Sixteen Bears Compete in Katmai's Fat Bear Week 2026
The National Park Service’s Fat Bear Week returns with 16 contenders, including defending champion Chunk, as online voting runs from Sept. 22 to Sept. 29.
Sixteen brown bears are slated to compete in Fat Bear Week 2026, a single-elimination tournament held in Katmai National Park and Preserve, Alaska. The bracket, expanded from 12 participants last year, features defending champion Chunk among other seasoned and younger bears.
Online voting opens on Tuesday, Sept. 22, and runs daily from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. Eastern Time until the final tally is announced on Sept. 29. Voters can watch live streams of the bears on Explore.org, which operates cameras at locations such as Brooks Falls where the animals fish and rest.
"Bears get fat to survive, and fat is the fuel that powers their ability to endure the month-long famine that is winter hibernation," said Mike Fitz, resident naturalist at Explore.org, during a livestream.
Park ranger Troy Hunt added that the bears can go four to six months without eating during hibernation. The park has identified more than 100 individual bears at Brooks River through the webcams, and officials note an unusually high number of cubs this season.
"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," said Park Superintendent Mark Sturm in a statement.
Among the competitors are Chunk, who recovered from a broken jaw; 89 Backpack, recognized by his blond ears; 164 Bucky, who has benefited from a productive salmon fishing spot; and several experienced females such as 132, Electra, and 610, each raising cubs while building fat reserves. The event, which began in 2014 as a one-day showcase, attracted more than 1.7 million votes from over 100 countries in 2025.