A comprehensive survey of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) was conducted in the Canada and Makarov Basins and adjacent seas during 2010–2012 to investigate the dynamics of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in the Arctic Ocean. Sources and distributions of DOM in polar surface waters were very heterogeneous and closely linked to hydrological conditions. Canada Basin surface waters had relatively low DOC concentrations (69 ± 6 μmol L⁻¹), CDOM absorption (a₃₂₅: 0.32 ± 0.07 m⁻¹) and CDOM-derived lignin phenols (3 ± 0.4 nmol L⁻¹), and high spectral slope values (S_275–295: 31.7 ± 2.3 μm⁻¹), indicating minor terrigenous inputs and evidence of photochemical alteration in the Beaufort Gyre. By contrast, surface waters of the Makarov Basin had elevated DOC (108 ± 9 μmol L⁻¹) and lignin phenol concentrations (15 ± 3 nmol L⁻¹), high a₃₂₅ values (1.36 ± 0.18 m⁻¹), and low S_275–295 values (22.8 ± 0.8 μm⁻¹), indicating pronounced Siberian river inputs associated with the Transpolar Drift and minor photochemical alteration. Observations near the Mendeleev Plain suggested limited interactions of the Transpolar Drift with Canada Basin waters, a scenario favoring export of Arctic DOM to the North Atlantic. The influence of sea-ice melt on DOM was region-dependent, resulting in an increase (Beaufort Sea), a decrease (Bering-Chukchi Seas), and negligible change (deep basins) in surface DOC concentrations and a₃₂₅ values. Halocline structures differed between basins, but the Canada Basin upper halocline and Makarov Basin halocline were comparable in their average DOC (65–70 μmol L⁻¹) and lignin phenol concentrations (3–4 nmol L⁻¹) and S_275–295 values (22.9–23.7 μm⁻¹). Deep-water DOC concentrations decreased by 6–8 μmol L⁻¹ with increasing depth, water mass age, nutrient concentrations, and apparent oxygen utilization. Maximal estimates of DOC degradation rates (0.036–0.039 μmol L⁻¹ yr⁻¹) in the deep Arctic were lower than those in other ocean basins, possibly due to low water temperatures. DOC concentrations in bottom waters (>2500 m; 46 ± 2 μmol L⁻¹) of the Canada and Makarov Basins were slightly lower than those reported for deep waters of the Eurasian Basin and Nordic Seas. Elevated a₃₂₅ values (by 10–20%) were observed near the seafloor, indicating biological activity in Arctic basin sediments.