As of 2:30 p.m. today, 22 mushers have officially entered the 2026 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, which will kick off its 54th running in Anchorage on Saturday, March 7, 2026. The ceremonial start will be followed by the official restart in Willow the next day.
The field for the 2026 race is already shaping up to be one of the most competitive in recent memory, with a strong roster of returning champions, seasoned veterans, and promising newcomers. Among the early entrants are many of the Top 10 finishers from the 2025 Iditarod, including reigning champion Jessie Holmes, runner-up Matt Hall, third-place finisher Paige Drobny, fifth-place Bailey Vitello, sixth-place Travis Beals, eighth-place Ryan Redington, ninth-place Mille Porsild, and tenth-place Riley Dyche.
Also returning to the trail are veteran mushers such as Jessie Royer, Nicolas Petit, Chad Stoddard, Keaton Loeberich, Jason Mackey, Lauro Eklund, Thomas Waerner, Richie Beattie, Gabe Dunham, and Rohn Buser. The current list includes 18 race veterans (three previous champions: Jessie Holmes, Ryan Redington and Thomas Waerner) and four rookies, with 17 men and five women signed up so far. All entries for the 2026 Iditarod are subject to review by the Qualifying Review Board within 30 days of their entry…