Whitehorse gears up for the 2026 Arctic Winter Games
For Arctic Winter Games organizers, like host society president Tracey Bilsky, this is crunch time.
After months of preparation, the 2026 Arctic Winter Games in Whitehorse are now just days away.
More than 2,000 athletes from Yukon, the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Nunavik, northern Alberta, Alaska, Greenland and the Sapmi region – which spans northern Norway, Sweden, Finland and parts of Russia – along with coaches, families and others are expected to arrive in the Yukon capital this week.
“It’s hard to describe,” said Bilsky. “The anticipation feels like your chest is going to burst.”
Athletes will compete in 20 sports from figure skating and archery to Dene games to snowboarding.
“They’ll be coming off the planes in their uniforms,” said Bilsky. “Some of them have prepared for years to compete. They take what they do very seriously and they are ready. And so we have prepared as well as we can for them.”
Bilsky is one of hundreds of volunteers who are working to bring the event to life. Orientation sessions took place over the weekend in Whitehorse.
As the host city, Mayor Kirk Cameron says City of Whitehorse staff have been working “round the clock” to support the games.
“We’re kind of comptroller for most of the venues: the Canada Games Centre, Takhini Arena, the Mount Mac Ski Club,” he said in an interview.
Born and raised in Whitehorse, Cameron competed in the 1974 Arctic Winter Games in Anchorage, Alaska. He says the games offered him a “fantastic” opportunity to connect with other youth across the circumpolar North.
“It was a real eye-opener and mind-expander for a young kid who grew up in Whitehorse,” he said. “I’d never been to a large city like that.”
This year marks the seventh time Whitehorse has hosted the Arctic Winter Games since 1969. It was slated to host in 2020, but the event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“So for us to pick it back up and take it on this year is a really cool experience. It feels good,” said Cameron. “It’s a big deal and a huge opportunity for us.”
Bilsky says they have launched a new app to help spectators navigate what events are happening where, as well as a live broadcast. All events will be free of charge to attend.
“It’s a perfect time to take your family and watch an Arctic sport you never get to watch,” said Bilsky. “You just don’t want to miss a second.”
The opening ceremony to light the flame for the 2026 Arctic Winter Games is scheduled for Sunday, March 8, at 7:30 p.m. Yukon Time at Shipyards Park in Whitehorse.
A report written by Caitrin Pilkington
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