2026 Jackpot!

The Nenana Ice Classic Board of Directors voted on the 2026 jackpot: $144,749! That’s

a big win for the lucky guess—thank you for keeping this tradition going and helping build an even stronger season ahead!

We know this jackpot is lower than many of us hoped. Ticket sales were down this year, and our State faced a tough stretch—natural disasters and a hard-hitting economy affected families, local businesses, and the partners we rely on. Like many small organizations, we’re also navigating rising costs while working to keep the Ice Classic strong, sustainable, and here for the next generation.

We also hear you on online ticket sales—and we want it too!

We’ve been working hard to make online sales possible, and we truly hoped to offer it this season, but we hit a major regulatory and processing barrier. Although we are a non-profit charitable organization, we are also a gaming organization, which means we can’t use standard payment processors like Square, Stripe, or Clover. We must use a qualified merchant processor that supports regulated/high-risk gaming transactions. The processor we’re working with requires several items to be reviewed and prepared by an attorney before we can accept online credit card payments, and the legal work is estimated to cost $60,000–$70,000.

Because our budget is very tight, we don’t have the additional funding to cover a cost of that size right now. If you know an attorney or legal professional who may be willing to help (including pro bono or reduced-fee support), we would be grateful for an introduction. Your help could make online ticket sales a reality and help this 100+ year tradition continue to grow.

Thank you to everyone who participates in the Nenana Ice Classic and supports this incredible tradition. Every ticket helps—good luck, and we can’t wait to see what the new 2027 season brings!