The contenders for America's 2026 Fat Bear Week have been announced, featuring a lineup of eleven adult brown bears from Alaska's Katmai National Park & Preserve. The popular online competition, scheduled from September 22 to 29, celebrates the bears' crucial efforts to gain weight for their winter hibernation.
Katmai National Park is home to some of the world's largest brown bears, with males often exceeding 1,200 pounds by the autumn. Their significant weight gain is attributed to feasting on the abundant sockeye salmon that run in the Brooks River from late June to October. This stored fat is essential for their survival during months of hibernation, during which they consume no food or water.
This year's competition includes a diverse group of bears, from seasoned champions to new hopefuls. Among the notable contestants is 32 Chunk, a large male with a permanently broken jaw, believed to have sustained the injury during a fight. Despite his difficulty in fully using his jaw, Chunk has adapted and remains one of the river's largest bears.
Another strong contender is 128 Grazer, a large female known for her protective nature towards her cubs. Grazer, the 2023 champion, made history as the first mother bear to win the title in 2024.
Bear 26, a mother bear making her Fat Bear Week debut, is thought to be the daughter of the renowned 435 Holly, a former Fat Bear Week champion. Bear 26 has shown resilience, returning with new cubs after losing her first litter in 2023.
Newcomer Bear 99, a young male with distinct milk-chocolate-colored fur, has grown sufficiently to challenge older bears for prime fishing spots at Brooks Falls.
Other participants include Bear 503, who was adopted by Holly after being separated from his mother, and 602, a dominant male nicknamed 'floatato' for his habit of resting in the water between meals, who also performs a unique stomping dance when excited.
Bear 609, nearly five years old, is venturing out independently after an extended period with an adoptive family. The 2022 Fat Bear Junior champion is already large for her age and exhibits skilled fishing abilities.
Among the elder competitors is 856, a massive male who held a dominant position in the Brooks River hierarchy for over a decade. Now in his mid-20s, he has adjusted his strategy to avoid fights with younger rivals while still competing when advantageous.
Female contenders include 901, a consistently heavy bear with significant fat reserves, and sisters 909 and 910. Both are daughters of the 2018 champion 409 Beadnose and have inherited her salmon-catching prowess.
Fat Bear Week originated as Fat Bear Tuesday in 2014 and evolved into a weeklong tournament the following year. Spectators can follow the bears via live cameras, observe their weight gain, and cast votes online daily between noon and 9 p.m. Eastern Time, with the champion crowned on September 29.