When will Alaska’s statewide candidates debate? Here’s a list of events.

Six candidates for Alaska governor and lieutenant governor participated in a debate on education hosted by the Alaska Superintendents Association in Juneau on July 30, 2026. (Photo by Corinne Smith)

By James Brooks

Alaska Beacon

The first ballots for Alaska’s Nov. 3 general election will be mailed Sept. 18 by the Alaska Division of Elections, and early voting is scheduled to begin Oct. 19.

The Alaska Beacon is trying to keep track of debates, forums and other events that will feature all or most of the candidates for statewide office — governor, U.S. House and U.S. Senate.

Below is a working list of events, which will be updated as more is known. If you know of an event where multiple gubernatorial, U.S. House or U.S. Senate candidates will appear and it isn’t on this list, email jbrooks@alaskabeacon.com.

• Aug. 26, 3:30 p.m.: AOGA governor forum @ Dena’ina Center (Governor) — AOGA

• Aug. 27, 10:45 a.m.: AOGA Senate forum @ Dena’ina Center (U.S. Senate) — AOGA

• Aug. 27, 2:55 p.m.: AOGA House forum @ Dena’ina Center (U.S. House) — AOGA

• Aug. 28, 10:15 a.m.: AML governor forum @ Wedgewood Resort, Fairbanks — AML

• Sept. 8, 5:30 p.m.: Last Frontier Republican Club governor debate forum @ Petroleum Club, Anchorage — Bronson, JKT and Taylor confirmed

• Sept. 9, 6 p.m.: Kodiak fisheries governor forum @ Gerald C. Wilson Auditorium, Kodiak

• Sept. 12, 11 a.m.: Kodiak fisheries U.S. House and U.S. Senate forum @ Gerald C. Wilson Auditorium, Kodiak — Peltola and Hill confirmed yes

• Sept. 16: Alaska Hospital and Healthcare Association forum in Girdwood — JKT, Wilson and Bronson have confirmed

• Sept. 17, 11:30 a.m.: Chugach Electric Forum in Anchorage — Bronson confirmed

• Sept. 17, 4 p.m.: Commonwealth North forum, Anchorage — Bronson, JKT and Taylor confirmed

• Sept. 19, 2 p.m.: Mat-Su Chamber forum

• Sept. 21, 6 p.m.: Alaska gubernatorial energy forum @ Anchorage Public Library — Alaska Public Media’s Lori Townshend hosting

• Sept. 22, noon: Anchorage rotary governor candidate forum, Petroleum Club in Anchorage — all four candidates scheduled

• Sept. 23, noon: gubernatorial forum on recreation, trails and related economic issues, 11th Annual Confluence Summit, Cordova

• Sept. 24, 12 p.m.: Juneau Chamber of Commerce governor candidate forum @ Baranof Hotel

• Sept. 29: Southeast Conference governor forum @ Ted Ferry Civic Center, Ketchikan

• Sept. 30: Southeast Conference U.S. Senate forum @ Ted Ferry Civic Center, Ketchikan

• Oct. 1: Southeast Conference U.S. House forum @ Ted Ferry Civic Center, Ketchikan

• Oct. 1, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.: Alaska Support Industry Alliance forum in Fairbanks; governor candidates will appear on stage and answer questions at various times throughout the event

• Oct. 1: UAA College of Business and Public Policy governor debate @ Wendy Williamson Auditorium, Anchorage — UAA/Alaska Beacon hosting  (Canceled, replaced with discussion panel, because candidates wanted to go to the Alliance Forum instead)

• Oct. 8: Debate For The State (Governor) — Alaska Public Media/KTUU/KTOO hosting, event will be broadcast on TV/radio

• Oct. 13: Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce (Governor) @ 8 Star Events Center, Fairbanks

• Oct. 13: AARP U.S. House debate @ King Street Brewing — Alaska Beacon and Alaska Landmine hosting

• Oct. 14: AARP U.S. Senate debate @ King Street Brewing — Anchorage Press and Alaska Landmine hosting

• Oct. 14: Debate For The State (U.S. House) — Alaska Public Media/KTUU/KTOO hosting

• Oct. 14: Alaska Travel Industry Association Forum (Fairbanks)

• Oct. 15: AARP governor debate @ King Street Brewing — ADN and Alaska Landmine hosting

• Oct. 15, noon: Bartlett Forum in Anchorage

• Oct. 15, 6 p.m.: Kenai Peninsula Borough Builders Association in Kenai

• Oct. 15: Debate For The State (U.S. Senate) — Alaska Public Media/KTUU/KTOO hosting

• Oct. 16: Alaska Business Summit Forum at Alyeska in Girdwood

• Oct. 20: Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce (U.S. House and U.S. Senate) @ 8 Star Events Center

• Oct. 29: Alaska Rural Energy Panel in Fairbanks

• James Brooks Cascade is a longtime Alaska reporter who lives in Juneau. He previously worked at the Anchorage Daily News, Juneau Empire, Kodiak Mirror and Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. Alaska Beacon is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.