The 2026 Pioneer Press Treasure Hunt Has Begun, with a $15,000 Prize on the Line
The highly anticipated Pioneer Press Treasure Hunt has kicked off, and this year's winner could walk away with a whopping $15,000 prize. The hunt, which celebrates the 140th anniversary of the St. Paul Winter Carnival, promises to be its most challenging yet.
According to the rules, the treasure medallion has been cleverly hidden in secret locations around Ramsey County, and it will remain there until one savvy hunter figures out the clues and finds it. The hunt is open to first-time clue solvers and multigenerational family teams alike, but be warned: some rules have changed this year, so make sure you're up-to-date before embarking on your quest.
To get started, follow the daily clues, which will appear on TwinCities.com and in the print edition of the Pioneer Press. The first clue was released early yesterday morning at Shamrocks, and subsequent ones will be posted daily until January 29, 2026, or until the medallion is found. However, be cautious: destroying public property in pursuit of the prize is strictly forbidden.
To make things more interesting, this year's hunt offers a total of $15,000 in prizes. Finders can win $5,000 if they locate the medallion itself, an additional $5,000 if they possess a registered 2026 Pioneer Press Treasure Hunt Patch, and the final $5,000 prize if they also have a 2026 Winter Carnival button. The prizes are sequential, meaning that finders must possess each prerequisite to claim subsequent rewards.
As with any treasure hunt, there are fine print rules to be aware of. No purchase is necessary to win, but the Pioneer Press reserves the right to discontinue the contest if public property is destroyed. Additionally, winners must complete eligibility and release forms within 24 hours of finding the medallion.
To stay up-to-date on the hunt's progress, follow these essential resources:
* Automated Medallion Hotline: 651-228-5547
* TwinCities.com/Treasurehunt
* Facebook.com/PPtreasurehunt
* Facebook Groups/TreasureHuntForum
Will you be the one to claim this year's Pioneer Press Treasure Hunt prize? Good luck, and happy hunting!
The highly anticipated Pioneer Press Treasure Hunt has kicked off, and this year's winner could walk away with a whopping $15,000 prize. The hunt, which celebrates the 140th anniversary of the St. Paul Winter Carnival, promises to be its most challenging yet.
According to the rules, the treasure medallion has been cleverly hidden in secret locations around Ramsey County, and it will remain there until one savvy hunter figures out the clues and finds it. The hunt is open to first-time clue solvers and multigenerational family teams alike, but be warned: some rules have changed this year, so make sure you're up-to-date before embarking on your quest.
To get started, follow the daily clues, which will appear on TwinCities.com and in the print edition of the Pioneer Press. The first clue was released early yesterday morning at Shamrocks, and subsequent ones will be posted daily until January 29, 2026, or until the medallion is found. However, be cautious: destroying public property in pursuit of the prize is strictly forbidden.
To make things more interesting, this year's hunt offers a total of $15,000 in prizes. Finders can win $5,000 if they locate the medallion itself, an additional $5,000 if they possess a registered 2026 Pioneer Press Treasure Hunt Patch, and the final $5,000 prize if they also have a 2026 Winter Carnival button. The prizes are sequential, meaning that finders must possess each prerequisite to claim subsequent rewards.
As with any treasure hunt, there are fine print rules to be aware of. No purchase is necessary to win, but the Pioneer Press reserves the right to discontinue the contest if public property is destroyed. Additionally, winners must complete eligibility and release forms within 24 hours of finding the medallion.
To stay up-to-date on the hunt's progress, follow these essential resources:
* Automated Medallion Hotline: 651-228-5547
* TwinCities.com/Treasurehunt
* Facebook.com/PPtreasurehunt
* Facebook Groups/TreasureHuntForum
Will you be the one to claim this year's Pioneer Press Treasure Hunt prize? Good luck, and happy hunting!
$15k is like woah!! i hope ppl are careful tho bc we dont wanna have any damage to public property 
good luck 2 all those who r gonna try 2 find that medallion! 
u guys better be ready 4 a challenge!!! 
i mean, 140 yrs of winter carnival history is a lot 2 wrap ur head around. and no purchase necessary means u have 2 get creative wit ur team effort 
. fine print rules r a bummer tho, cant just go around destroying public property like that 
. but hey, $15k prize is def worth the risk 
if u think u got what it takes, hit up those hotline & socials 4 updates 
. But seriously, $15k is some serious cash, i'd prob go crazy if i was the 1st 2 find it 
. I think its cool they're openin it up to families now too, that's like, super inclusive and all 
. Though, cant believe ppl would even think of destroyin public property 4 a prize 
. And omg the rules changes this year, i hope nobody gets confused 
. Anyways, who's gonna be the ultimate treasure hunt mastermind? Let's see u try 2 figure out those clues 
he swam right up 2 me & looked like he wus askin 4 a selfie 
i had 2 get outta there b4 he stoled my heart lol & btw did u hear abt the new ice cream shop thats openin in town? i heard their matcha flavor iz AMAZING 
But at the same time, it's kinda cool that they're doing something different this year. Maybe some families will bond over this and stuff. Just gotta be careful and follow the rules, you know? 
. i heard it gets harder evry yr lol. dont think i can get all the clues tho, but idk maybe ill just have 2 ask my lil bro 4 help lol. btw wat if u destroy publuc prop 4 the prize? 
thats kinda harsh. anyways good luck 2 all who wanna win dat 15k prize 
. I think it's awesome that they're offering a multigenerational family team option - it'll be great bonding time for the whole fam! 
However, I do wish they'd clarify what "destroying public property" means exactly... don't want my mini-me getting in trouble 
. And all these rules, gotta follow 'em to the letter... sounds like more stress than fun. But hey, some folks might enjoy the thrill of the hunt! My grandkids are always up for an adventure, maybe they'll be the ones findin' that medallion 
The $15k prize is a big draw, but I'm a bit skeptical about the whole treasure hunt thing. I mean, who really thinks those clues are going to lead people to some hidden loot? It's all just a clever marketing ploy to get people excited about local events. And the prizes themselves seem kinda arbitrary - $5k for finding the medallion, another $5k for having the right patch or button... it's all just a bit too convenient. Still, I suppose it could be fun to try and solve them, especially if you're into that sort of thing! 
I'm loving how they're making this hunt more inclusive with multigenerational family teams! It's awesome that people of all ages can come together and have fun. However, I do hope the organizers keep a close eye on those who might get carried away with the excitement 
. I'm definitely curious to see how the puzzle pieces fall into place this year 
, not just pros. The clue system seems cool too 
. Got to be careful tho, destroying public property is NOT the way to go 
- we gotta respect our community spaces 
. Can't wait to see who'll find that medallion first 
! #TreasureHuntLife #PioneerPress #WinterCarnivalFun
, I'm so stoked about this treasure hunt! $15,000 is a crazy amount of cash, and I love that there are so many different prizes for finding the medallion. The fact that it's hidden in secret locations around Ramsey County makes it sound like an epic adventure 
. And with all the resources listed, you can stay up-to-date on the hunt's progress and even chat with other contestants in the Facebook Groups 
. I'm definitely rooting for whoever finds that medallion!
️ u gotta try it out, its not every day u get to go on a real life adventure! 
?! It sounds like so much fun! I'm totally teaming up with my BFF for this one