Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest 2026 Men, Women's All-Time Results and Records

As the United States gears up for its 250th anniversary celebration, the competitive eating world is bracing for an epic showdown on Coney Island. That's right, the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest is back and scheduled for Saturday, July 4.

Joey Chestnut and Miki Sudo will be back to defend their titles in the men's and women's categories, respectively. However, each will face competitive fields as some of the world's top competitive eaters converge on Brooklyn for the annual spectacle.

Here's a look at everything you need to know, including scheduling, broadcast, and record information.

2026 Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest Information

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Date: Saturday, July 4

Location: Nathan's Famous Restaurant in Coney Island, Brooklyn

Women's Start Time: 10:45 a.m. ET

Men's Start Time: Noon ET

TV and Live Stream: ESPN2, ESPN app, ABC (simulcast coverage beginning at 12:30 p.m. ET

Past Winners and Records

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Patrick Bertoletti wins at the 2024 Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest on July 4, 2024

Men's Winners (since 2000)

2000: Kazutoyo Arai

2001 - 2006: Takeru Kobayashi

2007 - 2014: Joey Chestnut

2015: Matt Stonie

2016 - 2023: Joey Chestnut

2024: Patrick Bertoletti

2025: Joey Chestnut

Women's Winners (division introduced in 2011)

2011 - 2013: Sonya Thomas

2014 - 2020: Miki Sudo

2021: Michelle Lesco

2022-2025 Miki Sudo

Event Records

Men's: 76 Hot Dogs (Joey Chestnut, 2021)

Women's: 51 Hot Dogs (Miki Sudo, 2024)

Preview

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Miki Sudo won the women's division at the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest in 2025 by consuming 33 hot dogs and buns

While the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest isn't a typical sporting event, it is fairly straightforward. Competitors have 10 minutes to eat as many hot dogs with buns as they can.

Of course, competitors must keep down what they eat, or they will be disqualified. Partially eaten hot dogs will count as measured in eighths of a length. If competitors are tied when time expires, a five-dog eat-off will serve as a tiebreaker—with the winner being the one to clean the plate the fastest.

The field will consist of past champions, regional qualifiers, and wild-card qualifiers, though only contestants under contract with Major League Eating (MLE) are currently eligible.

The men's field is expected to feature top MLE stars, including 2024 Nathan's winner Patrick Bertoletti, James Webb, and Max Stanford. The women's field should feature the likes of Domenica Dee, Tandra Childress, and 2021 winner Michelle Lesco.

However, it'll be a fairly significant surprise if Chestnut and Sudo don't successfully defend their belts.

The two champions have been that dominant in recent years. Chestnut missed the event in 2024 after a sponsorship conflict with Impossible Foods left him banned by MLE. However, he has won every other contest since 2016 and is seeking his 18th Mustard Belt overall.

Sudo skipped the 2021 contest while pregnant but hasn't lost since 2014 and will be looking for her 12th Pink Mustard Belt on Saturday.