2023 Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest: Time, channel, prize, more - ESPN

Americans connect the annual Fourth of July holiday to many spectacular staples including fireworks, pool parties, bonfires, county fairs, and barbecues. No patriotic activity may be more zany than the Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest, which has provided eye-catching entertainment to the masses for decades. Get prepared for this year's festivities with some fun facts.

When is the 2023 Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest? How can I watch?

Multiple events will be held on July 4th. The women's competition will stream on the ESPN app at 10:45 a.m. ET. The men's competition will kick off at noon ET on ESPN2 and stream on the ESPN app.

Where is the Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest held each year?

The Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest typically takes place outside the original Nathan's location in Coney Island near Brooklyn, New York. In 2020, Nathan's had to split from tradition briefly and hold the contest in a private location with no fans, due to the coronavirus pandemic.

What year did the Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest start?

Though there is an urban legend that the inaugural contest took place in 1916, the first official and recorded July 4th contest took place in 1972 at Coney Island.

What are the contest rules?

Major League Eating (MLE) has managed the event since 1997. Currently, entrants have to be under contract by MLE to participate. In addition to past champions and special MLE invitees, aspiring eaters can qualify for the event during other preliminary contests.

During the event, participants must eat as many Nathan's Famous hot dogs in buns as they can within a 10 minute period. Each contestant gets their own scorekeeper who notes the number of hot dogs eaten during the contest