Fat Bear Week 2026

News Release Date: September 11, 2026

KING SALMON, Alaska - Fat Bear Week returns to Katmai National Park Sept. 22-29, 2026, giving bear fans around the world another chance to decide which of Katmai's brown bears has done the best job packing on the pounds for winter. Vote for the fattest and most winter-ready bear at fatbearweek.org.

"There are more cubs at Brooks Camp this year than have been seen in a long time," said Park Superintendent Mark Sturm. "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."

Fat Bear Week, which started in 2014, is an annual competition that celebrates the remarkable transformation of Katmai's brown bears as they feast on salmon and build the fat reserves they need to survive the winter. The bears go head-to-head in a bracket-style tournament, with the public choosing which bear will be crowned Fat Bear Week Champion. Last year over 1,700,000 votes were cast from more than 100 countries before Bear 32 nicknamed "Chunk" was crowned champion.

The Fat Bear Week bracket will be revealed Sept. 18. The tournament and voting will take place Sept. 22-29 (no voting on the weekend), and the champion will be crowned Sept. 29, 2026.

Fans don't have to wait for the tournament to start scouting their favorites. Check out the live cams on Explore.org or visit the park website to learn more about the lives of the bears. Fat Bear Week is a partnership between the National Park Service, Explore.org, and the Katmai Conservancy.

For more information about Katmai National Park visit www.nps.gov/katm or follow us on Facebook, Youtube, Flickr, or Instagram.

For media interested in covering Fat Bear Week, reach out to e-mail us with your media request. Keep in mind that approved interviews and inquiry responses will take place between 8am and 6pm AK time.

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