Capital Region

Imagine Peace Tower

About Imagine Peace Tower

The Imagine Peace Tower is a symbolic light memorial located on Viðey, just off the coast of Reykjavík in Iceland’s Capital Region. Created by Yoko Ono, the installation was unveiled in 2007 as a tribute to John Lennon and his enduring message of peace. At the heart of the memorial is a powerful beam of light projected vertically into the sky from a white stone tower. Around its base, the phrase “Imagine Peace” is engraved in multiple languages, reinforcing the installation’s universal message. Unlike traditional monuments, the Imagine Peace Tower is not always visible—it is illuminated during specific periods of the year, most notably between October 9 and December 8, marking Lennon’s birth and death anniversaries. The setting on Viðey plays a crucial role in the experience. The island’s quiet, open landscape allows the light to stand out against the darkness, creating a striking contrast between nature and human expression. The surrounding sea often reflects the beam, amplifying its visual impact and sense of scale. More than a memorial, the Imagine Peace Tower is a living artwork. Its appearance changes with weather, light conditions, and perspective, making each visit unique. It represents not only a tribute to an individual but also a broader call for unity, reflection, and hope in a shared world.

🐉 The Light That Reaches Beyond

Some say that the beam from the Imagine Peace Tower does more than illuminate the sky. On especially clear nights, when the stars are visible and the air is still, the light seems to stretch endlessly—far beyond what the eye can follow. There is a quiet belief that the beam carries its message outward, connecting distant places and people. Not in a physical sense, but as a shared idea moving silently through space. Visitors often describe a moment of stillness while watching it—a pause where everything else fades. Whether symbolic or something more, the feeling remains: that the light is not just seen, but experienced beyond the horizon.

📖 History of Imagine Peace Tower

The Imagine Peace Tower was conceived by Yoko Ono as a tribute to John Lennon and his lifelong message of peace and unity. The project was officially unveiled on October 9, 2007—what would have been Lennon’s 67th birthday—on the island of Viðey, just off Reykjavík. The choice of location was intentional. Viðey is a quiet, historically significant island that provides a natural, open setting where the light installation can stand out clearly against the sky. Its isolation from the mainland enhances the symbolic nature of the tower, separating it from everyday noise and allowing it to function as a place of reflection. Unlike traditional monuments built from stone or metal, the Imagine Peace Tower uses light as its primary medium. This reflects Yoko Ono’s artistic vision of creating a living, evolving memorial—one that changes with time, weather, and perspective. The words “Imagine Peace,” engraved around the base in multiple languages, reinforce the universal message behind the work. Since its unveiling, the tower has become one of Iceland’s most recognized modern landmarks. It is illuminated annually from October 9 to December 8 (the anniversary of Lennon’s death), as well as on select additional dates tied to themes of peace and global awareness. Today, the Imagine Peace Tower continues to attract visitors from around the world, standing as both a memorial and a global symbol of hope, unity, and remembrance.

✈️ Why Visit

A powerful and symbolic memorial that combines art, nature, and a universal message of peace.

💡 Did You Know?

The tower is illuminated annually from October 9 (the birthday of John Lennon) to December 8 (the anniversary of his death), along with select additional dates.