Explore.org and the Katmai Conservancy have announced the start of the 12th annual Fat Bear Week competition, running from September 22 through September 29, 2026. The weeklong event focuses on the brown bears of the Brooks River in Katmai National Park as they prepare for winter hibernation.
The annual competition allows online viewers to vote in head-to-head matchups to determine which bear has accumulated the most fat reserves. Voting opens September 22 and concludes on September 29 at 5:00 p.m. AKT with the announcement of the 2026 champion.
This year’s voting bracket has been expanded to include additional bears following a record number of bear families using the Brooks River throughout the summer season. Gaining weight by feeding on salmon is a vital survival requirement for the bears prior to entering their winter dens.
The event began in 2014 as a single-day vote that recorded 1,700 total ballots. By 2025, the international voting competition drew more than 1.7 million votes from online participants worldwide.
Throughout the week, park rangers and wildlife experts will host educational livestreams covering Katmai brown bear behavior and regional conservation efforts. Explore.org is also matching public donations made to the Katmai Conservancy’s Otis Fund through October 3.
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