edit – Added Jesse Terry, Jaye Foucher, Kevin Hansen
June 28, 2025
22 mushers enter the running for the 2026 Iditarod on opening day
Wasilla, Alaska –
The first 22 mushers have officially thrown their names in for the 2026 Iditarod. The big event kicks off with the usual fanfare in Anchorage on Saturday 7th March, followed by the proper restart up in Willow on the Sunday.
Even this early, the line-up is already shaping up to be a belter. Plenty of familiar faces from the 2025 race are back for another go, including the reigning champ Jessie Holmes, runner-up Matt Hall, and third-placed Paige Drobny. Bailey Vitello, Travis Beals, Ryan Redington, Mille Porsild, and Riley Dyche — all top ten finishers last time round — are in too.
Also back on the trail are some seasoned names like Jessie Royer, Nicolas Petit, Chad Stoddard, Jason Mackey, Richie Beattie, and Thomas Waerner — yeah, that Thomas Waerner, 2020 champ — along with a few others who know their way around a sled. So far it’s 18 returning mushers, including three previous winners (Holmes, Redington, and Waerner), and four rookies. The current list has 17 men and 5 women signed up.
All the entries go through the usual check by the Qualifying Review Board within 30 days of sign-up, just to keep everything above board.
The full list of 2026 entrants is online at iditarod.com, and there’s still time for others to join the party. Standard entry deadline is Friday 28th November 2025 — after that, the fee goes up. But here’s the good bit: Kjell Inge Røkke, the Iditarod’s first ever Expedition Musher, has offered to cover half the fee for anyone who signs up before the November deadline. Nice one, Kjell.
As always, today’s sign-up picnic included the free-entry draw. Winners this year? Matt Hall and Riley Dyche — not a bad day out for them! Two more mushers also bagged free entries for their efforts in the 2025 race: Calvin Daugherty (winner of the Most Inspirational Musher Award) and Paige Drobny (who took home the Leonhard Seppala Humanitarian Award).
Keep an eye on this space, because if the rest of the field is anything like this first batch, the 2026 Iditarod could be one for the history books.
Here is the full list of 2026 mushers who have signed up so far. Other entrants have until November when the entry fee goes from $2000 (thanks to Kjell) to $8000.
Bailey Vitello
Bailey moved to Alaska in 2022 to pursue mushing, fell in love with Nenana, and is now training a driven team for a competitive 2026 Iditarod run.
Ryan Redington
Ryan is the grandson of the founder of the Iditarod Joe Redington Sr. He has started 16 times, finished 9 times, culminating in an historic win in 2023.
Mille Porsild
Mille, originally from Denmark, was awarded Rookie of the Year in 2020. In 2023 Mille came 9th. In 2021 she came 5th and in 2024 she came 7th and last year she came 9th.
Jessie Royer
Jessie grew up on a Montana ranch, got sled dogs at 15, trained with Doug Swingley, won Race to the Sky at 17, moved to Alaska in 1998, and enjoys horses, hunting, and shooting.
Paige Drobny
Paige says she loves exploring Alaska with her friends and dogs. She has run 10 previous races and had her best race last year when she came 3rd.
Thomas Waerner
This will be Thomas’ third Iditarod. His rookie year was in 2015 when he came 17th. Five years later he made a trumphant return and became an Iditarod Champion.
Kjell Rokke
The first ever “Expedition Musher” has caused a little controversy amongst fans. Kjell is paying 50% of all mushers entry fees and made a sizeable payment to ITC.
Richie Beattie
Richies rookie year in 2019 saw him reach Nome, but unfortunately after the death of one of his dogs he withdrew from the race. 2026 will see Richie back for unfinished business.
Lauro Eklund
Lauro runs Skookum Expeditions in Two Rivers with his dad, Iditarod 2 time finisher Neil Eklund. Last year Lauro finished in 14th place.
Adam Lindenmuth
Adam has had some fantastic results in his qualifying races, and looks good to be “in the money” for this years Iditarod.
Matt Hall
Matt Hall runs the Silver Ace kennel out of Two Rivers. He started his Iditarod journey in 2018 and has placed four times in the top ten. His came second again last year. Can this year be his?
Sydnie Bahl
Sydnie Bahl, a former physical therapist, is now an experienced dog musher. She entered last years Iditarod but had to withdraw at Grayling. Can she make it to Nome this time?
Riley Dyche
Riley has competed in 5 previous Iditarods and last year he finished an impressive 10th place. Its pronounced “Dike” (rhymes with “bike”)
Chad Stoddard
Chads previous runs include finishing in 23rd place in 2021 and 7th place in 2022. Chad could be one to watch in the 54th running of the Iditarod.
Jessie Holmes
Last years winner, winning by a three hour margin, Jessie has dominated the top ten for the last few years. Can he make it two in a row? Is this the start of a streak?
Nicholas Petit
Nic was born in France, raised in New Mexico then moved to Alaska. He’s an 11 time finisher with 6 top tens under his belt. His closest to a win came in 2018 when he came 2nd.
Rohn Buser
Son of Iditarod Champion, Martin Buser, Rohn (named after the checkpoint) is no stranger to Iditarod, competing in 2008, 2012 & 2015.
Travis Beals
Travis Beals won Most Improved Musher in 2015 as he finished in 11th place moving up from 37th place the previous year. He finished in 6th place in 2024 and in 2025.
Keaton Loebrich
Keaton is from Fairbanks, Alaska and runs Star Gazing Racing. Last year he finished in 17th place. Can he finish in the top ten this year?
Gabe Dunham
2020 was Gabe’s rookie year where she scratched at Unalakleet. In 2024 she finished in 18th place. In 2025 she scratched in Eagle Island. Can she make it to Nome in 2026?
Joseph Sabin
“Joey” Sabin is an experienced musher, yet 2026 will be his rookie year for the Iditarod after completing his qualifying races with style.
Jason Mackey
Jason comes from mushing royalty. In 2023 he received the Red Lantern and Most Inspirational Musher Award. His personal best is 16th place. Can 2026 see Jason in the top ten?
Jesse Terry
Anishinabe musher Jesse Terry, who began mushing at 11, now runs On The Land Sled Dogs with his wife Mary and is ready to chase his longtime dream of the Iditarod.
Jaye Foucher
Jaye Foucher of New Hampshire runs Sibersong Sleddogs with 35 huskies. A former rock musician, she overcame setbacks and now heads to Alaska for the 2026 Iditarod.
Kevin Hansen
Kevin Hansen, an Inupiaq from Kotzebue, grew up with sled dogs. A PT at Maniilaq, he’s raced the Kobuk 440 since 2017 and now sets his sights on the Iditarod.
All photos are courtesy of Iditarod Trail Committee / Siri Raitto / Whitney McLaren
More info at iditarod.com
