Fat Bear Week Schedule 2025

Schedule of Events

Event	Video
Fat Bear Junior Reveal: September 17 at 7 p.m. Eastern / 4 p.m. Pacific Like all bears, body fat sustains bear cubs through hibernation. First year cubs grow from one pound at birth in January to 70 or more pounds in October. Yearling and older cubs might double their body weight from spring to fall. Which bear cubs are competing for the Fat Bear Junior title? Find out during the Fat Bear Junior bracket reveal. Watch on explore.org’s Brooks Live Chat Channel channel.
Fat Bear Junior: September 18 - 19 It is win and you're in! Which bear cub lives the largest? During this warm-up event for Fat Bear Week, you choose the cub who will compete in the annual Fat Bear Week tournament. Vote in Fat Bear Junior on FatBearWeek.org
More to Explore–Your Guide to Fat Bear Week: September 22* at 12 p.m. Eastern / 9 a.m. Pacific* What is Fat Bear Week and how has it changed over the last 11 years? Join explore.org’s Brian Byrd and Mike Fitz for this in-depth review of the fattest event on Earth. Watch on explore.org’s live events channel.
Fat Bear Week Contestants and Bracket Reveal: September 22* at 7 p.m. Eastern / 4 p.m. Pacific.* Their road to greatness began months ago. After a summer-long effort, brown bears at Brooks River in Katmai National Park have reached peak fat. How did they do it and what challenges did they face along the way? Those are a couple of the questions we’ll answer as we reveal the contenders and the bracket for the 2025 Fat Bear Week tournament. Watch on explore.org’s Brooks Live Chat channel.
Fat Bear Week: September 23 - 30. Vote for the fattest and most successful Brooks River brown bear on FatBearWeek.org.
Donate to the Otis Fund: September 24 - October 4.	Named in honor of 480 Otis, a brown bear with exceptional patience and skill, the Katmai Conservancy’s Otis Fund directly supports the protection and management of Katmai National Park. Donations to the Otis Fund allow Katmai Conservancy to support education and interpretation, both within and outside of Katmai National Park, and provide funding for important research on Katmai’s wildlife as well as the extensive human history of the area. Donate during the fundraiser for the opportunity to get your donation matched by explore.org. Learn more at https://katmaiconservancy.org/donate.
Hungry Like a Fat Bear: September 24 at 7 p.m. Eastern / 4 p.m. Pacific. In the bear world fat exemplifies success, but how do bears achieve their goal and why must they get fat to survive winter? Bears experience hunger in profoundly different ways than people. Their ability to seek out the most nutritious and energy-rich foods demonstrates the skill, individuality, and adaptability of brown bears. Katmai National Park rangers Ashleigh Monaco, Christine Loberg, and Sarah Bruce host this Fat Bear Week program. Watch on explore.org’s Brooks Live Chat channel.
A Very Fat Bear Play-by-Play: September 25 at 7 p.m. Eastern / 4 p.m. Pacific. Join rangers from Katmai National Park for live commentary on the bear and salmon activity at Brooks River. Watch on the Brooks Live Chat channel.
Final Fat Four: September 29 The merely chubby have been winnowed away and the Final Fat Four are left standing (or eating or resting). Vote in the Fat Bear Week semifinal matches to determine which bears will meet in the 202 Fat Bear Tuesday championship match. Vote on FatBearWeek.org
Fat Bear Tuesday: September 30 Welcome to the clash of the titans. Fat Bear Tuesday is the day of the final match in the Fat Bear Week tournament. Vote for the bear who you think is most deserving of the championship. Vote on FatBearWeek.org.
Fat Bear Finale Live Chat: September 30 at 7 p.m. Eastern / 4 p.m. Pacific Only two bears remain standing in Fat Bear Week, the fattest tournament on Earth. Explore the lives of the two final contestants and the importance of fat to brown bears with. Watch on explore.org’s Brooks Live Chat channel
Brown Bear Celebration and Fundraiser: October 4* at 4 p.m. Eastern / 1 p.m. Pacific.* With another Fat Bear Week in the history books and one of the United States’ largest national parks filled with fat, successful bears, it’s time to celebrate the summer that was and look toward the future of Katmai National Park and Preserve. Join explore.org’s resident naturalist Mike Fitz and the Katmai Conservancy’s Naomi Boak for this celebration of Katmai National Park, its famous brown bears, remarkable salmon, and the Katmai’s Conservancy’s efforts to support the park. Watch on explore.org’s Brooks Live Chat channel.