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Four brown bears fish for red salmon in a cascading river, with snowy mountains and autumn forest in the background

Park news · Katmai

Fat Bear Week 2026: Vote for the Biggest Bear in Katmai, Alaska

Voting for Fat Bear Week 2026 runs through September 29, so watch Katmai's bears live and help crown this year's champion.

By Erika Müller, · Updated

Developing story · 1 update since the first story Jump to where it started

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  1. Fat Bear Week 2026: Vote for the Biggest Bear in Katmai, Alaska

    Voting for Fat Bear Week 2026 runs through September 29, so watch Katmai's bears live and help crown this year's champion.

    Every fall, Katmai's brown bears gorge on salmon to make it through the winter, and the public votes for the chubbiest one. According to foxsanantonio.com, this 12th edition of Fat Bear Week has been open for voting since September 23, 2026, with the results landing on the 29th. If you're planning a trip to this remote corner of Alaska, it's the perfect chance to get to know the locals before you ever set foot there.

    The idea stays simple. Per foxsanantonio.com, sixteen bears face off in a single-elimination bracket, a bit like a sports tournament, and you call each matchup. Votes go in at fatbearweek.org, again according to that same source. No plane ticket required, since the whole thing plays out online.

    A large brown bear wades through a rushing river among leaping salmon, backed by golden trees and snow-covered mountains

    A few numbers are worth a look. The reigning champ, Bear 32, nicknamed Chunk, was estimated at roughly 1,200 pounds in 2025, foxsanantonio.com notes. He'll have to contend with Bear 903, known as Gully, described as a descendant of Grazer, herself a two-time champion. The biggest males top 990 pounds before hibernation, a size that alone explains all the buzz around this contest.

    To grasp the scale of it, consider the figure foxsanantonio.com cites. The preserve is home to about 2,200 brown bears, one of the highest densities anywhere in the world. That's why Katmai has become a premier spot for wildlife watching, and it's what we dig into in the Katmai park guide to help you plan your visit.

    Want to see the contenders in action? explore.org's live cameras stream the bears through September 29, according to foxsanantonio.com. From home, you'll catch the same waterfall fishing scenes visitors see on site. It's also great scouting: watching the bears gather, you get a feel for the best time to plan your own trip and what you can really hope to spot along the banks.

  2. Where it started

    Fat Bear Week 2026 at Katmai: Grizzly Season Is Almost Here

    The 2026 Brooks Falls fattest-bear contest is almost here, and fall is still the best time to watch Katmai's grizzlies.

    Fall is settling into Alaska, and with it comes the moment bear lovers wait for all year. Fat Bear Week 2026 is almost here, according to Popular Science, as the grizzlies gorge on salmon at Brooks Falls before winter sets in. If you're planning a trip to Katmai, keep this window in mind, because fall is the best time to watch grizzlies at Brooks Falls, when the bears are packing on the most weight.

    The contest itself is simple. Every year, the public compares photos of the bears before and after they bulk up, then votes online for the most impressive one. Per the Daily Mirror, this online tournament has been running since 2014, and it's become a fun way to follow the health of the park's bear population. You can vote for your favorite bear right online, without ever setting foot in Alaska.

    This year, the event comes with something new to read. Popular Science reports the release of a children's book, "Big Fat Bear Battle!", written by Brooke Hartman and illustrated by Can Tugrul. The story plays out like a wrestling tournament between bears, and it's aimed at families visiting Brooks Falls. It's a great way to get the kids ready before you head out, or to hold onto the memory once you're back.

    Another contest is popping up alongside it. Also according to the Daily Mirror, a Fat Marmot Week celebrates Colorado's marmots. One heads-up, though. This competition isn't tied to any national park, so it has nothing to do with your visit to Katmai.

    To plan your trip, figure out how to reach Brooks Falls, and know what to expect on the viewing platforms, check out the Katmai park guide. Right now, while the bears are building up their reserves, is when the show is at its most striking.

    Official source : Fat Bear Week gets competition as marmots aim to steal the show ; New Fat Bear Week children’s book turns Katmai’s famous bears into wrestlers