Fat Bear Week 2026: What is it?

A contest all about... fat bears?

It sounds very strange but it's actually a competition that's been run by Katmai National Park in Alaska since 2014.

Every year bear fans get to vote on which brown bears have put on the most weight before hibernating, in a week-long knockout tournament.

Last year, over 1.7 million votes were cast from more than 100 countries to crown the furry chonker champion.

The iconic Fat Bear Week will run from 22-29 of September this year and votes can be cast online.

The photos will compare how the bears looked before feasting on salmon and building fat reserves vs how they look now, just a few weeks before hibernation season starts.

Bear 32 - nicknamed 'Chunk' - was crowned the winner last year, and could possibly be returning to the contest again.

This year will see a boost in cuteness too, as Park Superintendent Mark Sturm says there are a lot more cubs this year.

"A new generation of fat bears is taking shape, and they're off to a strong start. We're excited to watch them grow".

Will you be following Fat Bear Week this year? Let us know in the comments below.

Hibernation is a way for animals to survive cold winters without having to hunt for food or move to somewhere warmer.

Animals that hibernate head into cosy dens and go into a sleep-like state for a few months, where they don't eat or drink, and turn down their metabolisms to save energy.

Bear can lose up to a third of their body weight in this time, so it's very important that they bulk up before hibernation season begins.

As the park says, fat bears are successful bears!