# Fat Bear Week 2026: Chunk, Walker and the Crown

> Alaska's fattest bears compete for Fat Bear Week 2026 crown with Chunk, Walker and Gully in the running.
- Title: Fat Bear Week 2026: Chunk, Walker and the Crown · Newsweek
- Summary: Alaska's fattest bears compete for Fat Bear Week 2026 crown with Chunk, Walker and Gully in the running. Fans vote for the heaviest brown bear in Katmai…
- Keywords: fat bear week, chunk, walker, gully, katmai national park, alaska, brown bears, salmon run, fat bear contest, Fat, Bear, Week
- Source: Newsweek — https://newsweek.com/fat-bear-week-2026-meet-the-bears-competing-for-the-katmai-crown-12464134
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: fat bear week, chunk, walker, gully, katmai national park, alaska, brown bears, salmon run, fat bear contest
## Fat Bear Week 2026 Begins
Fat Bear Week 2026 features 32 Chunk, 164 Bucky Dent, 151 Walker and 903 Gully competing for the Katmai National Park crown.
## Chunk's Resilience
Chunk overcame a broken jaw and missing teeth to win last year's title before returning in 2025.
## Bucky Dent's Rise
164 Bucky Dent, an 'ace fisher-bear', has become a fan favorite for his salmon fishing skills.
## Walker's Experience
151 Walker has been a Brooks River veteran securing prime fishing spots for years.
## Gully's Legacy
903 Gully, son of 128 Grazer, competes with Walker for fish in the Brooks River.
## Conservation Focus
Healthy salmon runs are critical for bears to build fat reserves before winter hibernation.
## Voting Starts
Voting begins Tuesday, September 22 at noon ET and ends September 29 for Fat Bear Week 2026.
## Key takeaway

Fans vote for the heaviest brown bear in Katmai National Park's Fat Bear Week 2026 competition.