36 teams slated to compete in 54th Iditarod

The 54th running of The Last Great Race on Earth kicks off next week. Iditarod 2026 boasts a competitive roster of veteran and rookie teams in search of an adventure across some of the wildest terrain in Alaska and the prestigious finisher’s belt buckle as they cross under the arch in Nome. Mushers and spectators from across the world will be tuned into the Iditarod and look forward to hearing tales from the trail in this historical year.

This year’s roster, while smaller at 36 teams, features quality mushers with several looking for a first place finish. The 2026 Iditarod includes past champions Jessie Holmes, Ryan Redington and Peter Kaiser. Long time veterans like Matt Hall who finished in second in 2025, Paige Drobny who finished third, Travis Beals, Mille Porslid, Jason Mackey and Michelle Philips, among others, will also be highly competitive this year.

“It looks like a great competitive race,” Iditarod Race Director Mark Nordman said.

For the first time in race history, the Iditarod Trail Committee (ITC) welcomes an expedition class of mushers. Kjell Inge Røkke, a businessman and philanthropist from Norway, will be making his way to Nome alongside past champion Thomas Waerner. Other expedition mushers will also team-up with previous champions for the adventure. Their participation in the race marks a new chapter for the ITC as they expand their outreach on the race, its history, the people and the land that the Iditarod is so ingrained in.

“We’re all really thrilled to see that happening,” Nordman said.

This year’s race will follow along the northern route, being an even numbered year. After leaving Willow and heading west to the Alaska Range, mushers will pass through several checkpoints before crossing over Rainey Pass and dropping down through Rohn, Nikolai, McGrath, Takotna and Ophir before turning north to Ruby and following the Yukon River south to Kaltag, stopping at other communities along the way. From there, mushers will cross over the Nulato Hills and drop into Unalakleet and race around Norton Sound on their way to Nome. Total mileage for this year’s race will be 975 miles.

To make the great race happen, thousands of volunteers spend countless hours traveling, planning and putting in trail. Straw was dropped off at the checkpoints over the last couple weeks and musher drop bags were dropped over the last few days with thousands of pounds of gear. Pilots have been flying gear out and volunteers have been heading into the field ahead of the race. Preparation early prevents logistical issues before they arise.

“Lots of logistics, lots of things getting done,” Nordman said.

With the recent extreme winter weather along the coast that pushed Iron Dog racers to their limits and forced new trails and routes around the sound, the Iditarod is having to put in six miles of trail for this year’s route. The Haystack Trail, located just outside of Elim, has been used in the past but not for many years. The Elim Native Corporation Council will be assisting the Iditarod to work on opening up and breaking a very snowy trail for the mushers.

“This is going to be quite a chore for them to open up that six miles of trail that’s going to have a lot of alders and trees down,” Nordman said.

Communities like Elim put in a lot of effort to host mushers and the Iditarod every year. Many of the checkpoints were left unvisited last year due to the route change, something that disappointed many living in those communities.

“It’s great community involvement,” Nordman said. “Without rural Alaska, we don’t have an Iditarod."

A move to host the restart in Fairbanks was necessary in 2025 due to a lack of snow and poor trail conditions going over the Alaska Range and down to the Yukon River. Last year's race meant a scramble to figure out new logistics and miles upon miles of river running. Snow levels and trail conditions are looking better this year and mushers can enjoy racing along the historic route.

A crew of seven trail breakers spent a week working in the Alaska Range, spending time between Finger Lake and Rainey Pass. Stands of black spruce that have succumbed to beetle kill created a lot of work for crews that have been clearing them and making room for the mushers.

The restart will be hosted in its traditional home of Willow on Sunday March 8 with the first team leaving at 2 p.m. The public is encouraged to attend and cheer on the teams as they depart Willow Lake. Travel time should be considered as thousands of spectators are expected to descend on the small community of Willow.

A ceremonial start will race through Anchorage on Saturday March 7 starting at 10 a.m. The streets of downtown will be lined with spectators as they cheer on their favorite teams. A staple of early spring in Alaska, downtown Anchorage reverberates with energy as barks echo through the crowds and visitors wrap up for the last weekend of Fur Rondy.

Nordman expressed his enthusiasm for how Iditarod has grown over the years and acknowledges the efforts that his team has put in to make this year’s Iditarod happen.

“It’s a pretty special thing,” Nordman said.