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Chestnut Claims 18th Title After Deal Dispute; Sudo Tenth

7/5/2026

Summary

Chestnut Wins

Joey Chestnut won his eighteenth Nathan’s Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest by eating 66 hot dogs and buns in ten minutes on July 4, 2026, at Coney Island, Brooklyn.
His eligibility was challenged after signing a plant-based food deal, leading to legal negotiations.
The negotiations resolved the dispute, permitting Chestnut to compete and win.
Miki Sudo won the women’s division with 38.75 hot dogs, her tenth career victory.

Summary

Chestnut Eats

The July 4 hot-dog eating contest took place in a 90 °F (32 °C) heat wave that softened buns and slowed competitors.
Competitors from the Czech Republic, Australia, South Korea and England underscored the event’s international appeal.
Chestnut wore a Polymarket-branded necklace onstage, showing the growing link between competitive eating and sports-betting sponsorships.
All participants were weighed at a televised ceremony in Hudson Yards the day before the race, adding media buildup.

Summary

Chestnut Projection Cut

PrizePicks’ Max Discount lowered Joey Chestnut’s projection from 71.75 to 0.5 hot dogs, easing the “More” pick.
PrizePicks projected 52.74 hot dogs for Patrick Bertoletti, 48.75 for James Webb, and 38.25 for Miki Sudo.
Each gender’s contest carries a $20,000 purse, $10,000 for the champion and payouts down to $1,000.
Fans may bet real money on the HOTDOG board by choosing “More” or “Less” against the listed totals.

History

Historical Context

Kobayashi’s 2001 debut, eating 50 hot dogs, launched a record era that saw Joey Chestnut dominate from 2007. The 2011 split into men’s and women’s contests let Miki Sudo claim ten titles by 2026. In 2026, Polymarket and PrizePicks added betting at Hudson Yards and Smithfield bought Nathan’s, turning the July 4 show into a multi-million-dollar sport.

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Chestnut Wins

Joey Chestnut won his eighteenth Nathan’s Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest by eating 66 hot dogs and buns in ten minutes on July 4, 2026, at Coney Island, Brooklyn.
His eligibility was challenged after signing a plant-based food deal, leading to legal negotiations.
The negotiations resolved the dispute, permitting Chestnut to compete and win.
Miki Sudo won the women’s division with 38.75 hot dogs, her tenth career victory.

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