Frequently Asked.
Every question we get about the Mustard Belt, the records, the rules, and the people who hold them. Click any question to open.
What is the world record for the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest?
The men's world record is 76 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes, set by Joey Chestnut on July 4, 2021. The women's world record is 51 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes, set by Miki Sudo on July 4, 2024. Both records still stand.
Who has won the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest the most times?
Joey "Jaws" Chestnut has won the men's Mustard Belt 17 times (2007–2014, 2016–2023, 2025) — the most of any competitor in either category. Miki Sudo has won the women's Pink Belt 11 times (2014–2020, 2022–2025) — the most of any women's champion.
Who is the current men's champion?
Joey Chestnut is the reigning men's champion, having won the 2025 contest with 70.5 hot dogs and buns. It was his 17th Mustard Belt and his first since the 2024 ban dispute. Full file.
Who is the current women's champion?
Miki Sudo is the reigning women's champion, having won the 2025 contest with 33 hot dogs and buns. It was her 11th Pink Belt — the most all-time. Full file.
Who won the first Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest?
Jason Schechter won the first formally documented Nathan's contest in 1972 by eating 14 hot dogs. Melody Andorfer won the women's category with 12. Earlier contests at Nathan's may have existed, but 1972 is the year with reliable documented results.
How many minutes is the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest?
The contest has been 10 minutes long since 2013. From 1972 through 2012 it was 12 minutes long. The change was made to fit the broadcast slot more cleanly and to reduce the late-stage physical risk to competitors.
What does HDB mean?
HDB stands for "Hot Dogs and Buns." It's the standard unit of measurement in Major League Eating contests. A half-dog without a bun, or a half-bun without a dog, counts as half. A full unit only counts when both halves are consumed.
What is the Solomon Method?
The Solomon Method is the standard technique used by elite hot dog eaters. The competitor splits the frankfurter from the bun, eats the dog first in two quick bites, then dunks the bun in water to compress it before swallowing. Takeru Kobayashi pioneered the method in 2001. Nearly every top-10 finisher now uses some variation of it.
Can anyone enter the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest?
You can't enter directly. Competitors qualify through Major League Eating regional contests held throughout the spring. Winners and high finishers in those qualifiers earn a spot at the Coney Island main event. The MLE site posts the regional schedule each year.
Does the contest pay prize money?
Yes. The men's winner receives $10,000 and the Mustard Belt. The women's winner receives $10,000 and the Pink Belt. Additional prizes are awarded for second and third place in both categories.
When is the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest 2026?
The 2026 contest is on Saturday, July 4, 2026 at the original Nathan's Famous on the corner of Surf and Stillwell Avenues in Coney Island, Brooklyn. Women's contest 11:00 AM ET. Men's contest 12:00 PM (noon) ET. Full viewing guide.
What channel is the hot dog eating contest on?
The contest airs live on ESPN and ESPN2 and streams on ESPN+ and Disney+. There is no free over-the-air broadcast, but anyone with a cable subscription or a streaming service carrying ESPN can watch live.
Is the contest free to attend in person?
Yes — free, outdoor, no ticket required. The stage is set up in the morning at Surf & Stillwell. To see anything from the front of the crowd, arrive by 9:00 AM local time. The Surf Avenue Nathan's stand continues to serve hot dogs throughout the morning, though lines are very long.
What is the Mustard Belt?
The Mustard Belt is the championship trophy for the men's Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest. It's a large yellow leather strap with a central gold medallion engraved "World Champion · Coney Island · NY." The women's equivalent is the Pink Belt, awarded since the women's contest was separated out in 2011.
Why is Joey Chestnut nicknamed "Jaws"?
After the 1975 shark film. The name fits his eating style — large, fast, mechanical, somewhat unstoppable. It was bestowed early in his MLE career and stuck.
Why was Joey Chestnut banned in 2024?
Joey Chestnut was banned from the 2024 contest after signing a sponsorship deal with Impossible Foods, a plant-based meat company. Major League Eating considered this a conflict with the contest's sponsor, Nathan's Famous. Chestnut and MLE resolved the dispute by 2025, and Chestnut returned to win that year with 70.5 dogs.
How many calories are in 76 hot dogs?
A Nathan's all-beef hot dog with bun is roughly 290 calories. Seventy-six is approximately 22,040 calories — the rough equivalent of nine to ten days of normal adult intake, consumed in 10 minutes.
What is a glizzy?
Glizzy is slang for a hot dog. The term became mainstream on TikTok around 2020 and is now common Gen Z vocabulary. Full origin story.