when does fat bear week start 2026

On 15 September 2026, officials at Katmai National Park and Preserve confirmed the schedule for the highly anticipated Fat Bear Week 2026. The annual single-elimination tournament, which celebrates the success of brown bears in preparing for winter hibernation, is set to begin on Wednesday, 30 September 2026. The competition will run through Tuesday, 6 October 2026, when the final champion will be crowned based on public votes. This year’s event highlights the remarkable transformation of the bears residing along the Brooks River, who have spent the summer months gorging on sockeye salmon to build necessary fat reserves. Park rangers noted that the 2026 season has seen particularly robust salmon runs, leading to some of the largest bears observed in recent years. Fans from around the globe are invited to participate in the bracket-style voting process via the official park website. The event serves as both a celebration of the ecosystem's health and an educational platform regarding the biology and survival strategies of the Alaskan brown bear population.