Backpack Wins Fat Bear Week 2026 Title With Over 5,000 Votes

Backpack won Fat Bear Week 2026, the annual online bracket contest that crowns the plumpest bear ahead of winter hibernation, drawing more than 5,000 votes over seven days of competition, according to a video report from Today.com published Sept. 30, 2026.

The segment, part of Today's Morning Boost feature and presented by anchor Jenna Bush Hager, recapped the results and the story behind the winning bear's nickname.

How did Backpack win Fat Bear Week?

Backpack advanced through a seven-day bracket-style vote before securing the title with more than 5,000 votes, Today.com reported. The network did not detail the margin over other finalists or list the runners-up in the segment.

Why is the bear named Backpack?

The nickname dates to his time as a cub, when park officials repeatedly spotted him clinging to his mother's back, according to Today.com. That habit became the basis for the name park staff and the public now use to track him across seasons.

"He got his nickname because park officials used to spot him as a cub, frequently clinging to his mother's back."

What is Fat Bear Week?

Fat Bear Week is a public voting contest that recognizes bears observed putting on significant weight in preparation for hibernation. Today's report frames it as a seven-day event that concludes with a single champion, but the source video does not specify the sponsoring park, the voting platform, or the total number of contestants in the 2026 bracket.

Fat Bear Week 2026, By the Numbers

• 7 — days the voting competition ran, per Today.com
• 5,000+ — votes Backpack received to win the title, per Today.com

What happens next for Backpack and Fat Bear Week?

Today.com's report did not include details on prizes, official recognition beyond the vote count, or plans for next year's contest. Viewers interested in following up have two paths: watch the original clip or wait for park officials to post additional updates through their usual channels, neither of which appeared in the sourced video.

What to watch

• Whether park officials release fuller vote totals or bracket results beyond the winning margin reported by Today.com
• Any follow-up coverage confirming which park and agency ran the 2026 contest
• Whether Backpack's profile or tracking data changes ahead of hibernation season

Today.com's video is the only sourced account of the contest results as of publication. The report did not name the hosting park, cite an official leaderboard, or quote park rangers directly, so those details remain outside what can be confirmed from the available source.

The original video, including Bush Hager's on-air recap, is available at Today.com.

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