Fat Bear Week voting opens

Fat Bear Week at Katmai National Park runs Sept. 22, 29, 2026, with public voting to choose which brown bear has packed the most fat for winter. The tournament bracket will be posted Sept. 18, and voting occurs Sept. 22, 29 with no voting on the weekend; the champion will be announced Sept. 29, 2026. Park Superintendent Mark Sturm said "There are more cubs at Brooks Camp this year than have been seen in a long time," noting a new generation of bears is taking shape. Last year more than 1,700,000 votes came from over 100 countries and Bear 32, nicknamed "Chunk," won the title. Explore.org live cams and the park website provide footage and profiles to help viewers scout contenders. Fat Bear Week is produced in partnership between the National Park Service, Explore.org, and the Katmai Conservancy.