Joey Chestnut wins Nathan’s Hot-Dog Eating Contest for 18th time

04 Jul 2026, 10:48 by Rick Hurd · The Seattle Times

On America’s 250th birthday, there was San Jose’s Joey Chestnut on a stage at Coney Island in New York City, devouring hot dogs faster than anyone. It’s become as much of an American tradition on its day of celebration as baseball, barbecues and fireworks.

And on this milestone observation, Chestnut showed himself to be as good as he’s ever been.

Chestnut downed 66 hot dogs with buns Saturday to capture the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest for the 18th time in his Major League Eating career. It was his second straight title and his 10th in the past 11 years. He was banned from the contest in 2024 because of an endorsement deal he signed with a rival company of MLE.

The 42-year-old did not break his 2021 mark of 76 hot dogs eaten.

“I knew I was gonna be able to get the win,” he told ESPN, adding that when he realized he wasn’t going to break the record, he just had to “stay calm, don’t make any big mistakes. It’s gonna be a fun Fourth of July.”

The contest came during a heat wave that is ripping through most of the United States, and the temperature on Coney Island was 92 degrees with a 68% humidity. That put the heat index — what the temperature feels like — at approximately 108.

“Oh yeah, it did,” Chestnut told ESPN, when asked if the heat slowed him down. “I’m not gonna go in looking for excuses. It slowed me down. There’s room for improvement.”

In the women’s contest, Miki Sudo, 40, won for the 12th time, downing 38.75 hot dogs.