Fat Bear Week contestants revealed. See list of competing bears

Fat Bear Week Returns as Katmai’s Brown Bears Reach Peak Condition

Cybersecarmor.com – Katmai National Park and Preserve’s celebrated brown bears are once again preparing for an online spotlight as Fat Bear Week returns for its 12th edition. The annual contest, built around the dramatic seasonal transformation of Alaska’s bears, will run from Sept. 22 through Sept. 29, 2026.

Organizers unveiled this year’s tournament bracket on Friday, Sept. 18, after observing more than 100 bears at Brooks River during the season. The field was narrowed to animals that could be photographed early in the summer and seen again later, offering a clear visual record of the weight they gained while feeding on salmon.

The winner will be announced Sept. 29. Voting pauses during the weekend of Sept. 26 and 27, leaving fans with weekday matchups to determine which bear advances through the single-elimination contest.

A Contest About Survival, Not Just Size

Fat Bear Week invites viewers to compare bears that have spent months taking advantage of one of Alaska’s most important salmon runs. The animals build the body reserves needed to endure winter hibernation, making their late-summer and early-fall bulk a sign of successful feeding and preparation.

During a livestream announcing the bracket, park and preserve naturalist Mike Fitz said the bears had reached “peak fat” and were equipped for the difficult months ahead. Their appearance is part of a natural cycle: after emerging from winter, bears must find enough food to restore energy, grow, reproduce, and eventually return to their dens with sufficient reserves.

“Fat Bear Week is always a celebration of the success of the bears,” Naomi Boak, a media ranger at Katmai, said. “Not just the big boys, but the sows with cubs, the young teenage bears, the subadults.”

That broad view is central to the event. The most imposing adult males often attract attention, but female bears raising cubs and younger bears learning to fish also represent important stories of survival in the park’s ecosystem. A bear does not need to be the largest animal on the river to demonstrate a successful summer.

How Fans Can Follow the Tournament

Viewers can watch many of the contestants through Katmai’s well-known bear cameras on explore.org. The cameras provide a look at Brooks River, where bears gather to catch salmon as the fish move upstream. Fans vote online in head-to-head rounds, with each winning bear moving onward until only one champion remains.

The event is presented through a partnership involving Katmai National Park and Preserve, explore.org and Katmai Conservancy. For people watching from far beyond Alaska, the live feeds make it possible to see the bears’ behavior in their natural habitat rather than in a zoo or staged setting.

Each matchup asks voters to select the bear that most clearly reflects healthy fatness and seasonal success. The lighthearted format has helped turn individual animals into familiar figures for wildlife viewers, while also drawing attention to the ecological importance of salmon and protected habitat.

Katmai frames the choice in practical terms: voters are asked to pick the bear that appears best prepared to make it through the long Alaska winter. The contest’s humor rests on a serious biological reality. Extra weight is essential for bears entering a period when they will not have normal access to food.

A Strong Year for Young Bears

This year has also brought an encouraging sign at Brooks Camp. Katmai Park Superintendent Mark Sturm said there are more cubs there than visitors have seen in a long time. The increased presence of young bears offers viewers an opportunity to follow a new generation as it develops the skills needed for life in Katmai.

“A new generation of fat bears is taking shape, and they’re off to a strong start,” Sturm said. “We’re excited to watch them grow and learn as they prepare for winter in Katmai’s incredible ecosystem.”

Cubs learn by staying close to their mothers, observing where and how to fish, and gradually becoming more independent. Their appearance in the season’s viewing areas adds another dimension to Fat Bear Week, which recognizes the success of brown bears at many stages of life.

From Fat Bear Tuesday to an International Tradition

The event began as Fat Bear Tuesday in 2014 before expanding into a full week in 2015. It has since grown into a major annual online wildlife event, welcoming bear enthusiasts from around the world to watch the salmon-fueled transformation at Katmai.

Brooks River is a particularly vivid setting for that transformation. Bears congregate near the water as salmon return, competing for fishing locations and taking in the calories that will sustain them through winter. The visible change from leaner early-season animals to heavy autumn bears has become the defining feature of the competition.

Last year’s title went to 32 Chunk, which defeated longtime contender 856 in the final round of the 2025 tournament. In that championship vote, 32 Chunk received 96,350 votes, while 856 collected 63,725.

Past winners remain featured in explore.org’s Fat Bear Week Hall of Champions. This year’s bracket offers another chance for fans to follow returning favorites, watch younger bears emerge, and take part in a contest that celebrates the extraordinary work of getting ready for winter.