Every Independence Day, fans across the U.S. gather to witness one of the most unusual yet beloved American traditions: Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest. In 2025, the spotlight is once again on Joey Chestnut, the 16-time champion, as he makes his long-awaited return to the competition.
After missing the 2024 edition due to a sponsorship dispute, Chestnut is back in the lineup and chasing his own world record of 76 hot dogs eaten in 10 minutes. Whether you’re in Florida, California, or watching from anywhere else, here’s what time the contest starts and how to tune in live.
The competition is split into two main events — one for women and one for men. Here’s the schedule adjusted to your time zone:
| Contest | Eastern Time (Florida) | Pacific Time (California) |
|---|---|---|
| Women’s | 10:45 a.m. ET | 7:45 a.m. PT |
| Men’s (with Joey Chestnut) | 12:00 p.m. ET | 9:00 a.m. PT |
Both contests take place at Nathan’s Famous original restaurant on Coney Island, New York.
The contest will be broadcast exclusively on ESPN networks:
You can also stream both events through the ESPN app or on espn.com/watch with a cable login.
Yes. After resolving his previous conflict over plant-based sponsorships, Chestnut signed a new three-year deal with Nathan’s Famous and the International Federation of Competitive Eating. He’s officially back and says he’s aiming to hit 80 hot dogs, which would break his current world record.
Now, with Joey Chestnut back, the 2025 competition promises even more excitement.
| Joey Chestnut |
| Patrick Bertoletti |
| James Webb |
| Nick Wehry |
| Geoffrey Esper |
| Max Stanford |
| Derek Hendrickson |
| George Chigar |
| Ricardo Corbucci |
| Gideon Oji |
| Adrian Morgan |
| Radim Dvoracek |
| Darrien Thomas |
| Cameron Meade |
| Jerome Burns |
| Miki Sudo |
| Michelle Lesco |
| Domenica Dee |
| Tandra Childress |
| Katie Prettyman |
| Larell Marie Mele |
| Isabeau Prettyman |
| Jocelyn Young |
| Kelly Lewis |
| Camille O’Brien |
| Elizabeth Salgado |
| Cherish Brown |
| Madison Barone |
| Laura Beitler |
Contenido GEC