NOVAGOLD Enters Into Definitive Agreements to Acquire 100% of Donlin Gold

All amounts are in U.S. dollars unless otherwise stated

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, July 22, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --  NOVAGOLD RESOURCES INC. (“NOVAGOLD”) (NYSE American, TSX: NG) and Paulson Advisers LLC and their affiliates (“Paulson”) are pleased to announce that they have entered into a series of definitive agreements (the “Transaction Agreements”) on July 21, 2026, pursuant to which NOVAGOLD’s ownership interest in Donlin Gold LLC (“Donlin Gold”) will be increased from 60% to 100%, as a result of NOVAGOLD’s acquisition of Paulson’s 40% ownership interest in Donlin Gold in an all-share transaction.