Fat Bear Week 2026 Kicks Off in Alaska With Expanded 16-Bear Bracket

The annual celebration of wildlife resilience and winter preparation is officially underway in Alaska. Fat Bear Week 2026 has kicked off at Katmai National Park and Preserve, featuring an expanded bracket of sixteen heavyweight brown bears vying for the title of champion.

According to the National Park Service and reporting from CBS News, this year's single-elimination contest has grown from last year's 12 competitors. Voting opened on Tuesday, Sept. 22, giving bear enthusiasts around the globe the opportunity to vote online daily between 12 and 9 p.m. ET to determine which bear has successfully packed on the most pounds for the upcoming winter hibernation season. The voting window runs through Sept. 29, when the 2026 champion will be crowned.

The popular tournament originated in 2014 as a modest one-day event designed to showcase the robust brown bears of southwest Alaska. In recent years, it has exploded into a massive global phenomenon. The National Park Service reported that the 2025 competition drew more than 1.7 million votes cast by participants across more than 100 countries.

To help voters make their selections, Explore.org provides a series of livestreams in partnership with the National Park Service. Cameras stationed in Katmai National Park and Preserve capture the animals in their natural habitat, frequently focusing on locations like Brooks Falls, where brown bears can be observed catching fish and resting. Additionally, park rangers host periodic online talks and question-and-answer sessions to address audience inquiries about the bears and their ecosystem.

Mike Fitz, a resident naturalist at Explore.org, explained during a livestream on Monday that the park's bears have officially reached "peak fat" after spending the summer months gorging on salmon, berries, and other local food sources. Fitz emphasized that gaining weight is a biological necessity for survival, noting that fat serves as the vital fuel required to endure the monthslong famine of winter hibernation. Katmai park ranger Troy Hunt added that these giant creatures can go anywhere from four to six months without eating.

Park officials have also highlighted positive signs for the local wildlife population, noting an unusually high number of cubs at Brooks Camp this year. According to Fitz, webcams have helped identify more than 100 different individual bears along the Brooks River so far.

"A new generation of fat bears is taking shape, and they're off to a strong start. We're excited to watch them grow and learn as they prepare for winter in Katmai's incredible ecosystem," Katmai Park Superintendent Mark Sturm said in a statement.

The 16 contenders in this year's bracket include a diverse mix of returning favorites, experienced mothers, and up-and-coming adults:

* **32 Chunk:** The defending Fat Bear Week 2025 champion enters the competition fully healed from a broken jaw he sustained last year, ready to defend his crown. * **89 Backpack:** Recognized by his quiet demeanor and distinctive blond ears that contrast with his brown fur. * **151 Walker:** A growing adult male who has used his pear-shaped physique to advance through the local bear hierarchy. * **164 Bucky:** Grew to a massive size after finding a productive fishing spot in the plunge pool at Brooks Falls. * **903 Gully:** Named for his unique habit of chasing and eating gulls along the Brooks River. * **132:** One of the largest and most seasoned mama bears at Brooks River, who successfully raised three growing cubs while building sufficient fat reserves. * **284 Electra:** Brings years of experience, marked by an iconic shoulder hump, and competes alongside one of her cubs, 901, while raising two spring cubs. * **610:** A smaller yet resilient adult female who overcame a serious early injury and is raising her first known litter of two spring cubs. * **806:** A protective mother who raised her own cub while adopting another, named Biggie. * **901:** Noted for exceptional fat-building capabilities and strong fishing skills inherited by her cub. * **620:** Emerged from a close-knit family group and became independent last year. * **694:** Discovered an alternative feeding spot to avoid competition with older bears for salmon. * **131 Marshmallow:** A light brown to blond bear who spent her youth honing her fishing skills and appears heavier than in previous years. * **428 Studious:** The daughter of former champion Grazer, known for her intense focus while fishing. * **909 and 910:** Sisters whose parent was a former champion. While 909 experienced the loss of two cubs this summer, 910 has utilized multiple foraging strategies across various locations to secure food.

As the tournament progresses through the week, voters will narrow down the field until the final winner is announced on Sept. 29.