Fat Bear Week 2026 begins, 16 contenders including Chunk and Bucky

natureSep 22, 202640345

Katmai National Park and Preserve opened Fat Bear Week 2026 on Tuesday, Sept. 22, with 16 contenders competing in an expanded single-elimination bracket that includes defending champion Chunk. Voting runs online daily from 12 to 9 p.m. Eastern through Sept. 29, when the bracket will produce a winner. Explore.org will host livestreams from Brooks Falls and other cameras so viewers can watch bears fishing and napping while park rangers hold periodic online talks and Q and A sessions. Resident naturalist Mike Fitz said the bears have reached "peak fat" after gorging on salmon, berries and other foods, and Katmai Park Superintendent Mark Sturm noted more cubs at Brooks Camp this year. The National Park Service reported the event drew more than 1.7 million votes in 2025 from over 100 countries. Chunk returns despite last year’s broken jaw, and other named contenders include Bucky, 89 Backpack, 151 Walker and 903 Gully.

wren 🐻 on VGen!

@lunarvvrens.bsky.social

Happy fat bear week 🐻 Much love to fat bears of all kinds! #furry #art #furryart #bear

Digital drawing of my black bear fursona

1015h ago

Rex Huppke

@rexhuppke.bsky.social

It’s possible I wrote a column for tomorrow that talks about Fat Bear Week and the high cost of beef and…well, it might include the words “succulent” and “bear burgers.” But I want to make clear I’m not suggesting we eat the fat bears. I’m just batting some ideas around. Everybody be cool.

553h ago

AJ MacReady1

Just don't make any modest proposals about the babies

Anti-SS 🍺 🍻1

I speed-read and read that as "fat beer week". That works too!

SrslyJosh1

So you’re asking us to bear with you?

Rupert Bukowski 🔜 MFF

@rupertbukowski.bsky.social

Wanted to doodle up Joe again, want to do something with him for fat bear week energy willing, and if not, at least got this .w.

272h ago

jon 🌌

@latenightlion.bsky.social

for my heavy weight champ~ 🐻🧡 happy fat bear week cal, remember to always dream BIG! 🌌 first fat bear week doodle for the one and only: @centurioncalbar.bsky.social

253h ago

Chris Conroy

@conroyforreal.bsky.social

It is not fair for one of the Fat Bear Week bears to have the extremely memeable name "Chunk" when a bunch of the others just get ID numbers. They should all get equally significant names or they should all get numbers.

215h ago

Calbar 🐻

@centurioncalbar.bsky.social

Goin to bed early tonight, cuz I am super sleepy. But tomorrow, we return in force to the Fat Bear Mood for Fat Bear Week! Until then, gonna be a little self-indulgent and hop on the bandwagon of this other silly thing from today.

Big fat detective bear enjoying his dinner

183h ago

Calbar 🐻2

Also, go show some friends some love and tell 'em what you like about THEIR characters!! First up, lovely derg friend, Draeneth! (Yes, he is big and round, but do also show some love to other aspects of his derg!)

🐢🍄VectorVictor🍄🐢1

Such a cheerful and sweet guy

Kai1

I have a strong weakness for fat bears but yours is extremely lovely and huggable. I would love using you as my bed. 🧡 (And I wouldn’t mind being your seat cushion)

MangyMongrel

@mangymongrel.bsky.social

Fat Bear Week is here!! 🐻 Salmon hate to see us coming

173h ago

Wark After Dark

@warky.bsky.social

It's #FatBearWeek ! Fat Bear Week is when I get recognized as being one of the Flab Four!

173h ago

Sylphi🌷

@sylphina-florentia.bsky.social

Consider this my contribution to fat bear week for the time being, unfortunately nothing in the works with bears atm🥀

126h ago

Gabbah 🇲🇽

@bsky.gabbah.art

I'm visiting the US this week for a small vacation so I have to get all my Fat Bear Girl Week pieces done before I leave on Wednesday o7

145h ago

Coll 🩰💻📚🎢

@soarin-to-tower.bsky.social

I’m adding Fat Bear Week to my list let’s go 131 Marshmallow I’M ROOTING FOR YOU GIRL

91h ago

The Tony ™

@tonysadowski.bsky.social

You can keep your Shark Week and your Toyotathon. A blessed and bulky Fat Bear Week to all who celebrate! 🐻

41h ago

Jet D. Wolf

@jetdwolf.bsky.social

Fat bear week is this week! It's early! I'm not prepared! Uwu

21h ago

Lance 🐯

@toofytig.bsky.social

Happy fat bear week! Hoping no mysterious TF shenanigans befalls anyone this week!

21h ago

Dr. Karmella Haynes

@drkhaynes.bsky.social

Manuscript revision is launched. New AfroBiotech funds are approved and in progress. Celebrating by sipping on Chardonnay at a dive bar, watching fat-bear TV broadcast by the National Park Service @altnps.bsky.social A very nice moment in the midst of … everything.

32h ago

3 sources

cbsnews.comFat Bear Week 2026 is here: Meet Chunk, Bucky and other contenders popsci.comBig boy Chunk returns ahead of Fat Bear Week 2026 explore.orgMeet The Bears of Fat Bear Week - Explore.org

Fat Bear Week 2026 begins, 16 contenders including Chunk and Buckynature

Fat Bear Week 2026 begins, 16 contenders including Chunk and Bucky

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