On August 23, Candlelight brings Laufey’s music to Washington, D.C., marking A Very Laufey Day with a live quartet performance surrounded by thousands of candles. With its grand architecture, deep-rooted jazz culture, and historic landmarks, the capital already has plenty of the old-world character that runs through Laufey’s music. Her swooning mix of jazz and classical influences feels especially at home on strings, from “From The Start” to her Grammy-winning Bewitched.
National City Christian Church brings a sense of scale before a single note is played. Designed by John Russell Pope, the neoclassical landmark is home to a 7,500-pipe organ, giving the space a monumental presence shaped by symmetry, height, and stillness.
“The most whimsy, romantic day of the year”: What is ‘A Very Laufey Day’?
A Very Laufey Day returns on Sunday, August 23, bringing Laufeyland to Washington, D.C. as part of the celebration’s fourth year. This year’s official city itinerary leans straight into the singer-songwriter’s world: matcha stops, indie bookstores, thrifting, storybook architecture, frozen treats and a visit to a local record store all feature along the way. The celebration began in 2023 and has since grown into a global tradition for Lauvers, turning Laufey’s love of literature, vintage style, romance and music into a day spent experiencing the city through her eyes.
What to expect at Candlelight x Laufey: A Very Laufey Day in Washington D.C.
Candlelight x Laufey: A Very Laufey Day adds a glowing final chapter to the celebrations. Beneath thousands of candles, a live string quartet will reshape favorites including “Let You Break My Heart Again,” “Valentine” and “Lover Girl,” drawing out the classical textures, jazz inflections and sweeping romanticism woven through Laufey’s music. Laufey herself won’t be performing, but for D.C. Lauvers, the concert offers an intimate way to hear her award-winning songs transformed for strings.
National City Christian Church: A grand neoclassical landmark to echo Laufey’s music
Candlelight changes the register. The glow gathers across the architecture, softening the grandeur without diminishing it, while strings trace the intimate contours of Laufey’s music. Her songs of longing, heartbreak and devotion take on an even deeper resonance in a space designed for stillness, reflection and rich, enveloping acoustics.
Washington D.C. joins only a handful of select cities for this exclusive celebration
Washington, D.C. is one of only 10 initial cities selected for this official collaboration, joining New York, London, Paris, Seoul, Berlin, Melbourne, and a small group of other hosts. With limited venues worldwide and concerts built around intimate capacities, ticket availability is strictly limited.
Everything you need to know about Candlelight x Laufey: A Very Laufey Day in D.C.
📍 National City Christian Church
📅 August 23, 2026
🎶 Candlelight x Laufey: A Very Laufey Day
⏳ Duration approximately 60 minutes
♿ Wheelchair accesible
🎟️ Tickets starting from $48
The capital already knows how to make an occasion feel grand, but this one takes a softer approach. After a day of books, matcha, vintage finds and Laufey-inspired wandering, live strings and candlelight bring A Very Laufey Day to an atmospheric close — one rooted in the romance and nostalgia that define Laufeyland.
