The Arctic Encounter Symposium (AES) is the largest annual Arctic policy and business event in the United States. AES aims to confront the shared interests and concerns of the United States and the global community as we look north to the last emerging frontier - the Arctic. Policymakers, diplomats, indigenous leaders, industry innovators, diverse stakeholders, national security officials, and leading experts from the science, technology, maritime, research, startup, investment, health, and energy sectors come together at AES to challenge the status quo dialogue, critically address challenges, and collaborate on solutions. AES also features major cultural productions, including live performances, the Far North Fashion Show, northern and traditional artist vendors, and more.

The Arctic Encounter is a 501(c)3 NGO based in Alaska.

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The Arctic Encounter Symposium (AES) is a nonprofit NGO based in Anchorage, Alaska, that convenes experts from across the United States and worldwide to confront the leading issues in Arctic policy, innovation, geopolitics, and more, each year. More than 1,000 stakeholders, domestic and international, gather each year to address the most pressing challenges and innovative ideas in the Arctic region. Participants and speakers represent leadership all Arctic states. The 2023 flagship convening in Alaska included participants from 25 nations.

As the largest annual Arctic policy convening in North America, the mission of AES is to raise awareness, engage challenges, and develop solutions for the future of the Far North. The three-day flagship program includes keynote luncheons, expert plenary sessions, break-out session panels, reports, exhibitors, three-course seated dinner, artistic and musical performances, the Far North Fashion Show, and cocktail receptions. Each year, over 200 speakers address a wide range of topics, including infrastructure and connectivity in the Arctic, the health of Arctic peoples, national security, geopolitics, climate research, development, investment, and innovation in the Arctic.