Halloween is not the only thing to be excited about this weekend. Polar Bear Week is coming too. From 1 to 7 November, everyone can learn more about polar bears and even watch them live.
Polar Bear Week is an annual awareness campaign organised by Polar Bears International, a nonprofit organisation dedicated to polar bear conservation. The event offers people around the world an opportunity to learn about polar bears, their Arctic habitat and the challenges they face. This year, it takes place from 1 to 7 November.
The campaign is held each autumn to coincide with the seasonal gathering of polar bears near Churchill, a small town in northern Manitoba, Canada. The animals congregate along the western coast of Hudson Bay, waiting for sea ice to form.
During the summer ice-free period, polar bears in this region spend several months on land, surviving largely on stored fat reserves. Once the bay begins to freeze, they can return to the ice to hunt seals, their primary prey.
According to Polar Bears International, Hudson Bay’s ice-free season is now three to four weeks longer than it was in the 1980s. The campaign aims to raise awareness of the importance of sea ice and encourage public involvement in conservation efforts.
A great time for polar bear enthusiasts
The 2026 programme features online discussions and educational activities that people can join from anywhere in the world.
One of the main attractions is the opportunity to observe polar bears in their natural environment. Through the online Polar Bear Cams, viewers can watch live footage from the Churchill area as the animals move across the tundra and gather along the coast.
The programme also includes Tundra Connections, a series of free online events featuring scientists, educators and other guests. This year’s sessions cover topics such as waste management and its role in preventing encounters between bears and people. Other activities include a wildlife drawing session and an opportunity to ask questions about polar bears.
Protecting polar bears and people
This year’s campaign focuses particularly on coexistence between polar bears and Arctic communities.
As sea ice declines, bears in some regions spend longer periods on land, potentially increasing encounters with people. Polar Bears International works with local communities and researchers to develop ways to reduce these risks.
Among the initiatives featured during Polar Bear Week 2026 are camera-based systems that detect bears approaching populated areas and provide early warnings, trials of drones as non-lethal deterrents, and improvements to waste management in Churchill.
The campaign also raises funds to support these projects and other polar bear conservation efforts across the Arctic.
PolarJournal Team