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Backpack, bear 89, wins Fat Bear Week 2026 over bear 910 in close final

Backpack, a male brown bear at Katmai National Park in Alaska, won the 2026 Fat Bear Week online vote by about 5,000 votes over bear 910. Outlets differ slightly on his exact vote total and on which year of the contest this was.

7 outlets · 4L · 1C · 2R First reported Account updated

Updated (version 4). New coverage since the last version from NBC News, The Guardian.

Image: CBS News
Image: BBC News
Image: The Straits Times
Image: Al Jazeera
Image: Irish Independent
Image: NBC News
Image: The Guardian

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The story, neutrally told

Backpack, bear 89, was named the winner of Fat Bear Week 2026, the online contest based on Katmai National Park and Preserve in Alaska. He beat bear 910 in the final by about 5,000 votes; the Straits Times and BBC give 103,344 to 98,253, while CBS, citing Explore.org, gives his total as 103,334. Sixteen bears took part in a single-elimination bracket, and Backpack narrowly advanced from the semifinal, by about 4,100 votes according to the Straits Times.

Backpack's mother, Holly, won in 2019, and 910's mother, 409 Beadnose, was also a past champion. His name comes from his habit as a cub of climbing onto Holly's back while she crossed the river. His profile describes a gentle bear who uses quiet strength rather than aggression; accounts of his injury differ, with the Straits Times giving 2007 and CBS saying he was about 2 years old and became independent in 2008.

Park officials said first-round voting "broke the internet", and voting was extended by a day, according to CBS. Last year's contest drew more than 1.7 million votes from over 100 countries, and outlets disagree on whether this was the 12th or 13th year.

Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on.

Left4 outlets

Framing
Warm, human-interest tellings: CBS gives a detailed results and history report, Al Jazeera a 'gentle giant' profile with ecology background, and NBC's TODAY a short segment on the story behind his name.
Emphasis
Bracket detail, past champions, Backpack's temperament and name origin, the site crash from heavy voting.
Leaves out or plays down
NBC gives no margin beyond 'more than 5,000 votes'; Al Jazeera gives no exact vote totals.
Charged language
“Gentle giant”“The Cute Story Behind His Name”“broke the internet”
For example
“Gentle giant Backpack wins Alaska’s Fat Bear Week” — Al Jazeera
“Backpack has been crowned the 2026 Fat Bear Week champion” — CBS News
“Backpack Wins Fat Bear Week: The Cute Story Behind His Name” — NBC News

Centre1 outlet

Framing
BBC gives a light, playful account quoting fans on both sides and organisers' jokes, with facts on bear weights and hibernation.
Emphasis
Fan banter, 910's supporters, weight and hibernation facts.
Leaves out or plays down
Little on the bracket path or semifinal margins.
Charged language
“chonk and the badonk”“strategic loafing”
For example
“But Backpack was not without his detractors.” — BBC News

Right2 outlets

Framing
The Straits Times runs a New York Times piece framing the final as a 'battle of the sexes' with insider quotes; the Irish Independent carries AP copy on the win and Chunk's defeat.
Emphasis
Backpack's bio, producer Naomi Boak's comments, the vote margin, Chunk's succession.
Leaves out or plays down
The AP copy gives no exact vote totals; neither mentions the site overload.
Charged language
“nepo babies”“battle of the sexes”“a gentleman bear”
For example
“The match came down to two single bears in a battle of the sexes.” — The Straits Times
“After a week of fierce competition, Backpack emerged victorious as Fat Bear Week champion” — Irish Independent