Summer in the St. John Valley is a season of rivers, reunions, community celebrations and outdoor adventure.

From Friday, August 7 through Sunday, August 9, 2026, the 23rd Annual International Muskie Derby will bring anglers, families and visitors to Fort Kent for one of northern Maine’s most distinctive summer traditions.

Anglers will take to the St. John River and its tributaries in search of the powerful and elusive muskellunge, commonly known as the muskie. Meanwhile, residents and visitors will be invited to enjoy public fish displays, live country music, local businesses and historical attractions throughout the Greater Fort Kent Area.

This year, the Greater Fort Kent Area Chamber of Commerce is also introducing its Be a Tourist in Your Town initiative during Derby weekend.

The initiative encourages residents and visitors to explore historical places that have been preserved, maintained and cared for throughout the Chamber’s 13 communities.

Come for the fishing, but make time to discover the stories, landmarks, people and communities that have shaped the Greater Fort Kent Area.

A Derby Created to Showcase the St. John River

The International Muskie Derby began in 2003 as a way to bring anglers and visitors to the St. John Valley while showcasing the recreational opportunities of the St. John River.

When the Derby began, Fort Kent’s summer weekends looked very different.

According to Derby organizer Dennis Cyr, many local residents left the area for nearby lakes during summer weekends. The St. John River saw relatively little recreational use, and public boat landings were not readily available for launching boats.

The Derby was created to help change that.

Its purpose was to attract fishermen and tourists while bringing greater awareness to the St. John River and the enormous muskies found throughout the watershed.

More than two decades later, communities across the region have improved access to the river and developed public boat landings. Fort Kent and the surrounding communities now welcome family reunions, class reunions, weddings, festivals, music events and visitors throughout the summer season.

The International Muskie Derby has become an important part of that growth.

The official Derby history explains that muskies entered the St. John River watershed following their introduction into Lac Frontier, Quebec, near the headwaters of the Northwest Branch of the St. John River. Local anglers eventually embraced muskie fishing as an alternative fishery, and the Derby was established to bring attention to this unusual and challenging fishing opportunity.

The 2026 International Muskie Derby

The 23rd Annual International Muskie Derby will take place August 7 through 9, 2026.

Adult registration is $40. Youth registration is $20 for anglers age 16 and younger.

The official weigh-in hours are:

Friday, August 7: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Saturday, August 8: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Sunday, August 9: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

No fish will be weighed or measured after 5 p.m. Sunday.

Tournament waters include the St. John River west of Grand Falls and its tributaries. This includes more than 225 miles of river, portions of the Big Black River, St. Francis River, Little Black River, Allagash River and Depot Stream, along with several Maine lakes and ponds known to hold muskie.

To qualify for the Derby, a muskie must measure at least 38 inches.

Fish are scored by length to the nearest one-eighth inch. Weight serves as the first tiebreaker. If fish have the same length and weight, the earliest fish turned in receives the higher placement.

A tournament official must witness the measurement of every fish entered, and participants must be present during the awards ceremony to receive a prize. All anglers must also have the appropriate fishing license and follow applicable Maine fishing and boating laws.

Visit the Derby Weigh Station

You do not need to be a registered angler to enjoy the excitement of Derby weekend.

Residents, families and visitors are encouraged to stop at the Derby weigh station at S.W. Collins Sporting Goods in Fort Kent.

Smallmouth bass and muskies entered during the competition will be displayed on ice inside glass cases from Friday through Sunday. The public can view the fish, follow the leaderboard and see firsthand the size of the fish swimming in the St. John River watershed.

The Derby makes an effort to ensure that fish brought to the weigh station are not wasted.

People interested in receiving an available fish may add their names to a list during the event. Organizers will attempt to match available fish with people who would like to take one home.

Muskie produces a white meat that Derby organizers describe as having a firm, haddock-like texture.

The Derby also encourages anglers to release undersized fish and to check current standings before keeping fish that are unlikely to place. Maine law prohibits transporting live fish, so fish must either be released immediately or killed on the water before being transported to the weigh station. No live fish will be accepted at Derby headquarters.

Free Country Music on Sunday

Derby weekend will include a free community music event at the S.W. Collins weigh station on Sunday, August 9.

Local musician Kyle Boucher will perform country music from the 1980s from 3 to 6 p.m.

Kyle performs as a one-man band with virtually generated backup vocals. The Derby will provide a stage, lights, speakers and other equipment for the performance.

No tickets are required. The music is being provided free of charge by the International Muskie Derby.

Kyle will have a donation jar available for anyone who wishes to contribute.

Audience members are encouraged to bring their own chairs, settle in and enjoy the afternoon.

The Derby has hosted bands in previous years, and organizers say the performances have been well received and appreciated by anglers and the community.

Sunday Awards and the $10,000 Derby Purse

The International Muskie Derby awards ceremony will begin at 6 p.m. on Sunday, August 9, following Kyle Boucher’s performance.

Because the Derby distributes cash prizes, its tournament purse is limited by the State of Maine to $10,000.

The awards ceremony will recognize the weekend’s winning anglers and provide an opportunity to thank the many sponsors and donors who make the event possible.

The Derby’s supporters come from throughout the St. John Valley, other areas of Maine and communities across New England. Individual sponsors are recognized during the awards ceremony and receive written letters of appreciation from the Derby.

The drawing involving participating Can-Am UTV donors will also take place during the Sunday awards ceremony.

Honoring Erik Gardiner

The Derby will once again honor the memory of Erik Gardiner, an avid fisherman who placed in the International Muskie Derby for several years.

Erik’s former high school classmates sponsor a $200 daily bonus for the largest fish entered each day.

One $200 bonus will be awarded Friday, one Saturday and one Sunday.

The memorial competition honors Erik’s love of fishing while adding another level of excitement to each day of the Derby.

Could This Be the Year of the 48-Inch Muskie?

Every Derby brings a new opportunity for an extraordinary catch.

Anglers fish an expansive and sometimes remote watershed. Some portions of the St. John River are shallow and best suited for canoes, while other sections pass through commercial forestland with limited access and unimproved hand-carry landings.

The conditions make the International Muskie Derby a true northern Maine fishing experience.

Participants must understand the river, locate productive fishing areas and be prepared for changing water and weather conditions.

Could 2026 be the year someone brings in a 48-inch muskie?

Derby organizers certainly hope so.

Be a Tourist in Your Town

While anglers explore the St. John River, the Greater Fort Kent Area Chamber of Commerce is encouraging residents and visitors to explore the history found along its banks and throughout the surrounding communities.

The Chamber’s Be a Tourist in Your Town initiative will highlight the historical societies, museums, landmarks and cultural places that have been preserved through years of work by local volunteers.

Many residents drive past these places every day without realizing what is inside or understanding the stories they represent.

Derby weekend is an opportunity to change that.

Residents can visit a neighboring community, tour a museum, explore a historic property or learn how railroads, farming, logging, the international border and Acadian culture influenced the development of the St. John Valley.

Visitors traveling with anglers will also have opportunities to experience the area while fishing is underway.

The initiative recognizes that tourism is not only about welcoming people from far away. It is also about helping local residents recognize and appreciate the places found in their own communities.

Discover Fort Kent’s History

Fort Kent Blockhouse

The Fort Kent Blockhouse stands near the confluence of the Fish River and St. John River.

It is the only surviving fortification associated with the border dispute known as the Aroostook War. The blockhouse is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has been designated a National Historic Landmark.

Its location near the river makes it a natural stop during Derby weekend.

Fort Kent Railroad Station

The Fort Kent Railroad Station opened in 1902 as the northern terminus of the Fish River Railroad.

The arrival of the railroad brought passenger and freight service to the area and supported growth in farming, lumbering and local business. Potatoes, grain, hay, pulpwood and other products were shipped from the region by rail.

Today, the railroad station is part of the Fort Kent Historical Society’s museum complex.

Daigle-Dube House

The Daigle-Dube House offers visitors an opportunity to learn about traditional Acadian family life, building methods and household history.

The Fort Kent Historical Society is planning a community cookout at the Daigle-Dube House on Sunday, August 9. Come join an open house sponsored by the Fort Kent Historical Society. There will be guided tours of the PDT Visitor’s Center, the Railroad Station, the Daigle-Dube House, schoolhouse and tool barn. From 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM, enjoy live entertainment by Les Chanteurs Acadians and a free lunch of hot dogs and chips.  Everyone is welcome to attend!

Acadian Archives acadiennes

Located at the University of Maine at Fort Kent, the Acadian Archives acadiennes serve as a leading center for the study of Acadian culture and history in the northeastern United States.

The Archives preserve genealogical references, historical documents, photographs, audiovisual materials and collections related to northern Maine and the St. John Valley.

Explore History Across the Greater Fort Kent Area

The history of the region extends far beyond Fort Kent.

The Frenchville Historical Society maintains properties connected to railroad and community history, including the Green Water Tower, a railroad caboose and the Bouchard-Wylie House.

The Bangor and Aroostook Railroad Turntable in St. Francis dates to the early 1900s and represents the community’s place in northern Maine’s railroad history.

The Pelletier-Marquis House and St. Agatha Historical Society preserve religious, educational, farming and household artifacts connected to the community’s Acadian and French-Canadian roots.

The Allagash Historical Society maintains artifacts and stories related to life along the upper St. John River and the Allagash region.

Additional historical locations, community stories and special Derby weekend hours will be added as participating towns and organizations finalize their plans.

Come for the Derby and Stay for the Stories

The International Muskie Derby brings people to the St. John River.

The Chamber’s Be a Tourist in Your Town initiative invites them to explore what lies beyond the riverbank.

Visit the weigh station and see the weekend’s catches. Listen to live country music. Explore a museum or historic property. Stop at a locally owned restaurant. Browse a shop. Drive through a neighboring community. Speak with the volunteers who have dedicated their time to preserving the history of the Greater Fort Kent Area.

You may discover a place you have passed for years but never visited.

You may learn something new about your family, your community or the industries that built the St. John Valley.

Most importantly, you will support the organizations, volunteers, businesses and community leaders who continue working to keep the Greater Fort Kent Area welcoming, active and connected.

Join us August 7 through 9 for the 23rd Annual International Muskie Derby.

Come for the fishing.

Stay for the music, history, food, businesses and communities that make the Greater Fort Kent Area worth exploring.