'Backpack' declared Alaska's Fat Bear Week winner

131 reports from 128 outlets in 3 languages · first reported 2026-09-30 01:45 UTC · updated 2026-10-01 16:37 UTC · JSON

Bear 89, known as Backpack, has been declared the winner of Fat Bear Week at Katmai National Park^[1–9]. Backpack secured the title by receiving more than 103,000 votes in the final round^[6]. This victory marks Backpack's win over Bear 910^[6]. Last year's champion, Chunk, was dethroned by this win^[6].

This brief was written by a language model from the reports below; bracketed numbers link to them. Check the reports for anything that matters.

Reports

1. Gentle giant Backpack declared winner of Alaska's Fat Bear WeekPublished by vindy.com, nbcboston.com, wwmt.com, ironmountaindailynews.com, abc7.com, PBS NewsHour, abc11.com, abc7news.com, abc7chicago.com, abc30.com, abc13.com, netscape.com and 23 more · 2026-10-01 07:00 UTC
2. Backpack wins Fat Bear Week at Katmai National ParkPublished by wpbf.com, wlky.com, wdsu.com, wesh.com, wxii12.com, mynbc5.com, wmtw.com, ketv.com, wjcl.com, wgal.com, kcra.com, wtae.com and 15 more · 2026-09-30 07:45 UTC
3. Gentle giant declared winner of Alaska's Fat Bear WeekPublished by 7news.com.au, perthnow.com.au, thewest.com.au, bunburymail.com.au, dailyadvertiser.com.au, bluemountainsgazette.com.au, illawarramercury.com.au, bordermail.com.au, newcastleherald.com.au, dailyliberal.com.au, maitlandmercury.com.au, redlandcitybulletin.com.au and 4 more · 2026-09-30 11:20 UTC
4. Gentle giant Backpack wins Alaska's Fat Bear WeekPublished by woodtv.com, kxan.com, myfox8.com, wfla.com, mychamplainvalley.com, fox21news.com · 2026-09-30 11:08 UTC
5. Fat Bear Week concludes with Backpack taking the top prizePublished by wgauradio.com, actionnewsjax.com, wpxi.com, wokv.com · 2026-09-30 12:19 UTC
6. Backpack cinches victory in Alaska's Fat Bear Week finalPublished by wdbo.com, wgauradio.com, wokv.com, kiro7.com · 2026-09-30 01:52 UTC
7. 'Backpack' declared Alaska's Fat Bear Week winnerPublished by wn.com, BBC News, bbc.com · 2026-09-30 06:55 UTC
8. Gentle giant Backpack captures Fat Bear Week crown in Alaska bear competitionPublished by wxyz.com, koaa.com · 2026-09-30 14:02 UTC
9. Nepo baby ‘Backpack’ wins Fat Bear Week contesttaipeitimes.com · en · 2026-10-01 16:37 UTC
10. Backpack Reigns as Alaska's Fattest Bearktna.org · en · 2026-10-01 03:38 UTC
11. Backpack the runaway winner during Fat Bear Week in Alaskatorontosun.com · en · 2026-10-01 01:11 UTC
12. And the Fat Bear Week Winner Is...Backpack!hotair.com · en · 2026-10-01 00:00 UTC
13. UPDATE: 'Backpack' named winner of Fat Bear Week 2026 | Local Newslocal3news.com · en · 2026-09-30 21:34 UTC
14. A gentle giant known as 'Backpack' is Fat Bear Week's new winneradn.com · en · 2026-09-30 21:00 UTC
15. The Fat Bear Week winner is … Backpack!EarthSky · en · 2026-09-30 20:50 UTC
16. Watch: Meet 'Backpack', the chunky bear who won Fat Bear Weekbbc.co.uk · en · 2026-09-30 20:30 UTC
17. The Champion of chonk: Backpack takes the 2026 Fat Bear Week crown at Katmai National Parkfoxwilmington.com · en · 2026-09-30 19:05 UTC
18. Backpack named Alaska’s fattest bear in Fat Bear Week 2026swedenherald.com · en · 2026-09-30 18:18 UTC
19. Fat Bear Week Winner 2026 Is Named! Meet Gentle Giant 'Backpack'today.com · en · 2026-09-30 14:41 UTC
20. Heavy Is the Bear That Wears the Crown: Backpack Wins Fat Bear Weekredstate.com · en · 2026-09-30 14:20 UTC
21. Fat Bear Week 2026 champion crowned as Backpack 89: Katmai National Park competition resultslbc.co.uk · en · 2026-09-30 14:04 UTC
22. Gentle giant, Backpack captures Fat Bear Week crown in Alaska bear competition10news.com · en · 2026-09-30 14:02 UTC
23. Backpack edges past Dancing Queen to win the Fat Bear Week titletheguardian.com · en · 2026-09-30 14:00 UTC
24. Backpack edges past Dancing Queen to win Alaska's Fat Bear Week titleaol.com · en · 2026-09-30 13:40 UTC
25. Gentle giant Backpack wins Alaska's Fat Bear Week – NBC 7 San Diegonbcsandiego.com · en · 2026-09-30 12:22 UTC
26. Gentle giant Backpack wins Alaska's Fat Bear Week – NBC Connecticutnbcconnecticut.com · en · 2026-09-30 12:22 UTC
27. Gentle giant Backpack wins Alaska's Fat Bear Week – NBC New Yorknbcnewyork.com · en · 2026-09-30 12:22 UTC
28. Gentle giant Backpack wins Alaska's Fat Bear Week – NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worthnbcdfw.com · en · 2026-09-30 12:22 UTC
29. Gentle giant Backpack wins Alaska's Fat Bear Week – NBC4 Washingtonnbcwashington.com · en · 2026-09-30 12:22 UTC
30. Gentle giant Backpack wins Alaska's Fat Bear Week – NBC Los Angelesnbclosangeles.com · en · 2026-09-30 12:22 UTC
31. Gentle giant Backpack wins Alaska's Fat Bear Week – NBC Bay Areanbcbayarea.com · en · 2026-09-30 12:22 UTC
32. Gentle giant Backpack wins Alaska's Fat Bear Week – NBC Chicagonbcchicago.com · en · 2026-09-30 12:22 UTC
33. »Fat Bear Week« in Alaska: Braunbär Backpack gewinnt Wettbewerb im Katmai-Nationalparkspiegel.de · de · 2026-09-30 11:00 UTC
34. Gentle giant 'Backpack' declared winner of Alaska's Fat Bear Weeknbcnews.com · en · 2026-09-30 10:34 UTC
35. Gentle giant Backpack wins Alaska's Fat Bear Week | Newsaljazeera.com · en · 2026-09-30 09:45 UTC
36. Geen vechter, wel de dikste: ‘gentle giant’ Backpack wint Fat Bear Week in AlaskaNot a fighter, but the fattest: 'gentle giant' Backpack wins Fat Bear Week in Alaskahln.be · nl · 2026-09-30 08:51 UTC
37. World : Backpack Packs On The Pounds To Win Alaskaâs Fat Bear TitleBERNAMA · en · 2026-09-30 08:18 UTC
38. Gentle giant Backpack wins Alaska's Fat Bear Week - Dominican Republic Post – Caribbean News, Business, Travel & Culturedominicanrepublicpost.com · en · 2026-09-30 07:27 UTC
39. Alaska brown bear Backpack wins Fat Bear Week contestnypost.com · en · 2026-09-30 07:14 UTC
40. A 'Gentle Giant' Is This Year's Fat Bear Week Winnernewser.com · en · 2026-09-30 05:40 UTC
41. Fat Bear Week 2026 winner crowned at Katmai National Parkkaaltv.com · en · 2026-09-30 04:02 UTC
42. Meet Backpack, Fat Bear Week's chunky champalaskapublic.org · en · 2026-09-30 01:45 UTC