Holmes wins second consecutive Iditarod title

Defending champion Jessie Holmes has won the 2026 Iditarod, marking his second championship in a row, a feat not done in a decade, when mushing legend Dallas Seavey won the race three times in a row —2014, 2015, and 2016.

Holmes and his team crossed the famed burled arch at 9:32 p.m. Tuesday evening is closing in on back-to-back Iditarod titles, arriving first at the White Mountain checkpoint early Tuesday morning in his bid to join an elite group of mushers with consecutive wins in the "Last Great Race on Earth."

Holmes had been leading much of the race with a strong team nicknamed "Team Can’t Stop,” arriving in White Mountain at 3:10 a.m. on March 17, 2026, maintaining a significant lead over the rest of the field. He has led for much of the 1,000-mile race, picking up multiple awards along the way, including the Dorothy G. Page Halfway Award in Cripple and the Ryan Air Gold Coast Award for being the first to Unalakleet.

Holmes is in good company with other Iditarod legends with consecutive wins, including Seavey, Lance Mackey (with four straight wins from 2007 to 2010), Susan Butcher (three consecutive wins from 1986 to 1988), Doug Swingley (with three in a row from 1999 to 2001), and Rick Swenson (with two wins in 1981 and 1982).

Race Action and Standings

Frontrunners are currently battling tough conditions, including biting cold and icy trails along the Norton Sound, with many reporting ravenous dog teams requiring high-calorie diets to stay energized.

On March 17, the Iditarod Trail Committee (ITC) announced that Charley, a 4-year-old female from the race team of Mille Porsild, expired unexpectedly while enroute to the Elim checkpoint. Charley completed and passed all pre-race evaluations and testing conducted by licensed Veterinarians.

Charley has been flown to Unalakleet where a necropsy will be conducted by a board-certified veterinary pathologist to make every attempt to determine the cause of death.

In accordance with Iditarod rules, if a dog dies on a team, the musher must voluntarily withdraw or will be involuntarily withdrawn by race officials.

This rule, often referred to as Rule 42 or the "expired dog" rule, was tightened in 2018 to ensure accountability for dog safety on the trail.

Rookie musher Jody Potts-Joseph scratched from the Iditarod on Tuesday at the Tripod Flats Cabin to prioritize her team's well-being. The Eagle Village musher notified ITC officials, who are currently helping transport her and her 10-dog team to Unalakleet by snow machine. The ITC commended her sportsmanship and dedication throughout the race, looking forward to her future return.

Veteran Grayson Bruton, of Tok, also scratched Tuesday evening, citing the best interest of his team, according to the ITC.

A Historic, Controversial Year

While the 54th running of the Iditarod, which restarted in Willow on March 8, 2026, features a small field of 33 competitive teams—one of the smallest in history, there has been a major shift with the introduction of the inaugural "Expedition Class." Norwegian billionaire Kjell Røkke made history by becoming the first Expedition Musher to reach Nome on March 16.

Unlike competitive mushers, Røkke and the other expedition mushers were allowed to use outside assistance and swap dogs, nor are they bound by mandatory competitive rest requirements, meaning they can take layovers at any checkpoint. The mushers participating in the Expedition class have fully coordinated with Race Officials to ensure safety and non-interference.

His partner in the Expedition class, three-time winner Thomas Waerner, withdrew in Unalakleet after several dogs showed signs of kennel cough.

While this team has crossed the ceremonial finish line, the competitive race is still underway, and official standings are determined among competitive mushers only.