Fat Bear Week begins on September 22 and runs through the 29th. As always, there are worthy contenders. Take our quiz to see which bear your personality resembles.
Brooks River, Katmai Nationl Park, Alaska, September 2022 (Photo: Getty/Claus Cramer)
Published September 20, 2026 03:04AM
It’s the time of year again, when fat bear lovers across the globe cast their vote to see which bruin at Katmai National Park in Alaska will emerge supreme as the plumpest and most likely to survive the winter.
The annual affair, put on by the National Park Service, observes some of the largest brown bears on Earth that made their home at Brooks River during a period of feasting called hyperphagia, where the bears build a heavy layer of fat to keep themselves warm through the glacial months.
The Fat Bear Week bracket-based tournament started in 2014 with around 1,000 votes cast. Last year, 1.7 million votes were collected across the globe. The bears go head to head (figuratively speaking) in single elimination “matchups.” The bear with the most votes advances to the next round, crowning one bear at the end.
Fat Bear Week kicks off on September 22 and runs to September 29 this year. The Fat Bear Week bracket for 2026 has just been revealed. You can fill yours out here.
The 2026 Fat Bear Bracket Revealed
Bear families:
- Bear 132
- Bear 284
- Bear 610
- Bear 806
- Bear 901
Sub-adults:
Single adult females:
- Bear 131
- Bear 428 Studious
- Bear 909
- Bear 910
Adult males:
- Bear 32 Chunk
- Bear 89 Backpack
- Bear 151 Walker
- Bear 164 Bucky
- Bear 903 Gully
The Bears Featured in Our Quiz
We chose five bears with distinct and differing personalities to feature in our quiz.
32 Chunk: The Survivor
32 Chunk is one of our highlighted personalities. He is a large adult male brown bear with a protruding brow ridge and scar across his muzzle, and a broken jaw. He is committed to his survival. 32 Chunk weighs in at about 1,200 pounds, one of the largest around Brooks River—a hard bear to beat. He is the defending Fat Bear Week champion.
806: The Fierce Protector
806 has been observed caring for and guiding her cubs, and taking on orphaned cubs, but she’s also ferocious if crossed. She’s confident, fearless, and fiercely protective. She knows how to stand her ground. And though she is more than capable of taking care of herself, she delights in caring for those she loves. She has had three known litters, but this is her first Fat Bear appearance.
694: The Social Butterfly
694 thrives in a group. He’s too small to compete with the adult bears still, but he’s included for his adapability, fishing, and survival skills. He frequently makes time to socialize with other bears, but still prioritizes filling his belly. He has been captured during a play session while waiting for salmon. 694 is a first-time contender.
89 Backpack: The Chill One
89 got his nickname after being seen riding on his mother’s back through the river a handful of times. Unlike his large adult competitors, Backpack isn’t an aggressive bear. “He’ll stand up for himself when necessary, but he prefers to use a quiet strength to gain access to preferred fishing spots,” his biography reads. 89 seeks out calmer spaces and, as you can see from his transformation already this year, puts those spaces to good use.
151 Walker: The Strategist
Walker was laid-back as a sub-adult bear, and has been observed playing well with others. But as he’s grown, he’s been much more willing to challenge other bears. He sizes up his surroundings and chooses wisely. His size makes him a worthy competitor, but there are some more willing to fight—he has seen pushback as he’s gotten more aggressive.
