The 54th running of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race will begin with a ceremonial start in downtown Anchorage on March 7, followed by the official restart in Willow on March 8. The race will follow its traditional northern route to Nome, featuring a field of veteran and rookie mushers.
Several veterans are entered into the race, with notable entries including Jessie Holmes, Ryan Redington, and Thomas Waerner. On special entry into this year’s field is billionaire Kjell Inge Røkke, who is competing as an “Expedition Musher,” a special class that allows for outside support and makes him ineligible for the main title.
Mushing pioneer Mary Shields was named the 2026 Iditarod Honorary Musher, honoring her lasting contributions to The Last Great Race and to the sport of sled dog racing. The Honorary Musher designation recognizes individuals who have made significant and meaningful impacts on the Iditarod and the mushing community.
Shields, who passed away in mid-July at the age of 80, was a true trailblazer. In 1974, she was one of only two women to enter the second-ever Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race and became the first woman to finish, reaching Nome in 28 days, 18 hours, and 15 minutes. That year, only 26 of the 44 mushers who entered completed the race, which was marked by severe weather and extreme conditions.
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