30 teams ready to hit the trail for the 2026 Iron Dog

Racers will rocket out of Big Lake this weekend for the start of The World’s Longest Toughest Snowmachine Race.

The 2026 Iron Dog is anticipated to be highly competitive this year, with five past champions and 30 teams competing in pro class. The physicality and drive of young racers hungry for a first victory will clash with strategic and skilled veterans with decades of experience on the trail.

“We’re looking forward to a great race week and an exciting finish in Fairbanks,” Iron Dog Executive Director Rick Paquette said.

The official start for pro class racers is Saturday, February 14 at 10 a.m. in front of Susitna Brewing Company and will cover over 2,300 miles along the route with a Fairbanks finish on Saturday February 21.

Racers will leave Big Lake and head over the Alaska Range and head towards the coast. There will be a mandatory overnight layover in Kotzebue for Pro class riders on February 16 with a release in the morning of February 17. Wrench day in Nome for the halfway point begins on February 17 with the halfway banquet on the 18. Riders will depart for Fairbanks on the morning of the 19 and make their final run to Fairbanks in an anticipated two days as they navigate the Yukon River.

Teams this year consist of riders from Alaska and the Lower 48, with some hailing from remote checkpoints along this year’s race route. Two father son teams and one father daughter team will set out to not only race, but enjoy time together as family. Iron Dog legends with multiple wins and years in the racing world have been training and strategizing to come out on top next week.

The Ambassador and Expedition Class riders departed Big Lake on Thursday February 12. Ambassador riders will take the trail to Nome and use their journey to promote snowmachine safety and engage with the communities they visit. Expedition class riders will enjoy the race route without the pressure of a time clock and can choose to finish in either Nome or Kotzebue this year.

The public enjoyed a Racer Meet and Greet Expo following team tech inspections on Tuesday February 10 at the Curtis D. Menard Center. Riders received their starting positions on February 7 at the Racer Draw Banquet and Hall of Fame Awards Ceremony.

The trail is anticipated to be fast and hard for the start, with little room for error for both riders and their machines. Reports from riders on their training runs indicate adequate snow levels going over the Alaska Range and into the infamous Farewell Burn, a section that devastated some teams last year. A Fairbanks finish creates a whole new set of challenges, where high speeds are expected on the trail along the Yukon River. Rough conditions can cause catastrophic results should an accident occur. New snow for the start and cool temperatures in the interior will shake things up for race week.

“Conditions are looking good, it’s looking like it's going to shape up to be a good race,” Paquette said.

The public is highly encouraged to attend the start on Big Lake to witness the electric atmosphere as racers prepare to take off for Nome at high speed. Fans can follow their favorite teams from home by watching live tracker updates at https://trackleaders.com/irondog26f.php.

Countless volunteers, sponsors, racer families and Iron Dog staff make the race happen every year. Iron Dog has 40 years of history in the Last Frontier. Multiple generations of families have grown up in the Iron Dog world and being part of the race every year means everything to them.

“Good luck to the racers, and thank you to all the sponsors, families,” Paquette said. “Thanks to our employees and the volunteers are huge. This race would not happen without volunteers.”

The Iron Dog Raffle is the biggest one ever, Paquette said, with over $145,000 in prizes. Tickets can be purchased at irondog.org/raffle and the drawing will be held on February 21st.