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.
The contest has grown from 1,700 votes to 1.7 million
Fat Bear Week began in 2014 as a one-day event drawing 1,700 votes. By 2025, the competition had grown into a global phenomenon with over 1.7 million votes cast.
Educational livestreams accompany the voting rounds
Throughout the week, park rangers and wildlife experts will host livestreams explaining brown bear behavior and Katmai National Park conservation efforts. Public discussion continues online under the hashtag #FatBearWeek.
Donations to the Otis Fund are matched through October 3
Explore.org will match public donations to Katmai Conservancy's Otis Fund from September 22 through October 3. The Fat Bear Week Celebration Fundraiser takes place October 3 at 12 p.m. Alaska Time.
Explore.org operates more than 200 live cameras across four continents, while Katmai Conservancy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit supporting preservation of Katmai National Park. Brooks River sits within Bristol Bay, one of the planet's most productive salmon ecosystems.