Fat Bear Week 2026 has begun with 16 brown bears competing for the championship. Chunk, the defending champion, is among the contenders. The event has drawn attention, with the competition being narrowed down to the final last two days. Viewers can enjoy watching the bears in Katmai and vote for their favorite chunky bear. The event has been featured in various media outlets, including KOSU, Your Alaska Link, The Washington Post, KTOO, and theanimalrescuesite.com.