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Backpack Bear Wins Fat Bear Week

The 2026 Fat Bear Week concluded on September 30 with a bear named Backpack securing the title after a popular vote. Backpack, a roughly 20‑year‑old brown bear, earned more than 100,000 votes, narrowly outpacing runner‑up Bear 910. The annual online tournament, hosted by Katmai National Park and Reserve in Alaska, pits 16 of the park’s largest bears in a single‑elimination bracket. Viewers follow the bears through trail‑camera livestreams, and the competition is dubbed “Alaska’s most‑watched popularity contest” by the Associated Press. Backpack earned his nickname after a childhood habit of climbing onto his mother’s back while they swam in Brooks River. Ranger Sarah Bruce noted the bear’s gentle demeanor and quiet toughness, saying he rarely causes drama in the bear hierarchy. To celebrate the event, Google added an interactive animation that lets users feed a virtual bear and watch it grow when searching “Fat Bear Week.” The park’s ranger said every bear in the tournament is a winner, as they survive another winter and receive public love.

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The essential points

  1. 01Backpack wins Fat Bear Week with over 100,000 votes, beating Bear 910.
  2. 02Google’s interactive animation lets users feed a virtual bear and watch it grow when searching “Fat Bear Week.”
  3. 03Backpack, about 20 years old and 1,000‑2,000 pounds, earned his nickname from swimming with his mother on Brooks River.
  4. 04The 2026 tournament featured 16 Alaskan brown bears in a single‑elimination bracket livestreamed from Katmai National Park.
The full brief

The 2026 Fat Bear Week concluded on September 30 with a bear named Backpack securing the title after a popular vote. Backpack, a roughly 20‑year‑old brown bear, earned more than 100,000 votes, narrowly outpacing runner‑up Bear 910. The annual online tournament, hosted by Katmai National Park and Reserve in Alaska, pits 16 of the park’s largest bears in a single‑elimination bracket.

Viewers follow the bears through trail‑camera livestreams, and the competition is dubbed “Alaska’s most‑watched popularity contest” by the Associated Press. Backpack earned his nickname after a childhood habit of climbing onto his mother’s back while they swam in Brooks River. Ranger Sarah Bruce noted the bear’s gentle demeanor and quiet toughness, saying he rarely causes drama in the bear hierarchy.

To celebrate the event, Google added an interactive animation that lets users feed a virtual bear and watch it grow when searching “Fat Bear Week.” The park’s ranger said every bear in the tournament is a winner, as they survive another winter and receive public love.