Fat Bear Week 2026 winner has been crowned: "We have a CHONKION!"

By Jamie Grasse

King Salmon, Alaska – Make lots of space for the winner of this year's Fat Bear Week 2026! The bulkiest bear of the bunch is Bear 89 – AKA Backpack. Congrats to the chonk!

Bear 89 Backpack has been crowned the winner of Fat Bear Week 2026. He's a "CHONKION!"
Bear 89 Backpack has been crowned the winner of Fat Bear Week 2026. He's a "CHONKION!"   © explore.org

"We have a CHONKION!," the National Park Service wrote on Instagram Tuesday.

"The Fat Bear Week crown goes to: Bear 89 Backpack. Heavy is the bear that wears the crown. Like really heavy."

Bear 89 Backpack beat out Bear 910 in the final matchup of the beloved annual contest with a whopping 103,344 votes.

Rising seas threaten spread of invasive marine species, scientists warn
Environment and Climate Rising seas threaten spread of invasive marine species, scientists warn

This big guy beat out 16 other rotund involuntary contestants in the 13th edition of a single-elimination tournament.

The 2026 contest got off to a rocky start thanks to its huge popularity. So many people tried to vote in the first round that the website shut down, prompting organizers to declare: "BREAKING: THE BEARS HAVE BROKEN THE INTERNET."

After extending the first-round voting by one day, the rest of the 2026 contest went off without a hitch and ultimately crowned Bear 89 Backpack as the fattest of them all.

Exclusive: Marmot researchers spill the tea on the first-ever Fat Marmot Week! Exclusive: Marmot researchers spill the tea on the first-ever Fat Marmot Week!
First-ever Fat Marmot Week winner gets showered with praise: "THAT'S MY KING!" First-ever Fat Marmot Week winner gets showered with praise: "THAT'S MY KING!"
Fat Bear Week 2026 voting begins: Check out the chubby competitors facing off in round one Fat Bear Week 2026 voting begins: Check out the chubby competitors facing off in round one
Fat Bear Week 2026: Voting extended as internet "not prepared to handle this much fat bear" Fat Bear Week 2026: Voting extended as internet "not prepared to handle this much fat bear"

Fat Bear Week 2026 winner Backpack dubbed a "gentle king"

Bear 910 wasn't the winner of the Fat Bear Week 2026, but she was one huge runner up.
Bear 910 wasn't the winner of the Fat Bear Week 2026, but she was one huge runner up.   © Courtesy C. Loberg

Fat Bear Week fans celebrated Bear 89 Backpack's win all over social media.

Hailed as the "Gentle King" by commenters, event organizers say on their website that the medium-large adult male has very few battle scars for his age. His sheer size is a deterrent to other bears.

This chonky champ got 5,000 more votes than female 910. Interestingly, both 2026 finalists are the cubs of former Fat Bear Week winners: 910's father is fan favorite 409 Beadnose, and Backpack's mom is Holly.

China's Xi Jinping doubles down on unification with Taiwan after Trump visit
China China's Xi Jinping doubles down on unification with Taiwan after Trump visit

"Backpack often climbed onto his mother's back when the pair swam in the river, a habit that inspired his nickname," contest organizers explained on the Fat Bear Week website.

Fans of Backpack chimed into the Katmai National Park & Preserve comment section to say his mama Holly would be proud. "That's our boy!!! congratulations backpack, i hope you have a wonderful hibernation this year," another fan wrote.

All hail Bear 89, the chonkisest of them all in Fat Bear Week 2026. May all the Brooks River bears have a good winter sleep!

Cover photo: explore.org

More on Animals: