Uttak takes Nunavut Quest for third year in a row

Jinneal Nanuraq Uttak made it a three-peat when the official results for the Nunavut Quest dogsled race were announced Saturday.

Mushers in the 2026 Nunavut Quest dogsled race sit on stage during the event’s closing ceremony in Pond Inlet before the announcement of the official results. (Photo by Jennifer Quassa, special to Nunatsiaq News)

Uttak was the first-place finisher in this year’s edition of the annual dogsled race sponsored by Qikiqtani Inuit Association, collecting the $20,000 first prize. He finished the approximately 500-kilometre race from Igloolik to Pond Inlet in a total of 28 hours, 14 minutes and 49 seconds.

QIA announced the official results Saturday, two days after nine dogsled teams arrived in Pond Inlet on Thursday.

Mushers’ official times were based on their total times from the eight days of racing that began April 9 in Igloolik.

Uttak was nearly an hour and a half ahead of second-place finisher Tom Naqitarvik, whose time was 29 hours, 43 minutes and 21 seconds. Naqitarvik received a $15,000 prize.

There was a difference of about 18 hours and 15 minutes between first place and ninth place. QIA said by finishing the race, the nine teams demonstrated endurance, skill and a deep connection to Inuit traditions.

QIA published the official list of finishers on Saturday and at the start of the race listed the prize amounts.

1^st: Jinneal Nanuraq Uttak, 28:14:49 — $20,000
2^nd: Tom Naqitarvik, 29:43:21 — $15,000
3^rd: Lee Inuaraq, 29:55:20 — $10,000
4^th: Daniel Inuaraq — 31:31:03
5^th: Donovan Qaunaq — 32:03:26
6^th: Owen Jaworenk, 44:06:43
7^th: Peter Henry Arnatsiaq — 44:06:43
8^th: Roland Taqtu — 44:57:04
9^th: Natalino Piugattuq — 46:36:21

A total of $15,500 was to be split among the mushers in fourth to ninth place.

Mushers, their dogs and support team members arrived in Igloolik to start the race over the Easter weekend. The event’s opening ceremony took place on April 6, with plans to start the race the following day.

But bad weather forced a two-day delay in the start of the race, which got underway on April 9.

This was the 27^th year for the Nunavut Quest, which QIA sponsors as a way to keep the Inuit dogsledding tradition alive. The starting point and finishing line change every year, moving among Igloolik, Pond Inlet and Arctic Bay.

Next year’s Nunavut Quest will run from Pond Inlet to Arctic Bay.