Update, September 29, 2026, 9:03pm EDT: Bear #89 (Backpack) has won Fat Bear Week 2026, beating out the Bear #910. Backpack, a 20.5-year-old beefy boy, barely edged out the Dancing Queen to claim the crown in an incredibly close contest. Congrats, Backpack! Only two remain. Fat Bear Week 2026 comes down to Bear #910 (unofficially
After a week of fierce competition, Backpack emerged victorious as Fat Bear Week champion, the heftiest bear of Alaska’s Katmai National Park and Preserve. The nonprofit running the longstanding contest announced that the bear, known for his pacifist nature, was the winner Tuesday with more than 100,000 votes, giving him a close win over Bear
A new fat bear head wears the crown. Bear #89 Backpack is officially the champion of Fat Bear Week 2026. Backpack beat Bear #910 in the final round of the bracket-style competition where bear enthusiasts from around the world can vote online for their favorite chunky bear in Katmai National Park and Preserve in Alaska.
Update, September 28, 2026, 9:13pm EDT: Bear #910 beat Bear #132 and her three cubs in the first semifinal of Fat Bear Week. In the other semifinal match, Bear #164 (Bucky Dent) and Bear #89 (Backpack) went back and forth all day in the closest match so far this year. In the end, Backpack eked
Update, September 25, 2026, 9:01pm EDT: Bear #164 (Bucky Dent) defeated Bear #151 (Walker) in Fat Bear Week’s biggest (literally) battle. The family of Bear #132 defeated Bear #806’s family and in a battle of sisters, Bear #910 overcame 909. In the day’s most lopsided battle, Bear #89 (Backpack) beat Bear #620 with more than
This Fat Bear Week, bear enthusiasts from around the world can not only vote for their favorite chunky brown bears (Ursus arctos). They can actually help protect the bears’ home. Every donation made to the Katmai Conservancy’s Otis Fund through October 3, will be matched by explore.org, the organization that runs the bear livestreams at
