Katmai National Park Expands Fat Bear Week to Include Bear Families

For the first time, Fat Bear Week fans can vote for entire bear families

Alaska Public Media • 23 sept. 23h08

Katmai National Park and Preserve expanded its annual Fat Bear Week bracket to include whole bear families, highlighting the effort of mother bears and drawing a record number of online voters.

Fat Bear Week opens for Alaska’s heavyweight crown. Can Chunk, the 1,200-pound champ, win again?

NBC News • 22 sept. 10h53

The annual Fat Bear Week contest in Katmai National Park has opened voting for 16 brown bears, with last year’s winner Chunk aiming to defend his title against rivals such as Gully.

Fat Bear Week 2026 is here: Meet Chunk, Bucky and other contenders

CBS News • 22 sept. 01h02

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.

It’s Fat Bear Week. Meet this year’s heavyset hopefuls

Alaska Public Media • 21 sept. 18h06

Katmai National Park and Preserve will hold its annual Fat Bear Week competition, featuring 16 bears and allowing the public to vote online for the animal that has accumulated the most weight over the summer.

Fat Bear Week 2026 rolls out a bracket that’s bigger than ever : NPR

npr.org • 18 sept. 21h13

The annual Fat Bear Week tournament in Alaska will feature 16 brown bears, up from 12, as officials note a surge in cub numbers and a new generation of bears preparing for hibernation.