Polar Night Begins in Utqiagvik — Town to Spend ~64 Days Without Direct Sunlight

Utqiagvik enters Polar Night

UTQIAGVIK, Alaska — Utqiagvik, America’s northernmost town, has seen its last sunrise for now and will remain without direct sunlight for roughly 64 days as the Arctic enters Polar Night. Some reports put the next sunrise on Jan. 22, 2026, while the city’s official schedule lists the Sun returning at about 1:23 p.m. local time on Jan. 26, 2026.

Why the sun disappears

Because of Earth’s axial tilt, the Sun will not climb above the horizon in Utqiagvik during this period. The community will not be in complete darkness: residents typically experience several hours of civil twilight, the pale blue light visible before dawn and after dusk.

Location, people and culture

Located roughly 500 miles northwest of Fairbanks, Utqiagvik has a population of about 4,400. The area contains archaeological sites dating back to around 500 CE. Summers bring the opposite extreme — nearly three months of near-constant daylight — and the town supports America’s northernmost high school football team at Barrow High School.

Weather and the polar vortex

With little or no sunlight, land and the lower atmosphere lose daytime heating and temperatures drop sharply during Polar Night. This prolonged cold helps strengthen the polar vortex, a circulating region of low pressure and intensely cold air in the stratosphere. Occasionally, pockets of this frigid air can descend into the troposphere and travel southward into the Lower 48, producing outbreaks of severe cold and snow.

Community life during dark months

Despite the darkness, local life continues — cultural events, festivals and even New Year fireworks have been staged beneath the northern lights in past years. Residents rely on community services, seasonal lighting, and outdoor safety practices to cope with extended low-light conditions.

Next sunrise: sources differ: Jan. 22, 2026 (some reports) or approximately 1:23 p.m. local time on Jan. 26, 2026 (city schedule).