NovaGold Resources Inc.

Item 8.01 Other Events. On July 22, 2026, NOVAGOLD Resources Inc. (“NOVAGOLD” or the “Company”) announced that it had entered into a series of definitive transaction agreements in connection with a proposed transaction pursuant to which, subject to the satisfaction of certain closing conditions and upon the consummation thereof, NovaGold Corporation, a newly incorporated Delaware company (“New NOVAGOLD”), would become the ultimate parent of NOVAGOLD and its subsidiaries and would acquire the 40% interest in Donlin Gold LLC (“Donlin Gold”) held by Paulson Advisers LLC and certain of its affiliates (collectively, “Paulson”) in an all-share transaction, increasing NOVAGOLD’s ownership in Donlin Gold from 60% to 100% (the “Transactions”). Upon the consummation of the Transactions, current NOVAGOLD shareholders (inclusive of Paulson’s equity interest) would own approximately 65% of New NOVAGOLD and, inclusive of its existing equity ownership in NOVAGOLD, Paulson would own approximately 39.7% of the economic interest in New NOVAGOLD, while its voting interest will be capped at 19.99%. On October 5, 2026, NOVAGOLD issued a press release announcing that it filed and commenced mailing of its management information circular and definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and applicable Canadian securities regulators in connection with the special meeting of the Company (the “Special Meeting”), at which the Company’s shareholders will vote on the Transactions and other matters related thereto. The Special Meeting will be held on November 3, 2026. A copy of the press release is filed as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.