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Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest Scheduled for July 4 in Coney Island
Reigning champions Joey Chestnut and Miki Sudo will defend their titles at the annual event marking the United States’ 250th birthday. The contest dates to 1972 and follows the January sale of Nathan’s Famous to Smithfield Foods.
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The Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest is scheduled for Saturday in front of the original Nathan’s Famous restaurant in Coney Island, New York. The event marks the United States’ 250th birthday. Reigning men’s champion Joey Chestnut and women’s champion Miki Sudo are set to defend their 2025 titles.
Chestnut holds the men’s record of 76 hot dogs and buns consumed in 10 minutes and has won the Mustard Belt 17 times. Sudo holds the women’s record of 51 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes and is an 11-time winner. Competitors consume as many hot dogs and buns as possible in 10 minutes, usually dunking the wieners in water first.
The contest dates to 1972. Nathan’s Famous was sold in January 2026 to Smithfield Foods. Chestnut was accused of slapping a man in an Indiana bar and pleaded guilty in April 2026 to a misdemeanor battery charge.
He remains on probation but is allowed to travel outside Indiana. Major League Eating stated that Joey Chestnut’s April 2026 misdemeanor battery conviction and probation did not affect his eligibility for the 2026 contest.
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