After making a successful comeback in the 2025 Nathan's Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest, Joey Chestnut is once again the overwhelming favorite to claim another title in 2026.
Chestnut returned to the competition last year following a one-year suspension and captured his 17th championship by eating 70.5 hot dogs and buns. This year's contest will be held at 12:30 p.m. ET on Saturday at Coney Island and will be televised on ABC and ESPN2.
Sportsbooks have listed Chestnut as a -2500 favorite, meaning a bettor would need to risk $25 to win $1. Those odds suggest he has roughly a 96% chance of winning the event.
Patrick Bertoletti, who finished second in 2025 after consuming 46.5 hot dogs and buns, is the next closest contender with odds of 11-1.
Chestnut enters the competition amid renewed attention off the stage. In May, he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor battery charge after an incident in April in which he slapped a fan at a bar. As part of the resolution, he was sentenced to 180 days of probation, which will still be in effect during this year's contest.
Oddsmakers have also set Chestnut's individual eating total at 72.5 hot dogs and buns, with the over slightly favored at -130. His personal best remains the contest record of 76 hot dogs and buns, set in 2021.
