The Arctic Observing Summit (AOS) is a high-level, biennial international forum. Its primary goal is to provide community-driven guidance for the design, implementation, and sustained, long-term operation of the international network of Arctic observing systems. This years AOS will take place from March 30 to April 1, and online registration is possible until March 4 through the Arctic Science Summit Week 2026 registration.
The summit brings together a diverse community, including researchers, Indigenous Peoples, government agencies, and others, to foster international communication and coordination. This collaboration aims to optimize resource allocation, minimize duplication and gaps, and address the urgent needs of Arctic observing, including the human component. The recommendations generated at the AOS inform the work of the Sustaining Arctic Observing Networks (SAON) and global initiatives, ultimately improving our understanding and response to rapid, system-scale Arctic change.
Sessions at the 2026 AOS include
- Plenary panel discussion: Indigenous-led observing across the Arctic
- Permafrost Shared Arctic Variables: discussion on current status and future developments
- Building and Sharing Inventories of Observational Capacities for Discovery and Integration across a Spectrum of Arctic Observing Systems
- Enhancing Research Quality and Societal Relevance Through Indigenous Knowledge, Co-Production, and Equitable Community Engagement
- Career Development
- Birgehallat: The Saami Way of Understanding and Adapting to a Changing World
- Improving Arctic Observations: Wildfire Shared Arctic Variable & Terrain Trafficability
- Shifting Perspectives: Reconsidering measures of success for Arctic observing
- Expert Panels in Practice - what is needed to put the ROADS process in practice
- Strengthening Arctic Observing Through Indigenous-Led and Community-Based Monitoring Initiatives
- Investing in Salmon Observing for Arctic Resilience: Bridging Research, Funding, and Community Needs
- Arctic ROADS as a Path for Inclusive, IPY-Scale Collaboration
- Data Systems
- Technology
The full AOS program is available here.