Fat Bear Week voting opens

natureSep 23, 202627832

Fat Bear Week has begun its public voting phase at Katmai National Park, with voting open Sept. 22-29, 2026 and the bracket to be revealed Sept. 18. Visitors can cast ballots for the fattest, most winter-ready brown bears at fatbearweek.org. Park Superintendent Mark Sturm said there are more cubs at Brooks Camp this year than in a long time, calling it a strong start for a new generation of fat bears. The annual bracket-style tournament, which started in 2014, lets the public choose the Fat Bear Week champion; last year over 1,700,000 votes came from more than 100 countries and Bear 32 nicknamed "Chunk" won. Fat Bear Week is produced in partnership between the National Park Service, Explore.org, and the Katmai Conservancy, and fans can watch the live cams on Explore.org to scout contenders. The champion will be crowned Sept. 29, 2026.

CrispyPandoughBoi

@crispyporkboi.bsky.social

Its fat bear week so who wants to buy me dinner!

big fat bear is eating a whole lot today and way to big for booth seating

4413h ago

Gooning Incorporated 🔞 NO MINORS ALLOWED!!!1

I’d buy you dinner, you big lug~

BumbleBeans Ðe Squishable1

hufff you could fit 7 of me under all that moobs!

ML#Red991

I’m tempted to offer to cover the bill, but I might be living off of instant ramen and hot pockets for a few weeks afterwards.

𝚂𝚙𝚘𝚘𝚔𝚢!1

I’ll buy you whatever you want as long as I end up being your seat later

Wolfram Elliott🤍/Jacquard Billodeau🖤1

I feel a hole burning in my wallet already-

☕️1

Walking over and my bank account empties with each approaching step:

🌹Alex🐻🔪

@alslerarts.bsky.social

It's a fat bear week, and lemme tell you that there are lots of fat bears in this VN 👀 Will be available for download around 12pm EST

1253h ago

Gabbah 🇲🇽

@bsky.gabbah.art

Fat Bear Girl Week 2026 #2 - A relaxing and steamy morning soak to start the day! #art #fatbearweek

822h ago

Shonna White

@shonnathewhite.bsky.social

And in honour of Fat Bear Week ... Enjoy my series: Book Marketing Sucks. I'm Going To Get Stupid With It. A series where I insert my book, Lost Infernal, into random photos because I decided this was a good idea while whacked out on cough syrup. www.amazon.com/dp/B0HBLTY4TJ

185h ago

Morbidly O-beast

@drakebigshep.bsky.social

Reminder that during fat bear week, some grizzlies go so far as to eat eachother to bulk up.

174h ago

Infinite Greed Blob

@mrscottybear.bsky.social

Fat bear week means reminding Burzmor that no matter how big he may get, he's still Bear chow.

152h ago

Steeped in Gayness

@beardedexposure.bsky.social

Work is doing a tournament for Fat Bear Week and I’ve never felt more seen in the workplace

173h ago

Digs

@digsbybear.bsky.social

TF’d Carafe into a fat bear for this week. Ain’t he cute? Look at this bear cake 🍰 Lttle doodle by @pichet.bsky.social 💦

111h ago

Big Sky Conference

@bigskyconf.bsky.social

A moment for our favorite bears in honor of Fat Bear Week 🐻

91h ago

linktothepabst

@linktothepabst.bsky.social

fat bear week wooo 151 Walker let's go Walker boo 428 Studious nepotism ass bear

94h ago

GG has COMMS OPEN! 🐻💜🇨🇱

@grizzlygrandeur.bsky.social

Fat Bear Week 🐻 [Early Access] Join my Patreon to see it before everyone else! 💜 Available for Visitor Tier or higher! www.patreon.com/GrizzlyGrand...