Fat Bear Week 2026 has started with sixteen brown bears competing for the championship. Chunk, the defending champion, is among the contenders. The event has garnered interest, with the competition being narrowed down to the final two days. Viewers can enjoy watching the bears in Katmai and cast their votes for the bear they like best. The event has been featured in various media outlets, including KOSU, Your Alaska Link, The Washington Post, KTOO, and theanimalrescuesite.com.