Backpack the Fat Bear Champion: Alaska’s 2026 Winner Crowned

Wed Sep 30 2026 07:05:59 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Bear Backpack wins Alaska’s Fat Bear Week after a close vote, outpacing rivals in a high‑stakes weight‑gaining contest.

Alaska’s iconic Fat Bear Week named 89 Backpack the heavyweight champion after a spirited campaign that saw him snatch 103,344 votes over rival 910. The National Parks Service celebrated 16 bears that "involuntarily" entered the contest in its 13th year. Backpack, who rose to fame after climbing beside his mother Holly on the Brooks River, will soon tuck into hibernation after months of salmon‑rich gorging.

Backpack declared Alaska's Fat Bear Week winner

A brown bear known as 89 Backpack took home the annual Fat Bear Week crown after a "battle of size, skill, snack acquisition, and strategic loafing" that saw him win 103,344 votes to 910’s 98,253 in the final round.

The National Parks Service celebrated the 16 bears that "involuntarily participated" in the 13‑year‑old contest, underscoring the joy a straightforward affair can bring to park visitors.

Backpack, described by supporters as a "big fuzzy boy" with a "chonk and a badonk", will soon enter hibernation, a six‑month rest that demands a hefty fat reserve.

His name comes from a habit of clinging to his mother Holly—2019 champion—while she crossed the Brooks River, rather than from the light‑bulb shape of his belly.

Not everyone celebrated the win. Some voters praised Bear 910, saying she "poured more effort into the season" and offered a larger overall body size, though PCR was noted for his impressive rear.

Bears in the summer can weigh up to 540 kg; adult males typically gain about 25 % of their body weight by autumn. Women reach over 300 kg, while cubs start off at around 0.5 kg.

“During hibernation, bears lose one‑third of their weight,” the park explained, noting the need for massive fat stores. From June to mid‑October the bears feast on salmon and other foods, fattening quickly in the wild.

In 2025, over 1.7 million votes from more than 100 countries crowned the heavyweight champion, highlighting international fascination with Alaska’s bear drama.