Backpack Wins Fat Bear Week 2026 After Close Vote

Backpack was declared the winner of Fat Bear Week 2026, receiving 103,334 votes compared with 98,253 for the runner-up, bear 910, according to data from Explore.org. The contest, held at Katmai National Park and Preserve in Alaska, featured sixteen bears competing for the title of the park's chunkiest resident.

Katmai officials noted that the public’s participation turned the event into a collective story, emphasizing the role of tradition and community support. The park’s social-media post said, "Your votes, your posts, your favorite bear campaigns, and your shared love for Katmai's wild places turned this week into a collective story shaped by thousands of voices. It's a reminder that just like America's 250th anniversary, traditions endure because people keep them alive."

Backpack, the offspring of 2019 champion Holly, first appeared at Brooks River in 2006. After recovering from a serious leg injury as a cub, he became an adult bear eligible for the Hall of Champions. The bear’s name derives from his habit of climbing onto his mother’s back while wading through the river.

The voting process, which began on September 22, required voters to submit an email address for each vote. High traffic caused the website to experience technical difficulties, prompting officials to extend the voting period by an additional day.

Fat Bear Week, launched in 2014 as a one-day event, has grown into a global phenomenon, attracting more than 1.7 million votes from over 100 countries in 2025. Past champions have included repeat winners such as Otis, Beadnose, Holly, 747 and Grazer.