it comes to joining forces and sharing experience.

Hafnarborg has published nearly 50 exhibition catalogues and books, in addition to numerous smaller publications. These have featured images and articles about exhibitions and artists, as well as the findings of art historical analysis and research.

Recently, a greater emphasis has been placed on the texts within exhibition catalogues, so that they add a more scholarly dimension to the exhibitions. The catalogues can stand as independent publications long after the exhibitions have closed and are a contribution to the scholarly discourse surrounding their subjects.

Hafnarborg has conducted extensive research on the career of Eiríkur Smith. In 1993, art historian Aðalsteinn Ingólfsson wrote an article for Hafnarborg’s anniversary publication in which he examined Eiríkur’s 1990 gift to the museum and placed his work in an artistic context. More research on Eiríkur’s work has followed, and Hafnarborg has published several works on the artist’s career.

In 2008, a comprehensive analysis of all works by Eiríkur in Hafnarborg’s collection was initiated, also carried out by Aðalsteinn Ingólfsson. The research findings are publicly accessible on Sarpur, the Icelandic Museums’ Collections Web. Following this research, a series of five exhibitions were mounted, each examining a specific period in the artist’s career, curated by Ólöf K. Sigurðardóttir. In the autumn of 2015, a major retrospective book was published, featuring images and text on Eiríkur’s life’s work.