Joey Chestnut to return to Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest

Joey Chestnut will return to Coney Island for the 2025 Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest this Fourth of July. The legendary competitive eater announced Monday in a series of posts on X that he will return to the annual event after he was banned from it last year due to his affiliation with Impossible Foods.

Chestnut, often referred to as the Michael Jordan of hot dog eating, was banned from the 2024 event due to a sponsorship conflict involving a plant-based meat brand.

Chestnut chowed down on 62 hot dogs and buns in 2023, winning his 16th title. In 2021, he set the world record, downing a whopping 76 hot dogs and buns at the event. Chestnut said he been prepping for the big event and has a couple practice sessions left before the holiday contest.