10 interesting facts about Nathan’s Famous July 4th hotdog eating contest

1. They Only Canceled It Twice, Both Times for Wars

In over a century of Nathan’s Famous hot dog carnage, the Coney Island contest has been suspended exactly twice: once in 1941 to protest World War II, and again in 1971 to protest the Vietnam War.

2. Throwing Up Has an Official Name

Official rules call it a “Roman method incident” or “reversal of fortune,” and it results in immediate disqualification.

3. Joey Chestnut Got Banned Over Fake Hot Dogs

Chestnut was banned from the 2024 Nathan’s contest due to his endorsement deal with Impossible Foods’ vegan frankfurter, which Nathan’s considered a rival brand.

In his absence, Patrick Bertoletti won by eating 58 hot dogs, while Chestnut competed at Fort Bliss and ate 57 frankfurters in half the time. Chestnut wrote that he was “gutted to learn from the media that after 19 years I’m banned from the Nathan’s July 4th Hot Dog Eating Contest.”

4. The Winner Gets a Belt of "Unknown Age and Value"

The coveted Mustard Yellow Belt is basically a mysterious international artifact. Contest officials describe it as being of “unknown age and value,” and it literally travels to whatever country the champion lives in

5. Tons of Hotdogs Get Donated

Nathan’s turns spectacle into charity by donating 100,000 hot dogs to the Food Bank of NYC each year during the contest.

6. They Count Hot Dogs Down to Tiny Fractions

Each contestant gets their own scorekeeper who notes the number of hot dogs eaten during the contest window. Partially eaten hot dogs count and hot dogs still being chewed at the end of regulation can qualify as long as they’re successfully swallowed.

Nathan’s measures success in fractions. If you manage to get 7/8ths of a Nathan’s frank down, you get credit for it.

7. Winners Arrive Like Ancient Gladiators

Contestants arrive in a special “bus of champions” and some champions get carried to the stage in ceremonial chairs. Joey Chestnut was literally carried in a special throne in 2013.

8. One Guy Changed How Everyone Eats Hot Dogs

The Solomon method consists of breaking each hot dog in half, eating the two halves at once, and then eating the bun. Before Kobayashi’s innovation, eaters ate hot dogs whole.

9. There’s a Giant Wall Dedicated to Hot Dog Eating

In 2004 a three-story-high “Hot Dog Eating Wall of Fame” was erected at the site of the annual Nathan’s contest.

The wall lists past winners, and has a digital clock which counts down the minutes until the next contest. Nathan’s created a permanent shrine to competitive eating at their Coney Island location.

10. Even Hurricane Sandy Couldn’t Stop the Contest

Despite substantial damage suffered at Nathan’s due to Hurricane Sandy in October 2012, the location was repaired, reopened, and the 2013 event was held as scheduled.

Not even a devastating hurricane could stop Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July tradition. The company prioritized rebuilding their Coney Island location specifically to ensure the hot dog eating contest could continue.

Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest 2025

The 2025 Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest takes place July 4th outside the original Nathan’s location in Coney Island at the corner of Surf and Stillwell.

The typical schedule includes pre-show festivities at 10am, women’s contest at 11am, and men’s contest at 12:30pm. This year, Joey Chestnut returns after a one-year hiatus to defend his legacy against reigning champion Patrick Bertoletti.

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