Indigenous mushers have strong historical and cultural ties to the Iditarod, yet it wasn't until 2011 that John Baker of Kotzebue became the first Native to win. This year, two of the top contenders are Alaska Native past Iditarod champions — Ryan Redington and Pete Kaiser. Three of the rookies in this year's race are Indigenous and bring a competitive experience to the race.

The 2026 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race began Saturday in downtown Anchorage, as 37 teams set off on the city's streets and trails for an 11-mile run in front of thousands of cheering fans.

Snow continued to fall Saturday as 37 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race teams mushed through Alaska’s largest city.

After Saturday's ceremonial start in Anchorage, the race clock starts ticking for real with a restart Sunday in Willow, as teams head out on the 1,000-mile trail to Nome, where a first-place finisher is expected in about eight days.

Officials say it's a relief after low snow forced the 2025 race to start in Fairbanks.

King proposes that roughly the first third of the race should be untimed, with a deadline to reach a particular checkpoint, like McGrath.

The Iditarod’s new Expedition Program will allow longtime backer Kjell Inge Røkke to race with outside support – unlike other competitors in the race's 52-year history.

Dan Seavey ran the first Iditarod, in 1973, when mushers and organizers were still trying to figure out if a thousand-mile sled dog race across Alaska was even possible.

The Interior Alaska musher won his first Iditarod on his eighth try, arriving in Nome with his dog team early Friday.

Holmes had a three-hour lead over his closest competitor, Matt Hall, who said he had stopped trying to catch up.

Jessie Holmes, Matt Hall and Paige Drobny have jockeyed for first for much of the race, leapfrogging one another on the trail.

It’s the 8th day of the race and, in prior years, a winner finishes around this time.