Hot Dog Eating Contest live: California time, TV channel, streaming

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?

Men’s competition start time: 9:30 a.m. PT (men’s competition)

Joey Chestnut and the men take the stage around 9:30 p.m. PT.

Watch Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest with Fubo

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 9 a.m.; ABC simulcast at 9:30 p.m. EPT

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 9:30 p.m. PT.

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)

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.

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

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.

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.

All odds via DraftKings on Thursday, July 2

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

The total prize purse for the 2025 Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest is $40,000, divided between the men’s and women’s divisions. First place winners in each division will receive $10,000, second place winners will get $5,000, and third place winners will earn $2,500.

2025: Joey Chestnut, 70.5 (men’s) | Miki Sudo, 33 (women’s)
2024: Patrick BertolettI, 58 (men’s) | Miki Sudo, 51 (women’s)
2023: Joey Chestnut, 62 (men’s) | Miki Sudo, 39 1/2 (women’s)
2022: Joey Chestnut, 63 (men’s) | Miki Sudo, 42 (women’s)
2021: Joey Chestnut, 76 (men’s) | Michelle Lesco, 30 3/4 (women’s)
2020: Joey Chestnut, 75 (men’s) | Miki Sudo, 48 1/2 (women’s)
2019: Joey Chestnut, 71 (men’s) | Miki Sudo, 31 (women’s)
2018: Joey Chestnut, 74 (men’s) | Miki Sudo, 37 (women’s)
2017: Joey Chestnut, 72 (men’s) | Miki Sudo, 41 (women’s)
2016: Joey Chestnut, 70 (men’s) | Miki Sudo, 38 (women’s)
2015: Matt Stonie, 62 (men’s) | Miki Sudo, 38 (women’s)
2014: Joey Chestnut, 61 (men’s) | Miki Sudo, 34 (women’s)
2013: Joey Chestnut, 69 (men’s) | Sonya Thomas, 36 3/4 (women’s)
2012: Joey Chestnut, 68 (men’s) | Sonya Thomas, 45 (women’s)
*2011: Joey Chestnut, 62 (men’s) | Sonya Thomas, 40 (women’s)
2010: Joey Chestnut, 54
2009: Joey Chestnut, 68
2008: Joey Chestnut, 59 (defeated Takeru Kobayashi in an untimed eat-off, eating five hot dogs in 50 seconds)
2007: Joey Chestnut, 66
2006: Takeru Kobayashi, 53 3/4
2005: Takeru Kobayashi, 49
2004: Takeru Kobayashi, 53 1/2
2003: Takeru Kobayashi, 44 1/2
2002: Takeru Kobayashi, 50 1/2
2001: Takeru Kobayashi, 50
2000: Kazutoyo Arai, 25 1/8
1999: Steve Keiner, 21 1/2
1998: Hirofumi Nakajima, 19
1997: Hirofumi Nakajima, 24 1/2
1996: Ed Krachie, 22
1995: Ed Krachie, 19 1/2
1994: Mike DeVito, 20

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)

In 2023, Joey Chestnut told USA TODAY Sports how he became an multimillionaire as a competitive eater. Since then, he added lucrative endorsements like the one with Impossible Foods and renegotiated his Nathan’s contract with favorable terms. Nathan’s is Chestnut’s biggest payday of the year, but he said his managers keep him busy.

“I’m very lucky they are keeping me active,” he told USA TODAY Sports. “And doing a healthy mix of eating and fan engagement.”