Former 'Life Below Zero' Star Jessie Holmes Wins Iditarod Sled Dog Race Again

Holmes is the third competitor in Iditarod history to repeat as champion the year after his first win.

Mar. 18, 2026 at 10:36am

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Jessie Holmes, a former cast member on the National Geographic reality show "Life Below Zero," has won the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race for the second consecutive year. Holmes crossed the finish line in Nome, Alaska on Tuesday night, becoming only the third competitor in the 54-year history of the race to repeat as champion the year after their first victory.

Why it matters

The Iditarod is one of the most prestigious and challenging sled dog races in the world, testing the endurance and skill of both mushers and their canine teams. Holmes' back-to-back wins cement his status as one of the top sled dog racers in the sport, and his success has helped raise the profile of the Iditarod and sled dog racing more broadly.

The details

Holmes guided his dog team across the roughly 1,000-mile course, which took them over two mountain ranges, along the frozen Yukon River, and across the unpredictable Bering Sea ice. After crossing the finish line, Holmes rewarded his dogs with large ribeye steaks. This year's race featured a boosted prize purse, thanks to financial support from Norwegian billionaire Kjell Rokke, who participated in a newly created, noncompetitive amateur category.

  • The race started on March 8 in Willow, a day after the ceremonial start was held in Anchorage.
  • Holmes crossed the finish line in Nome on Tuesday night.

The players

Jessie Holmes

A former cast member on the National Geographic reality show "Life Below Zero" who has now won the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race two years in a row.

Kjell Rokke

A Norwegian billionaire who provided $100,000 in additional prize money and $170,000 to Alaska Native villages that serve as checkpoints for the Iditarod race.

Steve Curtis

A Canadian entrepreneur who participated in the Iditarod's new noncompetitive "expedition" class and pledged $50,000 to help youth sports programs in the villages along the race route.

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What they’re saying

“It's a blessing to be out here. I was just so full of gratitude and gratefulness being welcomed into all these communities, and being out in all this beautiful country with the most amazing dog team I've ever seen.”

— Jessie Holmes

What’s next

Holmes will receive around $80,000 in prize money for his second consecutive Iditarod victory, up from the $57,000-plus he earned last year.

The takeaway

Jessie Holmes' back-to-back Iditarod wins cement his status as one of the top sled dog racers in the world, and his success has helped raise the profile of this prestigious and challenging event that tests the endurance and skill of both mushers and their canine teams.