Weather
-9 °C now, wind 7 m/s, gusts 9, dry. 03:00 -10, 06:00 -10, 09:00 -10
Flights
No flights listed for today. Next DY390 from Oslo, 15 November 11:25.
Ships
Booked: no calls today or tomorrow. Next listed: Amalia, bulk carrier, 17 November, 12:00.
In Isfjorden at 00:13, 3 ships: Longyear 2, port tender, at the quay in Longyearbyen since 00:11; Polarsyssel, law enforcement, at the quay in Longyearbyen, 00:11; Elling Carlsen, pilot, at the quay in Longyearbyen since 13 November 18:51.
Drinking water Longyearbyen lokalstyre advises against drinking tap water: sulfate and nickel are above the limits. Free drinking water at the Svalbard Store, in your own container. Longyearbyen lokalstyre, 13 May 2026, checked 27 October.
Saturday 14 November 2026No. 20Updated 00:17
Polar night, day 19 of 112. The sun returns 16 February.
The state's accounts for running Svalbard showed a deficit of NOK 788 million in 2025, up from NOK 559 million in 2024, Statistics Norway said on Thursday 12 November.
Transfers to the local council rose from NOK 359 million to NOK 658 million
IndexBox, 12 November, 11:01
The Government has postponed the requirement for approved Svalbard guides, so that tourism and field operations can carry on while the approval scheme is finished.
Government of Norway, 13 November, 11:30
The Governor's Office has problems with Outlook, so it is not possible to send emails to it.
Governor of Svalbard, 13 November, 09:06
Numbered discs: the day's listed events.
Saturday 14 November
Bishop's visitation to Svalbard Church
Church. Svalbard kirke, Longyearbyen.
Ongoing
Kåre Tveter: An Artist's Gaze on Svalbard (exhibition)
Daily, in opening hours. Exhibition. Nordover kunstsenter og kino. in person. Open daily in opening hours.
Short film Cold Coasts: A Brief History of Svalbard Art & Culture
Daily, in opening hours. Exhibition. Nordover kunstsenter og kino. Ticket included in the admission price, or can be bought separately.
Church. Svalbard kirke.
Church. Svalbard kirke.
Cinema: Velkommen til familien
Culture. Nordover kunstsenter og kino.
Lecture. Møysalen, UNIS. in person only, in Norwegian.
Also reported
Guide approval portal opens Monday at the earliest
The portal for guide approval applications for experienced guides will open no earlier than Monday, 16 November.
Governor of Svalbard, 13 November, 14:24
Earlier, from 11 November
Barentsburg hosts Geographical Dictation on 22 November
Geographical Dictation 2026 in Barentsburg! On 22 November, the annual international educational event of the Russian Geographical Society, the Geographical Dictation, will take place at the RGS Expedition and Tourism Centre in Barentsburg. We invite everyone who wants to test their knowledge of geography, broaden their horizons, learn new interesting facts about our planet and become part of a large-scale international event that unites geography lovers around the world! Anyone can take part in the dictation, regardless of age, education and level of preparation. 12:00 22 November 2026 Barentsburg House of Culture, 1st floor Don't miss the chance to spend your time in an interesting and useful way, discover something new and feel part of the global geographical community! We are waiting for everyone who wishes to take part! See you at the Geographical Dictation!
Trust Arktikugol, 12 November, 18:04
Free after-school hours on Svalbard would cost NOK 1.2 million
Written question no. 449 from Sunniva Holmås Eidsvoll (SV, Socialist Left Party) to the Minister of Education. Dated 30 October 2026, sent 2 November 2026. Status: answered 12 November 2026 by the Minister of Education Kari Nessa Nordtun. Source: Storting, data.stortinget.no (NLOD).
Stortinget, 12 November, 15:12
Spitsbergen science centre presents at Arctic Day in Antalya
Arctic Day in Turkey On 9 November in Antalya, as part of the UN climate conference COP31, Arctic Day was held, organised by the Northern Forum in the Russian Pavilion. Anastasia Deiko from the International Scientific and Educational Centre on Spitsbergen spoke at the expert session "High-latitude climate laboratory: science ahead of the 5th International Polar Year", presenting the experience of international scientific cooperation and the opportunities of the research infrastructure on Spitsbergen. Participation in the event made it possible to expand international contacts, discuss prospects for joint research and raise the Centre's recognition among international scientific organisations and partners.
Trust Arktikugol, 12 November, 13:10
Deadline for temporary installations applications, 2026-2027 winter season
1 day left, 24 October to 15 November. Applications are sent to firmapost@sysselmesteren.no.
For: Those applying to set up temporary installations for camping by the general public for one week or more during the winter season.
Sysselmesteren (the Governor of Svalbard)
Portal for transitional scheme to open Monday at the earliest
13 November. Governor of Svalbard
Transitional scheme for guide approval postponed
13 November. Governor of Svalbard
13 November. Governor of Svalbard
From 13 November, experienced guides may apply to become approved Svalbard guides
5 November. Governor of Svalbard
Out of Town & the Seed Vault, Sightseeing by Car
Sleddog tour
A historic walk in Adventdalen, Hurtigruten Svalbard
Guided morning tour around Longyearbyen and surroundings
Guided morning tour around Longyearbyen and surroundings - concludes over lunch
Sarkofagen - on foot in the realm of the glaciers
Northern Lights ATV Adventure
Coal Mine 3 Visit
Polar night dog sledding
Frozen Summit: Hike to Trollsteinen and ice cave
Seed Vault Hike - From Seed to Summit
Ice Cave Hike, Into the Frozen World
Sleddog tour
Guided afternoon tour around Longyearbyen and surroundings
Guided afternoon tour around Longyearbyen and surroundings - concludes over dinner
Northern Lights ATV Adventure
ATV Safari in The Polar Night
Lens & Perspective - the slightly different sightseeing tour with focus on photos
Platåfjellet - Longyearbyen with a view
Northern Light chase
Departures, prices and places from each operator's own booking system; where an operator has none, from the Visit Svalbard booking system.
This week in history, 15 November
1973
On 15 November 1973 Norway, Denmark, Canada and the United States signed the international agreement on the conservation of polar bears in Oslo, at the end of a three-day conference of the five Arctic states; the Soviet Union signed later. Under the agreement polar bear hunting on Svalbard became unlawful.
History Store norske leksikon
From the timeline, War and rebuilding
1941
The Norwegian and Soviet mines were put out of operation in the summer of 1941 and the population was evacuated, the Russians to Arkhangelsk and the Norwegians to Scotland. The Germans kept a small force in Longyearbyen until it was evacuated in July 1942.
History Store norske leksikon
Svalbard 
