Govind Tekale
Fat [Bear Week](https://www.karmactive.com/fat-bear-week-2025-alaska-early-start-record-salmon/) 2026 is here. The bracket for Katmai National Park's annual competition drops September 18, voting runs September 22 through 29, and the champion is crowned on September 29. If you want to cast a vote for Alaska's bulkiest bears before they head into hibernation, here is everything you need to know.
Dates and how voting works
The National Park Service confirmed the full schedule: bracket revealed September 18, tournament voting September 22–29, with no voting on weekends, and the 2026 Fat Bear Week champion named September 29. Voting takes place at fatbearweek.org. Last year, more than 1.7 million votes came in from over 100 countries.
The competition began in 2014. This year, Katmai Superintendent Mark Sturm noted that more cubs are at Brooks Camp than have been seen in a long time.
What the competition is actually about
Fat Bear Week is not purely entertainment. The NPS frames the event explicitly around bear biology: brown bears at Katmai spend summer and early fall consuming as much salmon as possible to build fat reserves before winter. During hibernation, bears can lose up to one-third of their body weight. The bears that enter the competition are not simply the largest — they are the ones that have done their biological job most effectively. A bear that arrives at Brooks Camp thin in July and leaves fat in October has successfully prepared to survive until spring.
The salmon that fuel this process come from Katmai's rivers, and the health of those runs directly affects how well the bears fare. Katmai's ecosystem — particularly its protected salmon habitat — is what makes Brooks Camp one of the most concentrated brown-bear feeding areas in the world. The live cams on explore.org let anyone watch that process in real time.
The "fattest bear" framing is a simplification. NPS frames the competition around fat reserves and winter readiness, but the champion is determined by public vote. The bracket format mirrors a sports tournament, so you can follow individual bears through rounds.
For families watching at home, live cams are available at explore.org from Brooks Camp during the active season.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Fat Bear Week 2026 voting start?
Voting opens September 22, 2026, and runs through September 29, with no voting on weekends. The bracket is revealed September 18 at Katmai National Park and Preserve. The 2026 Fat Bear Week champion will be named September 29.
How do you vote in Fat Bear Week 2026?
Voting takes place at fatbearweek.org. Each round, you pick between two bears. Votes are open to everyone. Last year more than 1.7 million votes were cast from over 100 countries.
Why do the bears need to be fat before winter?
Brown bears at Katmai fast during hibernation and can lose up to one-third of their body weight over winter. The fat they build from eating salmon in late summer is their primary energy source during that period.
Voting opens September 22 at fatbearweek.org. Check back after September 18 for the full bracket and bear profiles once they are released.
Related Karmactive coverage: Fat Bear Week 2025 coverage.
