Backpack Claims 2026 Fat Bear Week Crown, Outpacing Offspring of Past Champion
Backpack wins 2026 Fat Bear Week with 103k votes, defeating offspring of former champion. Explore.org reveals results.
POLICY WIRE — Brooks River, Alaska — Backpack has been declared the winner of Fat Bear Week 2026 after receiving 103,334 votes, narrowly defeating a competitor who is an offspring of a previous champion.
The final round saw voters choose between bear 910 and 89 Backpack, with Backpack securing victory by a margin of over 5,000 votes. The contest, hosted by Explore.org, drew global attention as participants voted for the fattest bear at Katmai National Park & Preserve in Alaska.
Katmai National Park & Preserve highlighted the significance of the event, stating that the overwhelming public engagement turned the week into a shared story shaped by thousands of voices. The competition, which began in 2014, has grown into a worldwide phenomenon, with over 1.7 million votes cast from more than 100 countries in 2025.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
