Bear cameras at Alaska's Katmai National Park have drawn record viewership this summer, setting the stage for what organizers call the biggest Fat Bear Week yet.

The Brooks Falls livestream recorded 7.3 million views between June 22 and August 4, a 70 percent increase from the same period last year. The surge comes as brown bears gather to feast on sockeye salmon ahead of hibernation.

Fat Bear Week brackets were released Friday, expanding to 16 competitors from the usual 12. Park officials noted an unprecedented number of cubs at Brooks River this season, with 37 counted. Superintendent Mark Sturm highlighted the vitality of the ecosystem and a new generation of bears.

Last year's contest drew more than 1.7 million votes from over 100 countries. Voting for 2026 begins Tuesday, September 22, and runs through September 29, with no voting on the weekend. A champion will be crowned on the final day after fans vote for the bear they believe to be the fattest.

Reigning champion 32 Chunk returns despite a broken jaw from last year. Other notables include 151 Walker and newcomer 89 Backpack. Fans watch live feeds and vote based on before-and-after photos showing the bears' weight gain.

The event, now in its 12th year, celebrates the bears' success in Katmai National Park and Preserve. It draws global attention to the region's healthy salmon runs and brown bear population.