Fat Bear Week crowns its champion: Bear 89 "Backpack"
The results are official: Bear 89, nicknamed "Backpack," has been crowned the Fat Bear Week champion for 2026 after dominating the annual voting competition.
After a highly competitive Fat Bear Week at Katmai National Park in Alaska, Bear 89, affectionately known as Backpack, claimed the title of the 2026 Fat Bear Week Champion.
The global voting campaign saw hundreds of thousands participate, with the finals being a real nail biter—or should I say, claw-biter.Backpack narrowly defeated Bear 910, dubbed the "Dancing Queen," by a margin of just 5,000 votes in the final round.
This year’s competition was not without surprises. Last year’s champion, Bear 32 Chunk, faced an early elimination in the first round, proving that the crown is never guaranteed in the annual showdown celebrating bears’ preparation for hibernation.
Fun fact: Backpack’s win carries a family legacy. His mother, Bear 410 (Holly), was crowned champion in 2019, showcasing genetic prowess in putting on the critical fat reserves essential for survival.
As a cub, Bear 89 earned the nickname "Backpack" after a paw injury left him needing a little extra help. His mom would famously carry him piggyback across the rushing Brooks River, just like a tiny, furry knapsack. Fast forward to today, and Backpack has gone from hitching rides to hauling in the Fat Bear Week crown!
His substantial weight gain this year isn't just for recognition—it’s vital as temperatures drop. The fat he accumulated serves as crucial energy reserves and insulation through the harsh Alaskan winter, where staying prepared for torpor is key to survival.
Backpack's massive fat layer isn't just a gold-medal coat, either—it's paws-itively vital insulation against sub-zero winters.
WATCH BELOW: Learn about the 2025 Fat Bear Week winner
Thumbnail image courtesy: National Parks Service/explore.org