It Is Time To Vote On Alaska’s Bulkiest Bear Week During Fat Bear Week

Feeling stressed out from work or life in general? You may need a fat bear moment!

Katmai’s Heaviest Contenders Prepare for the 2026 Competition

They do it every year at this time and I love it. I am referring to Fat Bear Week, the widely popular annual tribute to Alaskan brown bears prepping for winter. Spectators track the bears' progress in real time through Explore.org's live river webcams. Officials will unveil the 2026 single-elimination tournament brackets on September 18, featuring bulky brown bears from Katmai National Park in Alaska.

The Brown Bears Eat to Compete

The cuddly competitors spend their summer and autumn gorging on salmon along the Brooks River, located about 300 miles from Anchorage. Public voting launches September 22 and runs through September 29.

Building Fuel for the Cold Months

Before winter arrives, Katmai's bears must devour as much salmon as possible to establish deep fat reserves essential for surviving hibernation. This season will be fun because there has been an increase in young bears. This will offer visitors and viewers a chance to watch the next generation build survival skills.

A Decadelong Tradition Driven by Fans

Jointly organized by the National Park Service and Explore.org, the event debuted in 2014. The competition pairs up hefty brown bears in head-to-head bracket matchups, dropping contenders round by round until voters select the ultimate champion. The online event has grown into a massive global attraction, drawing over 1.7 million votes during the 2025 competition.

Reigning Champions

The 2025 crown went to Bear 32, fondly known as "Chunk." After finishing as runner-up for three consecutive years, the 1,200-pound male captured his first victory despite returning to the river in June with a severely fractured jaw, likely sustained in a fight with another bear.

How Winners Are Chosen

Because weighing wild brown bears directly is crazy and dangerous,all mass figures are estimates. However, voters evaluate more than raw size:

Adaptability and resilience: Overcoming injuries or tough competition at prime fishing spots.

Technique: Fishing precision and efficiency along the rapids.

Transformation: The dramatic visual change from lean early-summer frames to massive autumn builds.

Spurring Wildlife Awareness and Regional Spinoffs

Beyond showcasing Katmai's ecosystem, the event's widespread popularity has sparked similar conservation-focused contests elsewhere. The Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory in Colorado just launched its inaugural "Fat Marmot Week." Their first-ever title went to a marmot named Dawn, who added 4.5 pounds to reach a pre-hibernation weight of 13 pounds.