what is fat bear week

On 18 September 2026, officials at Katmai National Park and Preserve in Alaska officially announced the schedule for the highly anticipated 2026 Fat Bear Week competition. This annual event, which celebrates the success of brown bears in preparing for winter hibernation, is set to begin on 30 September 2026. The competition functions as a single-elimination bracket where the public votes online to determine which bear has most effectively bulked up on salmon throughout the summer season. Park rangers emphasize that the event serves as an educational platform to highlight the importance of the ecosystem and the biological necessity of fat accumulation for the bears' survival during the harsh Alaskan winter. As the bears continue to feed at Brooks River, park staff are currently finalizing the profiles of the competing bears, showcasing their dramatic physical transformations. The event has grown into a global phenomenon, drawing millions of participants who engage with the park’s live webcams to observe the bears' behavior and physical condition before casting their votes in the bracket-style tournament.