The Sun is About to Set in Utqiagvik, AK, and Will Not be Seen Until 2026

Imagine sitting on your porch at midnight in midsummer, drinking a glass of beer, with the sun shining in the sky and lighting up the land. What an incredible daydream. For Utqiagvik (formerly known as Barrow), Alaska, this is not a dream, but an annual reality.

However, on the flip side, they experience two months of ominous darkness every winter. This year, the sun will set at 1:36 pm on November 18 and won’t rise again until 1:23 pm on January 22, 2026. That’s 64 days without seeing the sun.

• Related: 84 Days of Daylight Begin in Utqiaġvik, Alaska, as Midnight Sun Returns

The northernmost city in North America, Utqiagvik, is a place only the toughest can endure. In addition to the two months of darkness, there are an average of 160 days per year below 0 degrees Fahrenheit. This bone-chilling environment features a permafrost layer that can extend 1,300 feet deep. The tundra has no natural trees and no access by road. 

These statistics may lead you to believe that Utqiagvik is a barren wasteland. On the contrary, there are, on average, 4,500 residents year-round who have a rich cultural and family life. These residents will join together in activities such as boat racing, playing sports, or working in their predominant industry, which is often gas or oil.

In addition to the residents, the wildlife seen in Utqiagvik primarily consists of marine life. The most commonly seen wildlife are whales, walruses, seals, and polar bears. You will even see several whale skulls on display around the city.

Utqiagvik residents treasure their slower, simpler way of life. With their unimaginable isolation, their survival looks much different than anything the average American would find familiar. With the cost of shipping, hunting, and fishing in the ocean and rivers, these activities are necessary for survival. 

Would you dare live there? Are you tough enough to endure the cold, isolation, and months of darkness?