Weather
-9 °C now, wind 7 m/s, gusts 10, dry. 03:00 -9, 06:00 -8, 09:00 -8
Flights
11:25 DY390 from Oslo, expected 10:55, 30 min early
12:10 DY391 to Oslo, on time
13:55 SK4490 from Oslo, on time
14:40 SK4491 to Oslo, on time
Ships
Booked: no calls today or tomorrow. Next listed: Amalia, bulk carrier, 17 November, 12:00.
In Isfjorden at 00:03, 3 ships: Elling Carlsen, pilot, at the quay in Longyearbyen, 00:01; Longyear 2, port tender, at the quay in Longyearbyen since 00:01; Polarsyssel, law enforcement, at the quay in Longyearbyen, 00:01.
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.
Sunday 15 November 2026No. 21Updated 00:03
Polar night, day 20 of 112. The sun returns 16 February.
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
Svalbard Museum posted a whaling photograph on Facebook on 14 November, dated 1911 and placed at the old Green Harbour (Ankerhamna) station in Grønfjorden.
Svalbard Museum on Facebook, 14 November, 10:00
Numbered discs: the day's listed events.
Sunday 15 November
Bishop's visitation to Svalbard Church
Church. Svalbard kirke, Longyearbyen.
Church. Svalbard kirke.
Church. Svalbard kirke.
Cinema: Velkommen til familien
Culture. Nordover kunstsenter og kino.
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.
Lecture. Møysalen, UNIS. in person only, in Norwegian.
Talk: A Tveter researcher on the art at Nordover
Lecture. Nordover. Limited places, first come first served; in Norwegian. Register by Tickets are bought through the link on the Nordover calendar page. Tickets are bought through the link on the Nordover calendar page.
Public meeting. Newtontoppen, 3rd floor, Næringsbygget.
Knitting cinema: Reisen til Piemonte
Culture. Nordover kunstsenter og kino.
Also reported
Defence minister expects competition for Arctic to grow
Shorter trade routes, valuable resources and Russian submarines mark Svalbard as the great powers fight for influence in the Arctic.
Forsvarets forum, 14 November, 06:21
Earlier, from 12 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
Ends 15 November, 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
Official email is down
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
Ice Cave Adventure
Sleddog tour
Guided morning tour around Longyearbyen and surroundings
Guided morning tour around Longyearbyen and surroundings - concludes over lunch
Glacier hike with ice cave visit, Snowfox Travel
Discover the Arctic Beauty of Bjørndalen, A Wildlife & Nature Experience
Sarkofagen - on foot in the realm of the glaciers
Northern Lights ATV Adventure
Sleigh ride by snowmobile
Coal Mine 3 Visit
Polar night dog sledding
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
Platåfjellet - Longyearbyen with a view
Northern Lights Chase by car
Seedvault Sight & Hike
Northern Lights Hunt & Global Seed Vault
Arctic Northern Lights Safari - Evening tour sleigh tour
The exclusive Northern Light chase
Northern Lights ATV Adventure
Northern Lights Chase by car
Departures, prices and places from each operator's own booking system; where an operator has none, from the Visit Svalbard booking system.
This day, 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
1942
On 12 November 1942 a lifeboat from the British steamer Chulmleigh, wrecked on a reef off Sørkapp, was thrown ashore at Kapp Linné, at the mouth of Isfjorden; nine of its men were found alive there by a Norwegian patrol on 2 January 1943. On 14 November a lifeboat from the Soviet steamer Dekabrist landed on Hopen, where four of its crew lived through the winter.
History Store norske leksikon
Svalbard 
