Joey Chestnut, the 16-time champion and undisputed face of competitive eating, is making his highly anticipated return to the Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest in 2025.
Chestnut confirmed the news Monday on social media, announcing that he will once again take the stage at Coney Island after sitting out last year’s event due to a sponsorship dispute. His 2024 absence came after Major League Eating barred him for endorsing Impossible Foods, a plant-based competitor to Nathan’s. Now, with differences reportedly resolved, the reigning king of hot dogs is back in the lineup.
The announcement marks a major shift in this year’s competition narrative. Chestnut had dominated the annual event for nearly two decades before his unexpected ban, winning the coveted Mustard Belt 16 times and setting multiple records along the way. While he missed the official contest last year, Chestnut still competed independently at Fort Bliss, Texas, where he consumed 57 hot dogs in five minutes, just one shy of the 58 hot dogs that earned Patrick Bertoletti his first Nathan’s title in 2024.
Chestnut’s return reignites his rivalry with Bertoletti and brings new energy to the iconic Independence Day tradition, watched annually by millions across the country. The contest, held at Nathan’s flagship location on Coney Island, has become synonymous with July 4th celebrations, blending spectacle, patriotism, and extreme competition.
Chestnut emphasized his enduring connection to the event, calling it a celebration of American culture and a central part of his life. While he continues to partner with companies across the food spectrum, he reaffirmed that Nathan’s remains his only hot dog brand.
source: Good Morning America