CONTEST INFORMATION & ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:
The 14th annual North American Bear Contest will be held in Lexington, KY from February 12th - 15th, 2026 at Marriott Griffin Gate Resort & Spa. This year's theme is "BEAR-O-VISION". The contest is open to anyone over 21 years of age who has won any type of bear/cub/bar/leather/uniform title within the past (5) years from any state, local, or national event. Contests who were named First Runner-Up in their local/state/bar contests are also eligible to participate if the winner from that year’s contest does not wish to participate in the event. Eligible participants must reside in the United States, Canada, or Mexico.

Note: The North American Mama Bear and Pet titles will not have the previous title eligibility requirement this year.

Contestants may only compete a total of (3) times in the North American Bear Contest.

All contestants will be required to complete the following tasks in order to be eligible to compete in the contest:

TASK ONE:
Complete this online contest application.

TASK TWO:
Have the following outfits ready for the nights of the contest.

Contest categories consist of the following:

• PERSONALITY WEAR- this outfit should represent who you are as a person and define the title to which you are competing for. This will be the outfit you will first be introduced on stage with. Let us see your
  authentic self.
• FANTASY WEAR (all contestants... be creative!). Create a look to capture your fantasy wear. Prepare a scene to act-out on stage to portray your ultimate fantasy. Contestants will have no more than 4 minutes to complete the scene. Upload an appropriate song that corresponds to your fantasy wear look. Music should be "trimmed" (or can be turned off) to play no more than 4 minutes. If music is not submitted with application, it must be submitted via email to nabweekend@gmail.com no later than January 15, 2025.
• THEME WEAR (all contestants...tv shows/game shows/sitcoms/cartoons/etc Costumes). This category is only a look -- NOT a scene. Do not prepare a scene for the Theme Wear category. The music selection for this on-stage portion will be selected by the event DJ. 
• RAFFLE TICKET SALES (all contestants are encouraged to wear something sexy, but comfortable on Thursday & Friday evenings from 10:30pm-Midnight and again from 6pm-7pm on Saturday to sell Raffle tickets. Pets are encouraged to wear their hoods/masks/tails, etc)
• INTERVIEW WEAR (all contestants are encouraged to wear appropriate attire to impress the judges at the interviews. It can be leather, dress-up, dress-down, whatever you think will be impressive. We ask that pets do NOT wear their hoods during the interviews) 
• TITLE WEAR (for Bears, Cubs, and Mama Bears). You will wear this look on Saturday night to deliver your speech and have on-stage photos taken. This will also be the outfit you wear for announcement of titleholders. For titles competing without a title wear requirement, you can dress in typical bar wear attire. --OR--
  PET WEAR (for Pets-Only...hoods, tails, masks, pads, etc). You will wear this look on Saturday night to deliver your speech and have on-stage photos taken. Any hoods or costuming that block your mouth should be removed during your 3-minute speech.

NOTE: You may NOT expose your genitalia during the competition. Female-identified contestants must cover nipples (pasties are allowed) while outside of the ballroom; during the contest - INSIDE the ballroom - you may uncover your nipples. Nipples must be re-covered before going back out into the foyer hallway. Butt cheeks ARE allowed. Contestants who show genitalia will be disqualified, and removed from the contest immediately! You MAY wear a thong or jock strap during any category, if you wish (but it is NOT required). No confetti, confetti cannons, glitter, water, liquids, body fluids, live animals or pyrotechnics are allowed on the stage during the contest.

TASK 3:
Participants MUST check-in by 4:00pm on Thursday, February 12th, 2026 to be eligible to participate in the contest. There will be a brief mandatory Orientation Meeting on Thursday afternoon to discuss more information for all contestants. 

TASK 4:
NOTE: In lieu of paying an entry fee or buying an event pass, we ask that all contestants submit a raffle basket of goodies for our MegaRaffle. Baskets should be a minimum of $100 in value. There is no maximum value restriction. Seek out sponsors to help fill your baskets.

BASKETS SHOULD BE TAKEN TO THE FRONT DESK/RAFFLE AREA BEFORE YOUR CONTESTANT ORIENTATION. Please include an itemized list of items included in the basket, along with your contestant number on a very visible sticker affixed to the basket. 

YOUR BASKET SHOULD ALL FIT INSIDE... A BASKET. NOT SCATTERED ALL OVER A TABLE.

TASK 5:
Contestants will be required to sell Cash Raffle Tickets to raise money for our event's chosen charities throughout the entire event. Highest ticket sales will be used to determine the winner in the event of a tie. The winners of the contest will receive the amount raised from their cash raffles as a reimburseable travel fund during their title year.

TASK 6:
Contestants will also be required to deliver a 3-minute speech during the contest finale.  The speech should tell what cause or platform you will support/promote during your title year if you should win.  What charity do you love? What cause means the most to you?  Tell us...in 3 minutes or less! Be sure to practice, practice, practice! Speeches that go over 3 minutes will not receive the full amount of points. Note: Pets should not wear hoods/masks while giving their speech.

TASK 7:
Contestants must adhere to all rules & regulations associated with the North American Bear Weekend contest.

TASK 8:
We ask all winners of the 2026 North American Bear Contest to represent the North American Bear Contest and the Bear Community in a positive manner for (1) full year in events around the US and/or abroad, including (but not limited to) state & local Pride events, future North American Bear Weekend contests, and bear/non-bear gay & lesbian activities in the contestant's home areas. The winners would also be asked to return to the 2027 North American Bear Contest to assist in next year's contest. In addition to the $500 cash prize, the winners will receive a free run pass to next year's event, and other prizes donated by Wolfstryker Leather, Torso Menswear, and more TBA.

CONTESTANT BEHAVIOR

ALL PARTICIPANTS of the North American Bear Contest (those receiving titles, and those NOT receiving titles) are expected to possess and display emotional intelligence to support fellow contestants, show respect to their fellow participants, participate gracefully regardless of being granted a title or not, assist title holders with achieving NAB goals, hosting events, and representing their local contests & organizations in a positive manner.

NAB contestants NOT conducting themselves in a positive manner (before, during, and after the contest) through verbal abuse, negative actions, spreading rumors, making false statements, creating/sharing disparaging social media posts, creating negative drama, etc will be reported to their originating contest producer, and that contestant will be banned from competing in any future NAB contests. If any contestants participate in any of the negative aforementioned, the contestant could be banned from all future NAB Weekend events, and potentially open themselves to legal actions including, but not limited to, defamation, slander, or libel.

Judges will be introduced prior to the beginning of the event (after the application deadline). Be sure to be courteous and make a great impression to everyone you encounter, especially the judges.

CONTESTANT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

By checking the box below, you agree to the following:

• I have answered all information truthfully & accurately.
• I assume total responsibility for my personal actions.
• I confirm that I am at least 21 years of age, or older.
• I, the contestant, acknowledge that I am not allowed to be intoxicated and/or under the influence of illicit or recreational drugs during the competition - regardless if said substances are legal in the state of Kentucky or in the state in which you live. Simply put - contestants must remain sober during all of NAB Weekend. If it is proven that I am under the influence of alcohol or drugs, I will be disqualified and removed from the contest for my own safety, and the safety of the organization and event venue.
• I declare that I am of sound mind and possess the emotional intelligence to complete in the contest. Furthermore, I possess the personal skills, maturity, and emotional intelligence to serve NAB Weekend as a potential title holder.
• I declare that I am fully capable to navigate the stress and attention that a contest and public title can come with. I possess the skills to and pledge to manage my personal life, work life, relationship life, and title holder life and schedules with realistic expectations and strive to create and foster a healthy life balance.
• I will not hold North American Bear Weekend, Kentucky Bourbon Bears (KBB), its officers, owners, members, show coordinators, committee chairpersons, judges, venue, nor any other entity associated with either entity, liable for any type of injury, physical or otherwise, sustained as a result of any involvement with the organization and this contest or weekend event.
• I, the contestant, also release North American Bear Weekend, Kentucky Bourbon Bears, its officers, event committee chairpersons, and judges from any and all liability arising from the publications with my likeness. Photos will be limited and personal preferences regarding photos and usage will be abided by when club is notified in advance.
• I, the contestant, do hereby agree to conduct myself (win or lose), with grace and dignity. I accept that I may NOT win a title, but will accept the judges' decision as final.
• I agree to be a positive role model before, during, and after the contest, and refuse to participate in verbal abuse of the KBB, NAB, judges, fellow contestants, the event, coordinators, chairpersons, or venue.
• I agree to not make disparaging remarks, share negative social media posts/comments, and refuse to spread rumors or share innuendos.
• I, the contestant, accept that the NAB Contest, NAB, nor KBB organizations and organizers have no control over music, technical difficulties associated with music/lighting, or props that may affect the contestants' time on stage. While the KBB & NAB put forth great effort, I accept the fact that KBB and NAB cannot anticipate defects/errors on the night of the contest, and I accept that "Murphy's Law" can occur at anytime. I will not hold KBB, NAB, contest chairperson(s), judges, nor other contestants responsible if such problems occur.  

THE FOLLOWING INFO WILL BE READ DURING "PERSONALITY WEAR" CATEGORY. CONTESTANTS WILL ALSO BE ASKED TO RESPOND TO AN ON-STAGE TRUTH-OR-DARE QUESTION DURING THIS CATEGORY.

EACH CONTESTANT WILL WEAR THEIR THEME WEAR TO THE STAGE, AND PARTICIPATE IN AN INTERACTIVE QUESTION/ACTIVITY.

YOUR RESPONSE TO THE QUESTION BELOW WILL BE READ DURING FANTASY WEAR

Thank you for your interest in the 2026 North American Bear Weekend, and the North American Bear Contest! We are very excited about the event, and look forward to meeting each & every one of you! Good luck, in advance. See you in February!

Kentucky Bourbon Bears
North American Bear Weekend Chairman & Committee Members