Autumn's premier conservation spectacle officially commenced today as rangers at Katmai National Park and Preserve in southwest Alaska revealed the 12-bear single-elimination tournament bracket for Fat Bear Week 2026.
The annual online tournament, organized in partnership with the nonprofit media network explore.org, celebrates the extraordinary physiological feats of coastal brown bears as they feast on protein-rich sockeye salmon to pack on hundreds of pounds of vital fat before entering six months of winter denning.
Fierce Matchups Featuring Legendary River Titans
This year's bracket features iconic veterans and formidable newcomers alike. Headlining the heavyweight division is defending champion 128 Grazer, an exceptionally bold sow known for fearlessly defending prime fishing perches at the lip of Brooks Falls.
She faces stiff competition from colossal rival 32 Chunk, a dominant 1,200-pound boar whose trademark low-effort scavenging technique has propelled him to massive girth, alongside rising crowd-pleaser 901, an ambitious young female who nearly doubled her body mass over the summer.
“Fat Bear Week is not just internet fun; it is a global masterclass in ecological resilience and the preservation of one of the planet's last pristine wild sockeye salmon runs.”
Millions Tune In to Brooks Falls Webcams
Rangers noted that the Katmai ecosystem enjoyed an abundant salmon run of more than 50 million fish entering Bristol Bay, providing optimal caloric nutrition during the critical hyperphagia feeding phase.
Official bracket voting opens to the global public on explore.org starting Wednesday, October 2, culminating in the crowning of the 2026 champion on Fat Bear Tuesday, October 8.
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