The Arctic Winter Games are a triennial multi-sport and indigenous cultural event involving circumpolar peoples residing in communities or countries bordering the Arctic Ocean, which were biennial up to the 2026 games edition held in Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada.

History The Arctic Winter Games were founded in 1969 under the leadership of Alaska Governor Walter J. Hickel, Stuart (Stu) M. Hodgson, Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, and James Smith, Commissioner of Yukon. The idea to "provide a forum where athletes from the circumpolar North could compete on their own terms, on their own turf" came from Cal Miller, an advisor with the Yukon team at the 1967 Canada Winter Games.

In 1970 in Yellowknife, Canada, 500 athletes, trainers and officials came together for the first Arctic Winter Games. The participants came from the Northwest Territories, Yukon, and Alaska. Participants now come from Alaska, Northern Alberta, Yukon, Nunavut, Nunavik, Northwest Territories, Greenland, Finland and Norway. The games in 2002 were the first jointly hosted Arctic Winter Games, by Nuuk, Greenland, and Iqaluit, Nunavut. During the 2023 games, Prince William held a video conference with nine participants.

The most recent Arctic Winter Games took place in Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada, from 8–15 March 2026.

Nations As of 2026, eight contingents make up the Arctic Winter Games including: Canada - five regions ( Alberta North, Northwest Territories, Nunavik, Nunavut and Yukon) United States - one region ( Alaska) Greenland - (Team Kalaallit Nunaat) Sápmi - the region stretches over four countries: Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia France - one territory ( Saint Pierre and Miquelon) *upcoming debut in 2029 AWG

Contingents Since 2023, the same eight contingents have participated in the Arctic Winter Games. Another five contingents have taken part in the games throughout the games' history: Russia, Magadan, Tyumen, Chukotka and Yamal. In the table below is an overview of each contingent's appearances throughout the games. Prior to the 2000 Arctic Winter Games Nunavut was part of the Northwest Territories. After division in 1999, Nunavut competed as separate contingent.

ContingentYear70727476788082848688909294969800020406081012141618232426 Alaska X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X XX Northwest Territories X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X XX Yukon X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X XXNunavik — X X X — — — — X — — — — — — X X X X X X X X X X X XX Alberta North — — — — — — — — X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X XX Greenland — — — — — — — — — — X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X XXFinland—————————————— Russia — — — — — — — — — — — X — — — — — — — — — — — — — — ——Magadan — — — — — — — — — — — — X X X X X X — — — — — — — — —— Tyumen — — — — — — — — — — — — X X X — — — — — — — — — — — —— Chukotka — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — X X — — — — — — — — — —— Nunavut — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — X X X X X X X X X X X XX Sápmi — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — X X X X X X X X X XX Yamal — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — X X X X X X X X — ——

Editions

Host cities have been in Canada, the United States, and Greenland.

#YearHost cityHost country11970Yellowknife Canada21972Whitehorse31974Anchorage United States41976Schefferville Canada51978Hay River / Pine Point61980Whitehorse71982Fairbanks United States81984Yellowknife Canada91986Whitehorse101988Fairbanks United States111990Yellowknife Canada121992Whitehorse131994Slave Lake141996Chugiak / Eagle River United States151998Yellowknife Canada162000Whitehorse172002Nuuk and Iqaluit Greenland and Canada182004Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo Canada192006Kenai Peninsula Borough United States202008Yellowknife Canada212010Grande Prairie222012Whitehorse232014Fairbanks United States242016Nuuk Greenland252018Hay River / Fort Smith Canada - 2020Whitehorse (cancelled)262023Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo272024Matanuska-Susitna BoroughArctic Winter Games 2024 to be hosted in Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska United States282026Whitehorse Canada292029Fairbanks and Anchorage United States302032Iqaluit Canada312035Reykjavík Iceland

Hodgson Trophy The Hodgson trophy for fair play and team spirit is awarded at the end of every games. The trophy is named for Stuart (Stu) Milton Hodgson, former Commissioner of the Northwest Territories.

The past winners of the trophy are: Year(s)Winner1978Yukon1980Yukon1982Yukon1984Yukon1986Yukon1988Yukon1990Alaska1992Northwest Territories1994Greenland1996Northwest Territories1998Yukon2000Nunavut2002Greenland2004Nunavut2006Alaska2008Nunavut2010Alaska2012Nunavut2014Greenland2016Alaska2018Alaska2020AWG2020 host society volunteers and staff 2023Greenland2024Yukon2026Alberta North and Nunavut (tie)

Arctic Winter Games International Committee The Arctic Winter Games International Committee consists of the following people John Rodda - Alaska, president Leigh Goldie - Alberta, vice president John Flynn - Yukon, past president Kyle Seely - Nunavut, director Karl Davidsen - Greenland, director John Estle - Alaska, joint interim - technical director Alison Brown - Northwest Territories, joint interim - technical director Marie Cairns - Yukon, director Mariele dePeuter - Nunavut, director Guy Yango - Nunavik, director Don Wilson - Alberta, Treasurer Jane Arychuk - Northwest Territories, director Moira Lassen - Yukon, executive director (ex-officio)

Sports disciplines A total of 29 sports have been represented at the Arctic Winter Games with arctic sports, badminton, cross country skiing, ice hockey and volleyball being the only sports to be featured in all editions of the Arctic Winter Games.

The table below shows the sports and the years in which they have been a part of the Arctic Winter Games programme.

SportYear70727476788082848688909294969800020406081012141618232426 —X — — — — — — — — — —XX —XXXX —13131313 —XXX — —X — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX353535353535XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX13X101010101010101010XXXXXXXXX —XXXXXXXXXXX222222XXX — —X — — — — —XXXXXXXX —XX141414141414XXXX —X — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —— — — — — — — — — —X — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — ——XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX242424242424XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX2223 —2XXX — — — — — — — — — —XXXXXXXXX242424242424XXX — — — — — — — — — —XXXXXXXXX6666 —6 — ——XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX —XX13131313 —13XXX — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —8 — — — — — —— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —55XXX — —X — — —X —XXXXXXXXXXX6666 —6XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX333323XXX — — — — —XXXXXXXXXXXXXX5555 — — — —— —XXXXXX — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — ——XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX — — — — — — — — — — — —— — — — — — — —XXX — —XXXXXXX20202020 —20XXX — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —XXXX202020201620XXX — — — —XXXXXXXXXX —X —XX141414141414XXX — —XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX141414141414XXX — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — ——XXXXXXX — — — — —XXX —XXX141412121212XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX222222XXX — — — — — — —XXXX — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —— —XXXXX — — — —XXXXXXXXX252525252625XXX

= The sport was featured in this Arctic Winter Games. = The sport was featured in this Arctic Winter Games. The number indicates the amount of medal-giving events in that sport. = Demonstration sport with no medal-giving events. = The sport is planned to be a part of an upcoming edition of the Arctic Winter Games. = The sport did not feature in this edition of the Arctic Winter Games.

Arctic Winter Games alumni The Governor General of Canada, Michaëlle Jean, presented Aisa Pirti, a 19-year-old Inuk from Akulivik, Nunavik, with the National Aboriginal Role Model Award during a ceremony at Rideau Hall. Aisa has received 30 medals and five trophies for Inuit games in regional and circumpolar competitions, such as the Arctic Winter Games and the Eastern Arctic Summer Games.

See also World Eskimo Indian Olympics Nalukataq (traditional blanket toss celebrations) World Indigenous Games Traditional sports and games

Notes

References

External links Arctic Winter Games Official Website