2026-27 Race Season

Jesse Terry and team at the Ceremonial Start of Iditarod 54.

 

Race List

Knik 100
TBA, December 2026
Website / Twitter / Facebook

Knik 200*
January 2, 2027
Website / Twitter / Facebook 

MUSH Synnfjell
January 8, 2027
Website / Twitter / Facebook

Tahquamenon Country Sled Dog Race
TBA, January 2027
Website / Facebook

Bogus Creek 150
TBA, January 2027
Website / Facebook 

Copper Basin 300*
January 9, 2027
Website / Twitter / Facebook 

Taaqpak 120
TBA, January 2027
Website / Facebook

Gunflint Mail Run
January 17, 2027
Website / Twitter / Facebook

Eagle Cap Extreme Sled Dog Race*
January 21, 2027
Website / Facebook  

Kuskokwim 300*
January 22, 2027
Website / Twitter / Facebook 

Two Rivers 200/100*
TBA, January 2027
Website / Facebook 

John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon*
January 31, 2026
Website / Twitter / Facebook

Warm Lake Stage Race
Decomissioned - lack of consistent winter
Website / Facebook

Bergebyløpet N70
TBA, January 2027
Website / Twitter / Facebook

Pedigree Stage Stop Race
TBA, January 2027
Website / Facebook

Caledonia Classic
February 5, 2027
Website / Facebook

Solo Sweepstakes
TBA, 2027
Website 

Yukon Quest Canada*
February 6, 2027
Website / Twitter / Facebook 

Idaho Sled Dog Challenge*
Decomissioned - lack of consistent winter
Website / Facebook

Yukon Quest Alaska*
TBA, February 2027
Website / Facebook 

PG Expedition Abitibi
TBA, 2027
Website / Facebook 

Wilderness Sled Dog Race
TBA, February 2027
Website / Facebook / Instagram

Northern Pines Sled Dog Race
February 6, 2027
Website / Facebook

Goose Bay 150*
TBA, February 2027
Facebook

Race to the Sky*
February 12, 2027
Website / Facebook 

Femundløpet*
February 10, 2027
Website / Facebook

Willow Jr. 100
February 12, 2027
Website / Facebook

Klondike Dog Derby
DECOMISSIONED

UP200*
February 12, 2027
Website / Facebook 

The Midnight Run
February 12, 2027
Website / Facebook 

Tug Hill Challenge
TBA, February 2027
Website / Facebook

Canadian Challenge*
TBA, February 2027
Website / BlueSky / Facebook 

Su Dog 300*
TBA, February 2027
Website / Facebook

Amundsen Race*
February 25, 2027
Website / Facebook 

WolfTrack Classic Sled Dog Race
TBA, February 2027
Website / Facebook

Junior Iditarod
February 27, 2027
Website / Facebook

CopperDog
February 26, 2027
Website / Twitter / Facebook

Yukon Odyssey Race
TBA, February 2027
Facebook

Can-Am Crown International*
TBA, February 2027
Website / Facebook 

Torch River Sled Dog Race
TBA 2027
Facebook 

Iditarod 54*
March 6, 2027
Website / Twitter / Facebook 

Finnmarksløpet*
March 5, 2027
Website / Facebook 

Percy DeWolfe Memorial Mail Run*
TBA, March 2027
Website / Twitter / Facebook 

La Chic-chocs
TBA, March 2027
Website / Facebook

T-Dog 200*
TBA, March 2027
Website / Facebook

Nome to Golovin 200*
TBA, March 2027
Facebook 

Under Dog 100
TBA, March 2027
Facebook

Copper Basin 100 (Junior)
TBA, March 2027
Website / Twitter / Facebook 

Hudson Bay Quest
TBA
Facebook

Kobuk 440*
TBA, April 2027
Website / Facebook

Junior Kobuk 440
TBA, April 2027
Website / Facebook

*Iditarod/Yukon Quest Qualifying Race

Do you like having an easy to find list like this and want to see them continue? This blog has always been a hobby and will continue to be - and this list is more for myself than anything - if you can spare a few dollars to help keep this blog running I wouldn't say no. Please do not feel obligated, but know that all support (in every form, not just financial) is greatly appreciated! Click here to "buy me a coffee".

Canada's Yukon Quest announces return for 2027

The newly created board for the Canadian version of the Yukon Quest announced Tuesday morning that they are full speed ahead for the 2027 race season. After the former board dissolved in late 2025/early 2026 and announced the 2026 race would be canceled a committee of longtime and loyal volunteers, mushers, and fans came together to revive the race. Now, just a little under two months later they've announced the return of the race.

Note, this is not the Yukon Quest of old, though the Canadian side got to keep the name in the "divorce" when the 1000 mile race's dual boards split. The Yukon Quest Alaska will still take place, as well as the Canadian side. Some had hoped that with a new board in place that the 1,000 mile race could happen again, but that was quickly shut down by the new board citing the logistical challenges of the border crossing and the lack of ice pack on the rivers to get teams safely from one end of the traditional route to the other.

Even just the Canadian side of the race faced that issue in the years it ran independent of Alaska. The trail issues were cited as one of a myriad of reasons the old board shut the race down. However, in today's press release the Yukon Quest board said that they have a solid plan for a safe trail and are even bringing back beloved checkpoints of old.

The race will host two events - a 550 mile long-distance race and a 300 mile mid-distance race. They promise more announcements and updates soon and encourage everyone to follow their social media pages as well as their website to keep up on the action.

Yukon Quest Canada is set to take off from Whitehorse on February 6, 2027. The Yukon Quest Alaska has not announced a race date as of yet, but have announced registration opening on August 22, 2026.

Thoughts and comments about this announcement? Are you excited? What do you expect from this new board? 

2026 Yukon Quest Alaska musher roster & race preview

Canada may have seen its Quest announce it won't be running, but Alaska's Quest is alive and... well... the rosters are small but the optimism is BIG. With just six teams planning to run the 750 mile marathon and another ten teams set to run the 80 mile fun run, the Yukon Quest Alaska is ready to hit the trails.

This year the marathon is set to take off and go counter-clockwise from Fairbanks and loop around to finish in Fairbanks. Many of the interior communities will get to see and cheer for the teams as they pass through.

The race start is forecasted to be a cold one with temps reaching a high of 4 above and getting as low as -12. Not terribly cold, especially for the Interior of Alaska, but should remind spectators that they're watching a winter sport. The dogs will no doubt love it.

With just six teams, it's anyone's guess who will come out on top. Out of the six there's only two teams that haven't really challenged for a top spot in the race previously. Deeter, of course, is returning to defend his title and it wouldn't be a surprise if he did make that happen even with the extra two hundred miles tacked onto this year's race.

With a small roster let's just say it's worth watching everyone because you really can't not pay attention to all six.

As with all rosters, once the bib numbers are public this post will be edited to reflect that information.

750-mile Roster

Bib	Musher	Kennel	Link	Link	Link
1	Jason Mackey	Mackey's TopNotch Comeback Kennel	Website	Facebook
2	Keaton Loebrich	Star Gazer Racing	Website	Facebook	Instagram
3	Patrick Mackey	Mackey's TopNotch Comeback Kennel	Website	Facebook
4	Jeff Deeter	Black Spruce Dog Sledding	Website	Facebook	Instagram
5	Jonah Bacon	Nautique Sky Kennel	Website	Facebook	Instagram
6	Josi Shelley	There & Back Again Sled Dogs	Website	Facebook	Instagram

*Roster as of February 6, 2026 @ 10pm AKST.

80-mile Roster

Bib	Musher	Kennel	Link	Link	Link
12	Jennifer Nelson	Northern Lone Star Mushing		Facebook	Instagram
13	Katrina Handler	Trail Breaker Kennel	Website	Facebook	Instagram
14	Joe LaMagna	Kennel Bebop		Facebook	Instagram
15	Torleif Bentzen	Whiskey Jack Kennel		Mom's Facebook
16	Keirah Irish	Trail Breaker Kennel	Website	Facebook	Instagram
17	Anna Westfall	Trail Breaker Kennel	Website
?	Nelson Wappett	Snowdrift Kennel
?	Sonja Truffer	?		Facebook

*Roster as of February 6, 2026 @10pm AKST.

With that out of the way let's do a run down on how to watch the race this weekend.

How to Watch

Not everyone can be on the trail cheering the teams on, so how best can "armchair mushers" follow along? Glad you asked.

Official Website
Everything you need to know from race rules to news to musher profiles can be found on the Yukon Quest Alaska website. Well, okay, everything you need to know is usually on their official site, but just a week or so ago the website was hacked and they've had to start anew. But there are a few musher bios and general info about the race up.

Trackers
Where would any armchair fan be without the trackers? While it isn't live, you will most likely be able to follow along with those little green trackers by clicking here once the race goes live Saturday.

Social Media
The race is most active on their Facebook page. Photos and race reports will be added throughout the weekend as well as any other announcements.

Local Media
Radio station 103.9 in Fairbanks has broadcast the start in previous years. The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner will no doubt also follow along. KUAC will also have daily updates on the race broadcasting on public radio (thank you Melinda Shore for the tip).

Schedule of Events

Thursday, February 5
5:00pm - Meet the Mushers
7:30pm - Bib Draw

Saturday, February 7
11:00am - YQA 750 Start
Noon - YQA 80 Fun Run Start

Friday, February 20
5pm - Finisher's Banquet

Who are you cheering for? Thoughts on this year's race? What about the trail? Comment below!

And, as always, you can Buy me a slice of pizza to help keep the blog up and running. It's always appreciated but never expected.

Work group hopes to reboot Canada's Yukon Quest

Earlier this month the CBC reported that Canada's Yukon Quest board had disbanded and the race in 2026 would not take place. The reason? Essentially volunteer burnout. 

But today, a band of long-time Quest volunteers announced they were planning a work group to reboot their beloved race - with the hope to make a 1,000mile race fully in Canada. The original message traveled the rounds on facebook in Yukon Quest group pages. 

"THERE IS going to be a Spcial General Meeting of the Yukon Quest on Feb 17 at 6:30 PM at the new Hyatt Place in Whitehorse, in The Yukon Territory," Harry Kern wrote on Facebook. "This meeting will welcome all who are interested in The Yukon Quest, and who wish to know what the heck is happening with this event, and who want to maybe become members, board mermbers, and/or work on a committee."

This post met with almost immediate questions on who was putting this on, how it would work, and all the standard questions trying to vet the information and make sure a scam wasn't in the works. Kern was good to answer questions for much of the morning.

"At present there is no board. They have all resigned. There is now a ‘working committee’ of very dedicated volunteers who have been putting together the pieces required to have a new board of directors in place so that we can plan for another race in 2027," Kern responded to one person's request for information.

Kern encouraged any and all to join the meeting - and pay for a membership to give them voting privaleges. At the Feb 17 meeting they will form an organizing board and committees that will have what Kern says will be a very short term - only until August when they will then hopefully vote a permanent plan and board.

In another comment Kern responded to fans wanting the race to go back to being 1,000 mile race that crosses the Al-Can border. "You cannot plan a thousand mile international race with a thousand volunteers and a million dollar budget and have it sunk by mad cow, covid, or politicians at a ‘whim’," he wrote. "There are opportunities for a thousand miler right here in Canada, and that’s what we aim to do."

As news started to spread there were mushers and fans who were excited and more who were ready to watch with interest but hedged bets. (Sounds like the early 70s and another race.) 

Now, the information appears on the Quest's website and their official social media - giving even more weight to at least the initial plans. Time will tell how far this goes and how successful this work group is.

Meanwhile, the 750 Yukon Quest Alaska is set to start out of Fairbanks on February 7, 2026.

Thoughts on the news out of The Yukon Quest today? Do you think it's possible to right the ship? Comment below!

Canada's Yukon Quest releases statement on Facebook

In a post on Facebook Thursday morning, Canada's Yukon Quest broke its silence on the news yesterday that there would not be a race in 2026. The brief message lined out the biggest issues the organization faced. As with all of their posts in the last few months, the organization limited comments on the post, but that didn't stop a multitude of fans and mushers from sharing the post far and wide on social media.

"As you may have gathered from the flurry of CBC activity," the organization wrote, "there is presently no Yukon Quest sled dog race organized for 2026.

The reasons are quite long in the making, but the volunteer Board that formed in June 2025 inherited a debt of over $30,000 from the previous Board and Race Organization. The debt issue overshadowed everything the new Board tried e.g. one is not allowed to have a raffle license in the Yukon if the proceeds are to pay off debt; and of course divisions arose about the route, although the Rangers wouldn't prep a route on the Yukon River because of the dangers of thin ice...and so the Board became inactive one by one.

The Board could have accessed the funds from YG, except there are strict requirements to access such money, involving marketing plans, detailed budgets and detailed monthly cash flow projections - somewhat beyond most volunteer Board members - to access the money a professional was required to complete the paperwork in order to access the money ... that was needed to pay the professional...Catch 22, the money's there, but money is first needed to pay someone to complete the paperwork, and the Board was sitting on $30k of inherited debt.

If you wish to follow mushing in the Yukon, the sport and people who love and work with their dogs, we suggest you look up these sites:  Yukon Odyssey ,  Yukon Dog Mushers Association  (YDMA),  Dog Powered Sports Association of the Yukon (DPSAY). 

The Quest simply became a business that lost contact with, and failed to nurture, its base: the sport, culture, people and dogs of mushing.

Happy Trails!"

The Yukon Quest in Canada was scheduled to be a 100mile race starting from Whitehorse on January 31, 2026. Alaska's Yukon Quest is still set to start on February 7 in Fairbanks, Alaska, and will travel in a loop of 750miles back to Fairbanks.

What are your thoughts on the Yukon Quest's statement? Do you think it can be saved? Should it? Comment with your ideas below!

Buy me a slice of pizza to help keep the blog up and running. It's always appreciated but never expected. 

Two more races cancel 2026 events

While the Copper Basin 300 is set to be an exciting race in Alaska this weekend, two races announced they would not run in 2026. As Alaska sees record cold temps and record snow accumulation (thinking of you, Juneau!) the Lower 48 is still waiting for winter weather causing races to continue to cancel or postpone in hopes of better conditions. And another beloved race is looking at an uncertain future with a cancelation fans did not see coming.

Late Wednesday Morning (Pacific Time) the Eagle Cap Extreme Sled Dog Race announced that the race scheduled for January 22 is canceled. Citing lack of snow to be able to put in safe trails, the race took to Facebook to deliver the news. "We held off making this decision for a few days because of the current storm cycle approaching the area," the race wrote.

"I spoke with a forecaster at the National Weather Service yesterday to get a better idea as to the storm track and timing," the missive continued. "It turns out the forecast was pretty accurate and the storm has tracked well north of us leaving us with rain and a very light dusting of snow. This morning saw lots of blue sky in Wallowa County. Going into next week, we are seeing a warming trend with no additional significant moisture."

The Eagle Cap is the only Iditarod and Quest Qualifier run in Oregon and while the rosters are smaller than what Canadian and Alaska races see, it's a healthy one with many loyal kennels. Comments from mushers and fans alike flooded the Facebook announcement Wednesday with most being grateful for the early announcement so they could make arrangements to run other races outside of Oregon. Others asked if for future years an optional second site for the race could be chosen. 

Wednesday afternoon saw the second cancelation announcement, this one coming from Canada. From an article on the CBC website, the mushing community learned that there will not be a Yukon Quest run in Canada in 2026. The race was scheduled to run on January 31, but little had been released about the race. The Quest in 2025 chose to lock its Facepook posts down not allowing anyone to comment on what they shared. It had many side-eying the race and wondering just what was going on with the beloved event.

While the official reason for the race seems to be something of "volunteer burnout" with the board of directors, there seems to be a little more to it. In the CBC article former board members chimed in with their thoughts and disappointments on the organization. Citing challenges like climate change, trail changes, and community support - it seems the race has no shortage of excuses for why things couldn't come together in 2026.

Pointedly one musher who was a former board member made note that the way the organization handled this year's race information was "disrespectful to mushers." 

This year's race was planned to only be a one hundred mile race, about 350 miles shorter than last year's Quest, and 900miles shorter than its original structure of a cross border race into Alaska. The 1000mile race ended in 2022 when the two boards that ran the International race decided to divorce each other over organizational disagreements (the most public one being about rest schedules and how to track rest). Some also argue that the dwindling roster numbers made it continually difficult to run a successful race with a purse participants came to expect from the race.

This year the Alaskan version of the Quest is set to take place February 7 and has a 750mile loop trail starting and ending in Fairbanks planned with a decent number of mushers signed up to run.

Are you surprised by today's cancelations? Thoughts on the Yukon Quest issues? Comment below with your thoughts!

Buy me a slice of pizza to help keep the blog up and running. It's always appreciated but never expected.  

2025-26 Race Season

Mike Parker's lead dogs at the Re-Start of Iditarod 53.

Race List

Knik 100
December 20, 2025 - CANCELED Lack of Snow
Website / Twitter / Facebook

Knik 200*
January 3, 2026 - Postponed to January 24
Website / Twitter / Facebook 

MUSH Synnfjell
January 9, 2026
Website / Twitter / Facebook

Tahquamenon Country Sled Dog Race
January 10, 2026
Website / Facebook

Bogus Creek 150
January 10, 2026 Postponed due to severe weather
Website / Facebook 

Copper Basin 300*
January 10, 2026
Website / Twitter / Facebook 

Taaqpak 120
January 17, 2026 - Canceled due to low roster numbers
Website / Facebook

Eagle Cap Extreme Sled Dog Race*
January 22, 2026 - CANCELED lack of snow
Website / Facebook  

Kuskokwim 300*
January 23, 2026
Website / Twitter / Facebook 

Two Rivers 200/100*
January 23, 2026
Website / Facebook 

John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon*
January 25, 2026
Website / Twitter / Facebook

Warm Lake Stage Race
January 29, 2026
Website / Facebook

Bergebyløpet N70
January 29, 2026
Website / Twitter / Facebook

Pedigree Stage Stop Race
January 30, 2026
Website / Facebook

Caledonia Classic
January 30, 2026
Website / Facebook

Solo Sweepstakes
January 31, 2026
Website 

Yukon Quest Canada*
January 31, 2026 - CANCELED lack of... it's complicated
Website / Twitter / Facebook 

Idaho Sled Dog Challenge*
February 2, 2026 - CANCELED Lack of Snow
Website / Facebook 

Yukon Quest Alaska*
February 7, 2026
Website / Facebook 

PG Expedition Abitibi
TBA, 2027 - Not Happening in 2026
Website / Facebook 

Gunflint Mail Run
February 7, 2026 - Postponed to March 6
Website / Twitter / Facebook

Wilderness Sled Dog Race
February 7, 2026
Website / Facebook

Northern Pines Sled Dog Race
February 7, 2026
Website / Facebook

Goose Bay 150*
February 7, 2026
Facebook

Race to the Sky*
February 12, 2026 - Canceled due to lack of snow
Website / Facebook 

Femundløpet*
February 12, 2026
Website / Facebook

Willow Jr. 100
February 13, 2026
Website / Facebook

Klondike Dog Derby
February 13, 2026
Website / Facebook

UP200*
February 13, 2026
Website / Facebook 

The Midnight Run
February 13, 2026
Website / Facebook 

Tug Hill Challenge
February 14, 2026
Website / Facebook

Canadian Challenge*
February 17, 2026
Website / BlueSky / Facebook 

Amundsen Race*
February 19, 2026
Website / Facebook 

Su Dog 300*
February 21, 2026
Website / Facebook

WolfTrack Classic Sled Dog Race
February 22, 2026
Website / Facebook

Junior Iditarod
February 28, 2026
Website / Facebook

CopperDog
February 27, 2026
Website / Twitter / Facebook

Yukon Odyssey Race
February 28, 2026
Facebook

Can-Am Crown International*
February 28, 2026
Website / Facebook 

Torch River Sled Dog Race
February 28, 2026
Facebook 

Iditarod 54*
March 7, 2026
Website / Twitter / Facebook 

Finnmarksløpet*
March 6, 2026
Website / Facebook 

Percy DeWolfe Memorial Mail Run*
March 5, 2026
Website / Twitter / Facebook 

La Chic-chocs
March 14,  2026
Website / Facebook

T-Dog 200*
March 21, 2026
Website / Facebook

Nome to Golovin 200*
March 26, 2026
Facebook 

Under Dog 100
March 27, 2026
Facebook

Tok Race of Champions
March 28, 2026
Website / Facebook 

Copper Basin 100 (Junior)
March 27, 2026
Website / Twitter / Facebook 

Hudson Bay Quest
April 10, 2026
Facebook

Kobuk 440*
April 2, 2026
Website / Facebook

Junior Kobuk 440
April 18, 2026
Website / Facebook

*Iditarod/Yukon Quest Qualifying Race

Do you like having an easy to find list like this and want to see them continue? This blog has always been a hobby and will continue to be - and this list is more for myself than anything - if you can spare a few dollars to help keep this blog running I wouldn't say no. Please do not feel obligated, but know that all support (in every form, not just financial) is greatly appreciated! Click here to "buy me a coffee".