One striking thing about the world of the Vikings is that nearly 1,000 years after the Viking Age came to a close, there has been plenty to look out for in recent years.
From brand-new archeological discoveries like the Gjellestad ship and the ancient arrowheads unearthed by the Secrets of the Ice team to the ambitious building projects of the Viking ship museums of Roskilde and Oslo, Scandinavia is naturally the epicenter of Viking Age archeology, research, and history.
Yet, throughout the world, there is a passion for the Viking Age, reflected not only in detailed studies and excavations but also in passionate festivals and reenactment groups everywhere, from the United Kingdom and United States to the Netherlands, Spain, and even New Zealand.
Then there is culture: history books like Neil Price's Children of Ash and Elm that have helped shape our historical understanding of the Viking Age, and novels like Giles Kristian's Blood Eye that take people on a journey into its spiritual and emotional heart.
And lest we forget the TV series Vikings and its follow-up, Vikings: Valhalla, which have caught the imagination of history fans across the world.
But enough about the past – what do we have to look forward to in 2025?
As you get over your hangovers and ponder what the new year has to offer, why not peruse The Viking Herald's handy guide to the highlights awaiting us in the months ahead?
Adelaide’s South Australian Museum is hosting the Galloway Hoard, a major Viking exhibition, until July. Source: National Museums Scotland
Vikings in Australia
It's rare that Viking-related news comes to us from Australia, but this year, a truly special exhibition is on its way to Adelaide.
The Galloway Hoard, one of the most important Viking discoveries of the century, will be on display at the South Australian Museum.
The hoard has been lent by National Museums Scotland and will be the star attraction of the Treasures of the Viking Age: The Galloway Hoard exhibition, which will run from February 8 to July 27, 2025.
In honor of the exhibition, the museum will also host a special program of events, including regular Friday night sessions and a two-day Vikingfest in late June.
Also of note: The Vikings Exhibition at Times Square, New York, US
A full report on the Fjörður excavation is expected to shed light on its findings in 2025. Source: Seydisfjord Archaeological Research
Key findings from the Icelandic Pompeii
The excavations at the Fjörður (Fjordur) archeological site in the eastern Icelandic town of Seyðisfjörður (Seydisfjord) have been some of the most fascinating in recent years.
The site was discovered during routine excavations that eventually unearthed the remains of two longhouses and outbuildings from the 10th and 11th centuries.
The work has revealed what appears to be a major site of production. A bewildering array of spindle whorls indicates the presence of a large textile workshop, while a series of gaming pieces – and one delightful Viking toy – demonstrate the more playful side of Viking life.
The excavation work concluded in 2024. Now, in 2025, we can look forward to the publication of a detailed analysis of this wonderful site.
Also of note: Release of the final results of Neil Price's ten-year The Viking Phenomenon project from Uppsala University
Hollywood prepares to bring "How To Train Your Dragon" to life in a live-action film scheduled for June 2025. Source: Universal Pictures
How To Train Your Dragon: This time, it's for real
How To Train Your Dragon is a long-running phenomenon.
It began with Cressida Cowell's books, which told the story of young Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third, his friend Fishlegs, and their clan of hapless Vikings, not to mention a series of terrifying – and sometimes all-too-timid – dragons.
Next came the blockbuster animated movie franchise, with three feature films, a series of shorter movies, and no fewer than three spin-off TV series.
Now, a major live-action edition of the famous story is set to thrill audiences all over again, with a release date set for June 2025.
The stellar cast includes Gerard Butler, Nico Parker, and Nick Frost, while Dean DeBlois, the director of the original How To Train Your Dragon trilogy, returns to spearhead the new venture.
You can watch the trailer here.
York marks 40 years of the Jorvik Viking Festival with a series of events honoring its rich history. Source: JORVIK Viking Festival
Jorvik Viking Festival turns 40
The Jorvik Viking Festival is one of the biggest and most historic Viking festivals in the world, attracting approximately 40,000 visitors a year to brave the winter cold in the city of York.
While the museum that inspired the event, the Jorvik Viking Center, celebrated its own 40th birthday last year, the festival will enter its fifth decade this February.
The festival was first held in February 1985 to help promote the Jorvik Viking Center a year after its opening.
This year, in addition to the usual fun and festivities that light up this English city – once occupied by the Vikings – visitors can look forward to a series of special events that will pay tribute to both the history of York and the festival itself.
Readers can expect fresh chapters in ongoing Viking sagas hitting the shelves this year. Illustration: The Viking Herald
Viking novels: Sequels galore
When it comes to books, there are a number of sequels to popular series that will be on the most-wanted lists of many a Viking aficionado in 2025.
We have A Burning Blade, the fifth book and conclusion of The Light of the North saga from J.C. Duncan, and Eliza Raine's Of Ash and Iron, book three of the Flame Cursed Fae trilogy, which explores the world of valkyries and frost giants of Norse mythology.
Then there is the follow-up to Demi Winters' Viking-inspired romantic fantasy Road of Bones, one of the surprise hits of 2024.
The novel earned rave reviews and plenty of readers for its enthralling tale of a woman who accidentally joins forces with a group of mercenaries after fleeing a ruthless assassin.
Now, Kingdom of Claw, the second installment of The Ashen Series, will see the heroine, Silla Nordvig, embark on an epic journey to thwart the plans of Queen Signe and save her sister.
Norse, a strategy game recreating Viking life, is hoped to be available by the end of this year. Source: Arctic Hazard Studios
Norse: The Viking video game
Norse is one of the most hotly anticipated video games of the year. Still in development by Arctic Studios under the watchful eye of Terje Lundberg, Norse is a turn-based strategy game that looks to recreate an authentic world of Norwegian Vikings.
The script was written with the help of bestselling author Giles Kristian, while the graphics have been compiled by an expert team of experienced game developers.
Although the developers have yet to confirm a final release date, we can be pretty sure it will be available for purchase by the end of the year.
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