Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest live: TV, time, odds as Joey Chestnut eyes record

The convergence of America’s 250th birthday and the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest on July 4 warrants a quick history lesson.

The birth of America preceded the birth of hot dogs on a bun.

Charles Feltman, a German immigrant, invented the first hot dog in 1867 on Coney Island in New York, site of Nathan’s annual contest. The first Nathan's hot dog stand opened in 1916 and the original flagship restaurant sits at the corner of Surf and Stillwell avenues.

The location is hallowed ground for competitive eaters like Joey Chestnut, who has almost single-handedly turned the contest into a spectacle televised by ESPN. He’s expected to help draw a TV audience of more than one million viewers as he attempts to break his own record.

That would be 76 hot dogs and buns consumed during the 10-minute contest in 2021.

The annual contest started in 1967 and the winner, Walter Paul, ate 17 hot dogs. In 60 minutes. The contest duration fluctuated before 2008, when it was set to 10 minutes.

Chestnut made his Nathan’s debut in 2006 and finished third with 32 hot dogs. Two years later, he defeated Takeru Kobayashi, the Japanese sensation and reigning champion, and his dominance commenced.

USA TODAY Sports will provide the latest updates, highlights, results and more throughout the contest. Follow along.

What time is the Hot Dog Eating Contest?

• Women's competition start time: 10:45 a.m. ET
• Men's competition start time: Noon ET (Coverage); 12:30 p.m. ET (men's competition)

Miki Sudo and the women get the Nathan's Famous festivities underway at 10:45 a.m. ET. Joey Chestnut and the men take the stage around 12:30 p.m. ET.

Where to watch Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest: Channel

• Women's competition: ESPN App (ESPN replay before men's event)
• Men's competition: ESPN2 at noon; ABC simulcast at 12:30 p.m. ET

The women's side of the competition will air on the ESPN App. ESPN2 will carry the men's competition with a simulcast on ABC starting at 12:30 p.m. ET.

Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest odds: Men's Favorites

All odds via DraftKings on Thursday, July 2

• Joey Chestnut (-1800)
• Patrick Bertoletti (+800)
• James Webb (+3000)
• Geoffrey Esper (+4000)
• Nick Wehry (+5000)

Is Joey Chestnut competing in the Hot Dog Eating Contest? 

Joey Chestnut is set to compete in the 2026 Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest. He was previously banned in 2024 due to a sponsorship with Impossible Foods. He returned in 2025 when he ate 70.5 hot dogs.

Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest field 2026 

Joey Chestnut will again headline the contest, joining a bevy of glizzy gobblers on the men’s and women’s side, including chew-perstar eater Miki Sudo, via ESPN.

Here’s the field:  

Men’s 

• Joey Chestnut
• Patrick Bertoletti
• James Webb
• Nick Wehry
• Max Stanford
• Radim Dvoracek

Women’s 

• Miki Sudo 
• Michelle Lesco
• Domenica Dee
• Tandra Childress
• Katie Prettman
• Larell Marei Mele

Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest records 

In 2021, Joey Chestnut set the world record for the most hot dogs and buns eaten in one sitting by consuming 76. He had previously broken the record twice in the three contests leading up to that year: in 2018, he devoured 74 hot dogs and buns, and in 2020, he set a new record with 75. This was a stark difference compared to the 2024 winner, Patrick Bertoletti, who took home the Mustard Belt after eating 58 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes.

On the women's side, Miki Sudo is the top dog (eater), munching 51 hot dogs and buns in 2024. 

How many times has Joey Chestnut won the Hot Dog Eating Contest? 

Chestnut holds the record for the most Mustard Belts, winning the contest 17 times. On the women's side, Miki Sudo has been an unstoppable eating force, securing 11 Ketchup Belts, including one last year.

Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest odds: Women's Favorites

All odds via DraftKings on Thursday, July 2

• Miki Sudo (-1200)
• Michelle Lesco (+600)
• Larell Marie Mele (+7500)
• Tandra Childress (+7500)
• Katie Prettyman (+9000)

Is Joey Chestnut competing in the Hot Dog Eating Contest? 

Joey Chestnut is set to compete in the 2026 Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest. He was previously banned in 2024 due to a sponsorship with Impossible Foods. He returned in 2025 when he ate 70.5 hot dogs.