The Arctic Circle Prize 2024 was awarded to Senator Lisa Murkowski for her leadership in Arctic affairs in the United States and globally. She is one of the U.S. Congress' foremost experts on Arctic affairs and plays a pivotal role in shaping U.S. national policies that address pressing challenges such as national security, food security, and infrastructure development.

Amongst her many congressional achievements is the establishment of the Senate Arctic Caucus, the first congressional group dedicated to raising awareness about laws and policies affecting the Far North. Additionally, she played a key role in funding and establishing the Ted Stevens Center for Arctic Security Studies, a U.S. Department of Defense Regional Center supporting defense strategies in the Arctic. Furthermore, Senator Murkowski pioneered the charge in convincing the U.S State Department to establish the position of an Ambassador-at-large for the Arctic. Earlier this year, the U.S. Senate confirmed Dr. Michael Sfraga as the first to receive this position, a candidate fervently supported by Senator Murkowski.

Senator Murkowski is actively engaged in international forums focused on preserving the Arctic as a peaceful region. She serves as the U.S. Representative and Vice Chair for the Standing Committee of Parliamentarians of the Arctic Region, a working body of the Arctic Council with representatives from eight Arctic countries.

The Arctic Circle Prize 2022 was presented to Alfred Wegener Institute and MOSAiC Expedition. A great certification for the expedition's extraordinary contribution to the continuous work of securing a sustainable and prosperous future in the Arctic and for enhancing a more comprehensive understanding of the pace of climate change in the world.

The MOSAiC expedition was the ‘Moon landing’ for the Arctic. The largest polar expedition in history. In September 2019, the German research icebreaker Polarstern set sail from Tromsø, Norway, to spend a year drifting through the Arctic Ocean - trapped in ice. The expedition was spearheaded by Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI) and led by atmosperic scientist, Dr. Markus Rex.

The Arctic Circle Prize 2019 was presented to John Kerry, former U.S. Secretary of State, honouring his leadership as the U.S. Chair of the Arctic Council, the success of the Paris Climate Conference and saluting his campaign for the Oceans.

The Arctic Circle Prize 2016 was presented to H.E. Ban Ki-moon, General Secretary of the United Nations, for his leadership in bringing the nations of the world together in creating a historic international agreement on climate cooperation serving the sustainable future for the Arctic and the Planet.