The Polar STEAM Summit brings together researchers, educators, artists, writers, and others interested in connecting polar science with creative communication and education.

The two-day program will feature interactive sessions and workshops focused on science communication, storytelling, art-science integration, and the use of authentic polar data. Activities include a Data Jam, science slam, polar-inspired performances, art gallery tours, and opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration and networking.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio will travel to Reykjavík, Iceland; Athens, Greece; and Lisbon, Portugal from October 5-8, 2026. Secretary Rubio will meet with Icelandic officials in Reykjavík to discuss economic and security collaboration.  In Greece, Secretary Rubio will lead the United States delegation for the Sixth U.S.-Greece Strategic Dialogue, deepening our partnership on key Administration priorities, including defense cooperation and regional and energy security.  Secretary Rubio will then travel to Lisbon to meet with Portuguese officials to advance defense, economic, and technology cooperation.

US military researchers have tested expeditionary base camp systems at temperatures as low as -65 degrees Fahrenheit (-54 degrees Celsius) to keep essential facilities operational in Arctic conditions. Researchers from the US Navy’s Naval Facilities Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare Center and the US Army’s Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL) worked on improving rapidly deployable triple container-based systems used to provide kitchens, showers, laundries, and latrines at forward bases.

Norway’s Police Security Service (PST) says foreign states are using civilian vessels to gather intelligence along the Norwegian coast and could use them to prepare sabotage. In an article published Oct. 1, the agency called the coast a persistent intelligence target because of its length, its proximity to the High North and the Arctic, and its shipping lanes and resources.

The Dubai Tower the first container ship on Sea Legend’s weekly Arctic service between China and Europe is returning to Asia via the Suez Canal rather than the Northern Sea Route (NSR). The first of eight weekly voyages between China and Europe scheduled by Chinese carrier Sea Legend the transits between Ningbo – Zhoushan and the UK created considerable media and market interest.

A military exercise on Russia’s remote Sedov archipelago has drawn attention to major damage inflicted on vulnerable Arctic nature. As part of the exercise, soldiers from Russia’s Northern Fleet were put ashore by helicopters and amphibious vessels. Once landed, the soldiers fought a fictitious adversary on the sandy banks of one of the islands.

Hosted by the Icelandic Tourism Research Centre, the 34th Nordic Symposium for Tourism and Hospitality Research will feature sessions organized through UArctic’s Thematic Network on Northern Tourism. Topics include community-centered and place-based regenerative cultural tourism, employment conditions in the Arctic tourism sector, and new research on tourism work across northern destinations.

The Arctic Circle Assembly, organized by Arctic Circle, brings together government officials, business leaders, researchers, policy experts, community representatives, and international organizations to discuss Arctic affairs. Topics include geopolitics, security, international cooperation, economic development, energy and natural resources, shipping and infrastructure, scientific research, environmental change, and issues affecting Arctic communities.

Food economists from the U.S. and Canada will discuss food affordability, food security, and policy responses. Audience questions and participation are encouraged.



This event is hosted by the University of Alaska Anchorage Rasmuson Chair of Economics, the University of Alaska Anchorage Institute of Social and Economic Research, and Commonwealth North.

International Partnerships in Ice Core Sciences (IPICS) will bring together the international ice-core research community to explore the past, present, and future of the planet through ice-core science.

The conference will provide a forum for researchers and partners to share advances in ice-core research, strengthen international scientific collaboration, and discuss current and future priorities for understanding polar and global environmental systems.

Cold Seas, Critical Gaps will bring together Arctic communities, Indigenous Peoples, emergency-response professionals, industry, researchers and Arctic Council experts to examine preparedness for cruise and passenger vessel emergencies in Arctic and North Atlantic waters. Discussions will focus on current response capabilities, research gaps, prevention, preparedness and opportunities to strengthen international cooperation.

This webinar will examine how Arctic countries are addressing solid waste management challenges associated with remoteness, extreme conditions, and limited waste services. Experts from Canada, Denmark, Finland, and Iceland will discuss different management systems, structural and economic challenges, innovative approaches, and opportunities for international collaboration.

This event is hosted by the University of the Arctic (UArctic) Thematic Network on Solid Waste Management in the Arctic.

Learn about the INSTAAR measurement program & tour the radiocarbon & stable isotope labs. This is part of Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research’s (INSTAAR) 75th Anniversary seminars.

Atlantic Plastics 2026 will examine marine plastic pollution, including its sources and transport pathways, impacts on marine ecosystems and human health, and economic and social dimensions. The symposium will also address mitigation strategies, governance, and international efforts to reduce plastic pollution and protect the marine environment.



The event is hosted by the Government of Iceland.

The Anchorage Security and Defense Dialogue (ASDD), hosted by the Ted Stevens Center for Arctic Security Studies, brings together military leaders, government officials, policymakers, researchers, industry representatives, and international partners to discuss security issues affecting the Arctic. The dialogue focuses on topics such as defense capabilities, homeland security, military readiness, technology, infrastructure, and cooperation among Arctic nations and allies. Through presentations, panel discussions, and working sessions, participants share information, discuss emerging challenges, and identify opportunities for coordination on Arctic security and defense priorities.

This event is by invitation only. This event is not open to the media. Due to the size constraints of the venue, early registration is encouraged. If you would like more information, please contact us at TSC-Engagements@groups.af.mil.

Hosted by the American Society of Naval Engineers (ASNE), this professional symposium will bring together leaders and experts from government, the military, industry and academia to examine the engineering, technological and operational challenges associated with sustained operations in the Arctic and Antarctic. Discussions will focus on ice-capable vessels and icebreakers, communications, aircraft and underwater systems, emerging technologies, and the infrastructure needed to operate effectively in remote and demanding polar environments. The program will also address growing U.S. and international investment in polar capabilities and the role of collaboration in supporting national security, maritime safety, commerce, environmental stewardship, scientific research and resource management.

Hosted by the Sitka Sound Science Center, Sitka WhaleFest brings together scientists, educators, artists, conservation leaders, and community members to explore marine ecosystems, ocean conservation, and coastal culture through public presentations, wildlife experiences, educational programming, and community events focused on the North Pacific environment.

ArcticNet’s Annual Scientific Meeting brings together researchers, students, knowledge holders, policymakers, and other Arctic stakeholders to share current research and discuss issues affecting the North. Programming includes scientific sessions, networking opportunities, cultural activities, and interdisciplinary discussions designed to strengthen connections between research, communities, and decision-makers.

Hosted by the American Geophysical Union, the 2026 AGU Annual Meeting covers research across the Earth and space sciences. Its Arctic-focused sessions will feature research on sea ice, permafrost, glaciers, oceans, atmospheric conditions, ecosystems, and freshwater systems, as well as the broader effects of Arctic change.

The Alaska Marine Science Symposium brings together scientists, educators, resource managers, students, and members of the public to discuss current marine research in Alaskan waters. More than 700 participants typically attend, with programming that includes keynote presentations, scientific sessions, workshops, and poster presentations covering marine ecosystems, fisheries, ocean conditions, and other research relevant to Alaska and the Arctic.

The program connects science, policy, business, and Arctic communities, with an emphasis on knowledge-based dialogue, collaboration, and informed decision-making. Discussions will explore the growing global attention on the Arctic, the influence of information and disinformation, trust in science, and the importance of ensuring Arctic perspectives are represented as governments, researchers, industries, and communities make decisions affecting the region’s future.

The Alaska Forum, formerly Alaska Forum on the Environment, brings together community leaders and operators — from industry, business, federal, state, and tribal governments across Alaska and the Arctic — for technical training, professional development, and collaboration on issues facing the region. Topics span energy, infrastructure and community resilience, emergency preparedness, fish and wildlife, subsistence, resource development, public health, water and wastewater, workforce capacity, and Arctic and coastal change. Sessions draw on technical expertise, Indigenous Knowledge, and direct experience from communities across Alaska and the Arctic. AF2027 takes place February 1–5, 2027, at the Dena'ina Center in Anchorage. Join the conversations shaping Alaska and the Arctic.

Hosted by the Society of American Military Engineers (SAME) Anchorage Post, the Arctic Industry Forum brings together senior leaders and practitioners to discuss national security priorities and infrastructure issues affecting the Arctic’s built and natural environments.

SAVE THE DATE! The Joint (AC)3 - MOSAiC Conference 2027 (JAMC27) offers a forum for open, multi-disciplinary scientific exchange on the overarching theme of "Drivers and Impacts of a Changing Arctic." The international polar research community is invited to present and discuss scientific results achieved over the past decade, including findings from (AC)3, MOSAiC, and other Arctic research activities. Conference goals are to synthesize recent advances, inform future research actions, and enhance societal uptake of research outcomes. Abstract submission will open in October 2026.

Hosted by the Arctic Council as part of the Kingdom of Denmark’s Chairship program, the Arctic Biodiversity Summit will bring together scientists, policymakers, Indigenous Peoples, youth leaders, and other Arctic stakeholders to strengthen collaboration on biodiversity conservation across the Arctic region. The summit is intended to serve as a strategic platform for advancing knowledge exchange, supporting sustainable development, and helping transform scientific and Indigenous knowledge into action-oriented policy and conservation efforts focused on protecting Arctic ecosystems and biodiversity for future generations.

A pre-Congress session will be held above the Arctic Circle in Kotzebue, Alaska, with a focused agenda on syndemic infectious disease issues and research governance.

With 60 years of history, ICCH offers a forum for health professionals and students to exchange knowledge and strengthen partnerships.  We welcome researchers, clinicians, policymakers, community stakeholders, indigenous leaders to participate in discussions about health topics affecting northern communities.