The northernmost community in the United States will see its last full sunrise and sunset of the year on Tuesday, Nov. 18, as Utqiaġvik transitions into its annual stretch of winter darkness.
Beginning Wednesday, Nov. 19, the sun will dip below the horizon for good, ushering in 64 consecutive days of polar night—a winter phenomenon unique to communities above the Arctic Circle. The sun will not rise again until Jan. 22, 2026.
Despite the dramatic reputation of “two months without sunlight,” residents do not actually spend the entire period in complete darkness. Utqiaġvik experiences civil twilight for several hours each day, when sunlight just grazes the horizon and provides a subtle blue-gray illumination. At peak midwinter, this twilight window narrows but never fully disappears.
For photographers and Arctic visitors, it can be one of the most surreal periods of the year, a time when the sky glows cobalt, pink, or gold without the sun ever breaking the line of the horizon.
Every year, Utqiaġvik’s sunrises and sunsets march toward this moment. By mid-November, the sun barely clears the edge of the horizon, hovering low in the southern sky for less than an hour. On Nov. 18, residents will watch a sunrise around 12:06 pm and a sunset just before 1:33 pm, the final cycle above the horizon until late January.
The return of the sun on Jan. 22 is a celebrated community milestone, marked by ceremonies, school activities, and gatherings that welcome back the first rays after more than two months of indirect light.
Polar night occurs because of Earth’s axial tilt. Above roughly 66.5° latitude, the planet’s tilt during winter pushes the Arctic Circle away from direct solar illumination. Utqiaġvik, perched at 71° north, lies deep within this zone, making it one of the first US communities to lose the sun each fall, and one of the last to regain it.
Residents of Utqiaġvik are used to this cycle. Daily life continues, school schedules, whaling traditions, municipal operations, and the routines of the North Slope Borough adapt naturally to the Arctic’s rhythms. Many locals say the polar night is a time of quiet reflection, strong community ties, and remarkable winter skies.
As Alaskans across the state brace for winter, Utqiaġvik is already stepping into one of the most unique and mesmerizing seasonal transitions on Earth: Life at the top of the globe is a life of extremes.
One thought on “Utqiagvik-Barrow sees final sunset of the year as polar darkness descends”
Property owners of Utqiaġvik need to clean up their town Because of being Alaska’s first town representing our State of Alaska to the world
As Arctic waters are opening up Alaska will get more travelers around the world sailing those waters
Utqiaġvik Needs to change its mindset how they live today and improve their appearance for future visitors
Looking like a third world town doesn’t reflect Alaska well