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Iditarod Banquet, Insider Updates, and Smiles for Miles Initiative

March 5, 2026
Editor and/or Contributors

The start of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race begins long before the teams reach the trail. One of the most anticipated events of race week is the Iditarod Mushers Banquet, where fans, sponsors, and mushers gather in Anchorage for an evening that officially launches the Last Great Race on Earth.

In this episode of the Mushing Podcast, hosts Robert and Michele Forto take listeners inside this iconic event. The banquet features the famous bib drawing from a traditional mukluk, meet-and-greet opportunities with mushers, auctions that help support the race, and special tributes to important figures in Iditarod history.

The show also explores updates to the Iditarod Insider platform, including multi-camera livestreams, improved GPS tracking, fan chat features, and SMS alerts that allow followers around the world to stay connected to the race.

Finally, the hosts discuss the newly announced IditaHealth: Smiles for Miles program, a pediatric dental initiative that will bring preventative oral health care and education to children in rural checkpoint communities along the Iditarod Trail. The program highlights how the race continues to support Alaska’s trail communities beyond the competition itself.

Listeners will also hear about new features coming to this year’s Mushing Podcast coverage, including nightly race recaps, historical insights, rulebook discussions, and fan interaction throughout the race.