Backpack claims 2026 Fat Bear Week title in narrow vote

Key points

• Backpack, officially Bear 89, won the 2026 Fat Bear Week with over 100,000 votes, narrowly defeating Bear 910.
• The competition, in its 12th year, featured 16 bears in a single-elimination bracket, including five mother-cub families for the first time.
• Backpack is the son of 2019 champion Holly and is known for his non-aggressive behavior and 'quiet strength.'
• Bears in Katmai gorge on salmon from late June to October to build fat reserves for winter hibernation, when they lose up to one-third of their body weight.
• The event is run by the Katmai Conservancy and explore.org, using livestream cameras to engage the public and raise conservation funds.

Background

Fat Bear Week began in 2014 as an interactive way to educate the public about brown bears in Alaska’s Katmai National Park. The competition celebrates the bears’ resilience and their preparation for winter hibernation. In 2026, the event introduced family units as competitors for the first time, reflecting a record-high number of cubs at the Brooks River. Previous winners include Chunk (Bear 32) in 2025 and Holly (Bear 435) in 2019.

How outlets are covering it

Al Jazeera and BBC both report Backpack’s victory, but BBC provides specific vote counts (103,344 for Backpack vs. 98,253 for Bear 910), while Al Jazeera notes Backpack received just over 50% of the poll. Popular Science emphasizes the close semifinal between Backpack and Bucky Dent, highlighting Backpack’s recovery from a 2007 leg injury. BBC includes fan comments questioning whether Bear 910 was 'larger all around,' while Al Jazeera focuses on Backpack’s lineage and gentle nature. All sources agree on the event’s conservation purpose and the bears’ reliance on salmon for winter survival.

Why it matters

Fat Bear Week raises awareness about brown bear conservation in Alaska and funds research through the Katmai Conservancy. The event highlights the bears’ critical need to accumulate fat reserves before hibernation, a period where they lose up to one-third of their body weight. Public engagement through livestreams and voting helps sustain interest in wildlife protection and supports the 2,200 brown bears in the Katmai preserve.

What to watch

Backpack will enter hibernation, which can last up to six months, without eating or drinking. The Katmai Conservancy will use the funds raised from Fat Bear Week to support bear research and conservation efforts. Future competitions may continue to include family units, reflecting the growing bear population at the Brooks River.