Competitive Eating Stars to Gather on Coney Island

This year’s Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest, scheduled to take place on July 4th at Coney Island in New York, promises to be an exciting event as competitive eating stars from around the world converge to compete for the coveted Mustard Belt. The contest, which is a tradition that dates back to 1916, has become an integral part of American Independence Day celebrations, and this year’s event carries added significance as the country marks its 250th birthday.

The Main Event: Joey Chestnut’s Title Defense

Hot dog eating icon Joey Chestnut, widely regarded as the world’s top-ranked competitive eater, will be looking to defend his title at the original Nathan’s Famous restaurant at the corner of Surf and Stillwell Avenues. Known for his incredible speed and capacity, Chestnut has won the contest a record 17 times, including last year’s event where he consumed 70.5 hot dogs in 10 minutes. He has also set multiple world records, including his personal best of 76 hot dogs in 2021.

Chestnut’s impressive record speaks for itself, with over 338,000 followers on Instagram and 55 world records to his name. He has also been in the midst of a summer competition tour, which includes a hot wing contest in Seabrook, New Hampshire, on July 11. Last month, he won the Smash O’Lucy Burger Challenge in St. Paul, Minnesota, eating 16 burgers in 12 minutes, 14 seconds.

Other Notable Competitors

Some of the other notable competitors at this year’s contest include Australia’s James Webb, the U.K.’s Max Stanford, the Czech Republic’s Radim Dvoracek, and South Korea’s Yuho Choi. Additionally, American qualifier George Chiger, who ate 25.5 hot dogs at Hersheypark on June 19, will also be competing for the title.

The Women’s Side of the Competition

The women’s side of the competition will once again be headlined by Miki Sudo, who seeks her 11th title. Sudo, a multiple-time champion, has consistently pushed the boundaries of competitive eating, setting multiple world records, including the women’s world record of 51 hot dogs in 2024. She will be looking to extend her winning streak and cement her position as one of the greatest female competitive eaters of all time.

Where to Watch the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest

The contest will be broadcast live on ABC/ESPN2 (Men’s contest) and ESPN+ (Women’s contest). Viewers can also stream the event on fubo, with a free trial available.

Recent Past Winners

A full list of recent past winners can be found below:

• 2025: Joey Chestnut
• 2024: Joey Chestnut
• 2023: Joey Chestnut
• 2022: Joey Chestnut
• 2021: Joey Chestnut