Polar Night Begins in Utqiagvik, Alaska

In Utqiagvik, Alaska, the last sunrise of the year has occurred. The northernmost community in the U.S. will experience continuous darkness until January 22, 2026, marking the onset of polar night.

This lack of sunlight is due to the tilt of the Earth’s axis, which means the sun won’t breach the horizon for 64 days. Still, it’s not complete darkness; the area will see several hours of civil twilight, a dim blue light that appears before dawn.

Located about 800 miles northwest of Fairbanks, Utqiagvik is home to roughly 4,400 residents, with historical ruins tracing back to 500 A.D., according to local sources.

During these polar nights, temperatures tend to drop significantly without any sunlight to provide warmth. Additionally, this phenomenon contributes to the polar vortex, a region of frigid air located in the Earth’s stratosphere.

Interestingly, this frozen air can sometimes push further south into the lower 48 states.

Utqiagvik faces more than 60 days of winter darkness, but summer brings a striking contrast with nearly three months of uninterrupted sunshine. It’s a unique seasonal rhythm that, while extreme, is part of life in this Arctic community.

The next time residents can expect to see the sun again is on January 26, 2026, around 1:23 PM local time, a date many will look forward to with anticipation.