The Arctic Circle Prize 2022 was presented to Alfred Wegener Institute and MOSAiC Expedition. A great certification for the expedition's extraordinary contribution to the continuous work of securing a sustainable and prosperous future in the Arctic and for enhancing a more comprehensive understanding of the pace of climate change in the world.

The MOSAiC expedition was the ‘Moon landing’ for the Arctic. The largest polar expedition in history. In September 2019, the German research icebreaker Polarstern set sail from Tromsø, Norway, to spend a year drifting through the Arctic Ocean - trapped in ice. The expedition was spearheaded by Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI) and led by atmosperic scientist, Dr. Markus Rex.

The Arctic Circle Prize 2019 was presented to John Kerry, former U.S. Secretary of State, honouring his leadership as the U.S. Chair of the Arctic Council, the success of the Paris Climate Conference and saluting his campaign for the Oceans.

The Arctic Circle Prize 2016 was presented to H.E. Ban Ki-moon, General Secretary of the United Nations, for his leadership in bringing the nations of the world together in creating a historic international agreement on climate cooperation serving the sustainable future for the Arctic and the Planet.