Summary (tl;dr)

Fat Bear Week, an annual online competition hosted by Katmai National Park and Preserve in Alaska, is currently trending as the public votes for the brown bear that has most successfully gained weight in preparation for winter hibernation.

Essential Background

Fat Bear Week originated in 2014 as "Fat Bear Tuesday," a one-day social media event conceived by a park ranger to highlight the impressive seasonal weight gain of brown bears in Alaska's Katmai National Park. Its popularity led to its expansion into a week-long, bracket-style online tournament. The event educates the public about the bears' critical need to accumulate significant fat reserves, a process known as hyperphagia, by feasting on abundant sockeye salmon in the Brooks River before their winter hibernation.

The Full Story

The 2026 Fat Bear Week is currently underway, running from September 22 to September 29, inviting a global audience to cast online votes for their favorite "fat bear" in a single-elimination tournament. This year's competition features 16 brown bears, with defending champion Bear 32, known as "Chunk," among the contenders. Enthusiasts can observe the bears live via webcams stationed at Brooks Falls within Katmai National Park and Preserve, witnessing their crucial efforts to bulk up. The champion bear will be announced on September 29, 2026.

Why It Matters

Beyond being a captivating online contest, Fat Bear Week serves a vital purpose in promoting wildlife conservation and educating the public about the natural behaviors of brown bears and the critical importance of healthy ecosystems. The event underscores the resilience of these animals and highlights the challenges they face, including the impact of climate change on salmon populations, which are their primary food source for survival. By engaging millions of voters worldwide, the competition fosters a deeper appreciation for nature and the need to protect these magnificent creatures and their habitats.

Geographic Location

• Katmai National Park and Preserve, Alaska, United States (hosting the annual Fat Bear Week competition, with bears observed at Brooks Falls on the Brooks River)