Fat Bear Week is here: Meet Backpack, Bucky and other chunky contenders

September 21, 2026 / 9:02 PM EDT / CBS News Add CBS News on Google Sixteen bears are facing off for Fat Bear Week 2026, the highly anticipated tournament among the chunkiest bears at the Katmai National Park and Preserve in Alaska. The bracket for this year's single-elimination contest expanded from last year's 12 competitors and includes the defending champion, Chunk. Starting Tuesday, Sept. 22, bear lovers will get to vote on their favorite contenders and choose which bear has packed on more pounds for the winter season.People can vote online between 12 and 9 p.m. ET each day, and voting will continue through Sept. 29, when the winner of Fat Bear Week 2026 will be decided.The competition, which started in 2014 as a one-day event to showcase southwest Alaska bears, received more than 1.7 million votes in 2025 from more than 100 countries, according to the National Park Service.How to watch Fat Bear Week live camIn a series of livestreams on Explore.org, a multimedia organization that partners with the National Park Service to host the bear competition, voters can watch the bears in their natural habitat.Several live cameras are located at Katmai National Park and Preserve, including along Brooks Falls, where brown bears are often spotted catching fish and napping.Park rangers are also periodically available to answer audience questions about the bears through online ranger talks and Q&A sessions. Bears have reached "peak fat"Mike Fitz, resident naturalist at Explore.org, said Monday that the bears at the national park have reached "peak fat" after "gorging on salmon, berries and other foods" all summer."Bears get fat to survive, and fat is the fuel that powers their ability to endure the monthslong famine that is winter hibernation," Fitz said during a livestream.The giant creatures can go four to six months without eating, Katmai park ranger Troy Hunt added.Park officials have noted that there are more cubs at Brooks Camp this year than in a long time. More than 100 different bears have been identified at Brooks River so far through the webcams, according to Fitz. "A new generation of fat bears is taking shape, and they're off to a strong start. We're excited to watch them grow and learn as they prepare for winter in Katmai's incredible ecosystem," Park Superintendent Mark Sturm said in a statement.Meet Fat Bear Week 2026 contendersThese 16 bears are vying to become the new Fat Bear Week champion.32 ChunkAll eyes are on Chunk as the Fat Bear Week 2025 titleholder. He's healed from the broken jaw he sustained last year and is ready to defend the crown. Explore.org/Katmai National Park and Preserve 89 BackpackKnown for his quiet toughness, 89 Backpack is identifiable through his blond ears that pop against his brown fur. Explore.org/Katmai National Park and Preserve 151 WalkerA growing adult male, 151 Walker has relied on his pear-shaped body to rise through the bear hierarchy. Explore.org/Katmai National Park and Preserve 164 BuckyBucky has grown big after discovering a fishing spot that lets him catch salmon in the plunge pool at Brooks Falls as they rise from below or leap through the air. Explore.org/Katmai National Park and Preserve 903 GullyGully inspired his own name because of his unusual feeding behavior: chasing and eating gulls along Brooks River. Explore.org/Katmai National Park and Preserve 132132 is one of the largest and most experienced mama bears at Brooks River. She managed to raise three growing cubs while gaining enough fat for the competition. Explore.org/Katmai National Park and Preserve 284 ElectraYears of experience are contained in Electra's iconic shoulder hump, and she's here to compete against one of her cubs, 901, while raising two spring cubs. Explore.org/Katmai National Park and Preserve 610610 may be smaller than other adult females, but she's mighty and resilient, having survived a serious injury and become independent earlier than the average bear. She has two spring cubs this year, her first known litter. Explore.org/Katmai National Park and Preserve 806806 raised her own cub while adopting another, Biggie, into her life. She's kind-hearted but willing to get her paws dirty to protect her family. Explore.org/Katmai National Park and Preserve 901901 is recognized for her "exceptional fat-building ability" and strong fishing skills that have clearly been passed on to her cub. Explore.org/Katmai National Park and Preserve 620620 came from a big family that traveled closely and raised cubs together. She became independent last year. Explore.org/Katmai National Park and Preserve 694694 has found that he doesn't need to compete with the older bears for salmon if he finds a different spot to feed to get ready for hibernation. Explore.org/Katmai National Park and Preserve 131 MarshmallowMarshmallow, who is light brown to blond, spent her younger years developing her fishing skills, and she appears to be fatter than ever this year. Explore.org/Katmai National Park and Preserve 428 StudiousStudious is the daughter of Grazer, a former Fat Bear Week champion. She earned her name for her focus while fishing. Explore.org/Katmai National Park and Preserve 909909 is another competitor whose parent was a former Fat Bear Week winner. She recently lost two cubs this summer. Explore.org/Katmai National Park and Preserve 910910 is 909's sister. She has learned multiple ways to catch food and found several places to do so, giving her more options for fuel. Explore.org/Katmai National Park and Preserve In: Alaska