Fat Bear Week Schedule 2026

Schedule of Events

Event	Video
Drawn to Explore–Creating a Fat Bear Campaign Poster September 14 at 12 p.m. Eastern / 9 a.m. Pacific / 8 a.m. Alaska Campaigning for your Fat Bear Week candidate is a time-honored tradition. Join explore.org’s Sara Wolman and Katmai National Park ranger Sarah Bruce as they explore the creative process behind designing a Fat Bear Week campaign poster. Watch on explore.org’s Brooks Live Chat Channel channel.
Fat Bear Week Contestants and Bracket Reveal September 18 at 3 p.m. Eastern / 12 p.m. Pacific / 11 a.m. Alaska 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 2026 Fat Bear Week tournament. Watch on explore.org’s Brooks Live Chat Channel channel.
More to Explore–All About Fat Bear Week September 21 at 12 p.m. Eastern / 9 a.m. Pacific / 8 a.m. Alaska What is Fat Bear Week and how has it changed since the inaugural event in 2014? 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 Q&A September 21 at 5 p.m. Eastern / 2 p.m. Pacific / 1 p.m. Alaska Get your questions answered in this live Q&A hosted by explore.org’s Mike Fitz and Katmai National Park rangers Sarah Bruce and Christine Loberg. Watch on explore.org’s Brooks Live Chat channel.
Fat Bear Week: September 22 - 29 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 the Katmai Conservancy to support the park’s education, interpretation, and research efforts. Donate during the fundraiser for the opportunity to get your donation matched by explore.org. Learn more at https://katmaiconservancy.org/donate.
A Very Fat Bear Play-by-Play September 22 at 4 p.m. Eastern / 1 p.m. Pacific / 12 p.m. Alaska Join rangers from Katmai National Park for live commentary on the bear and salmon activity at Brooks River. Watch on explore.org’s Brooks Live Chat channel.
Hungry Like a Fat Bear September 23 at 7 p.m. Eastern / 4 p.m. Pacific / 3 p.m. Alaska 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 Troy Hunt, Christine Loberg, and Sarah Bruce host this Fat Bear Week program. Watch on the Brooks Live Chat channel.
A Very Fat Bear Play-by-Play September 24 at 5 p.m. Eastern / 2 p.m. Pacific / 1 p.m. Alaska Join rangers from Katmai National Park for live commentary on the bear and salmon activity at Brooks River. Watch on explore.org’s Brooks Live Chat channel.
*Final Fat Four:* September 28 The merely chubby have been winnowed away and the Final Fat Four are left standing (or eating). Vote in the Fat Bear Week semifinal matches to determine which bears will meet in the Fat Bear Tuesday championship match. Vote on FatBearWeek.org
Drawn to Explore–Sketching Brooks River’s Fat Bears September 28 at 12 p.m. Eastern / 9 a.m. Pacific / 8 a.m. Alaska Bring a pencil, eraser, and paper as explore.org’s Sara Wolman and Katmai National Park’s Sarah Bruce lead this tutorial to sketch one of Katmai’s iconic brown bears. Watch on explore.org’s Brooks Live Chat Channel channel.
Fat Bear Week Q&A September 28 at 5 p.m. Eastern / 2 p.m. Pacific / 1 p.m. Alaska Get your questions answered in this live Q&A hosted by explore.org’s Mike Fitz and Katmai National Park rangers Sarah Bruce and Christine Loberg. Watch on explore.org’s Brooks Live Chat channel.
*Fat Bear Tuesday:* September 29 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 29 at 4 p.m. Eastern / 1 p.m. Pacific / 12 p.m. Alaska 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 explore.org’s Mike Fitz and Katmai National Park rangers Sarah Bruce, Troy Hunt, and Christine Loberg. Watch on explore.org’s Brooks Live Chat channel.
Brown Bear Celebration and Fundraiser October 3 at 4 p.m. Eastern / 1 p.m. Pacific / 12 p.m. Alaska 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 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.