Fat Bear Week 2026 Returns: Vote for Alaska's Chunkiest Bear Champion
Anchorage, Alaska – September 22, 2026 -- Explore.org and Katmai Conservancy have opened the 12th season of Fat Bear Week, running September 22-29, 2026, inviting the public to vote online for the plumpest brown bear at Brooks River.
Voting decides the 2026 champion on September 29
Fans can cast votes in head-to-head matchups on the Fat Bear Week website starting September 22, with new rounds advancing bears each day. The 2026 Champion will be crowned September 29 at 5 p.m. Alaska Time.
Bears pack on fat to survive Katmai's harsh winters
Brown bears at Brooks River feast on salmon throughout summer, building fat reserves essential for surviving long months in their dens. This year's competition features an expanded bracket after a record number of bear families used the river this summer.