Nine teams set to race in 2026 Nunavut Quest

Updated April 6 at 1:30 p.m. ET

Nine mushers are set to start racing Tuesday across north Baffin Island for the 2026 Nunavut Quest.

The estimated weeklong trek runs from Igloolik to Pond Inlet.

First-place winners will receive $20,000, the second-place finisher will get $15,000 and third-place receives $10,000. Smaller cash prizes totalling $15,500 will be divided up among the fourth to 10th place winners.

The race can be tracked via a live map on the Qikiqtani Inuit Association’s website, the association announced in a news release.

Jinneal Nunaraq Uttak of Igloolik is trekking across north Baffin Island once again, hoping to win the race for the third year in a row. Natalino Piugattuk, Roland Taqtu and Peter Henry Arnatsiaq make up the remaining Igloolik teams.

Tom Naqitarvik and Donovan Quanaq, both from Arctic Bay, will race against each other and the other teams. Three teams from Pond Inlet — Lee Inuarak, Owen Jaworenko and Daniel Inuarak — are also in the race, which finishes in their home town.

Qikiqtani Inuit Association provides $100,000 in funding for the annual event to help cover the cost of prizes, community celebrations and other expenses.

Note: This story was updated to note that musher Phanuel Okangu Enooagak of Pond Inlet has dropped out of this year’s Nunavut Quest