Explore the latest developments concerning Fat Bear Week.
Fat Bear Week 2026 is here: Meet Chunk, Bucky and other contenders
Sixteen bears are facing off for Fat Bear Week 2026, the highly anticipated tournament among the chunkiest bears at the Katmai National Park and Preserve in Alaska.
The bracket for this year's single-elimination contest expanded from last year's 12 competitors and includes the defending champion, Chunk. Starting Tuesday, Sept. 22, bear lovers will get to vote on their favorite contenders and choose which bear has packed on more pounds for the winter season.
People can vote online between 12 and 9 p.m. ET each day, and voting will continue through Sept. 29, when the winner of Fat Bear Week 2026 will be decided.
The competition, which started in 2014 as a one-day event to showcase southwest Alaska bears, received more than 1.7 million votes in 2025 from more than 100 countries, according to the National Park Service.
Fat Bear Week: Which bear has put on the most weight?
The iconic Fat Bear Week, run by Katmai National Park in Alaska, is returning for its 13th year and will run from 22-29 of September.
Fans can vote online on which brown bear has put on the most weight ahead of their winter hibernation, by comparing photos from early and late summer.
Last year, over 1.7 million votes were cast from more than 100 countries to crown the furry chonker champion.
The 0.25% increase comes despite fierce opposition from the US president, who has called for rates to be cut.
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