Getty Competitive eating champion Joey "Jaws" Chestnut wins the 2021 Nathan's Famous 4th Of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest
It’s a 4th of July weekend tradition unlike any other — the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest.
This year’s competition will air live on ESPNEWS starting at Noon ET/9 a.m. PT. If you don’t have cable, here are some different ways you can watch a live stream of the 2022 Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest online, with the first two options offering a free trial:
Note: Heavy may earn an affiliate commission if you sign up via a link on this page
DirecTV Stream
DirecTV Stream has four different channel packages: “Entertainment,” “Choice,” “Ultimate” and “Premier.” ESPNEWS is included in “Choice” and above, but you can pick any package and any add-on you want with your free five-day trial:
Once signed up for DirecTV Stream, you can watch the 2022 Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest live on the DirecTV Stream app, which is available on your Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Samsung TV, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet. Or you can watch on your computer via the DirecTV Stream website.
You can also watch live via ESPN.com or the ESPN app. You’ll need to sign in to a cable provider to watch this way, but if you don’t have that, you can use your DirecTV Stream credentials to log in and watch.
FuboTV
You can watch a live stream of ESPNEWS and 100-plus other live TV channels on FuboTV. You’ll need the Sports Plus add-on, but you can include the main channel package and any add-ons with your free seven-day trial:
Once signed up for FuboTV, you can watch the 2022 Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest live on the FuboTV app, which is available on your Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Xbox One or Series X/S, Samsung TV, LG TV, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet. Or you can watch on your computer via the FuboTV website.
You can also watch live via ESPN.com or the ESPN app. You’ll need to sign in to a cable provider to watch this way, but if you don’t have that, you can use your Fubo credentials to log in and watch.
Sling TV
You can watch a live stream of ESPNEWS and 40-plus other live TV channels via Sling TV’s “Sling Orange + Sports Extra” bundle. This option doesn’t include a free trial, but it’s the cheapest long-term streaming service with the ESPN channels, and you can your first month half off:
Once signed up for Sling TV, you can watch the 2022 Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest live on the Sling TV app, which is available on your Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Xbox One or Series X/S, Samsung TV, LG TV, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), airTV Mini, Oculus, Portal, iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet. Or you can watch on your computer via the Sling TV website.
You can also watch live via ESPN.com or the ESPN app. You’ll need to sign in to a cable provider to watch this way, but if you don’t have that, you can use your Sling credentials to log in and watch.
Hulu With Live TV
You can watch a live stream of ESPNEWS and 65+ other TV channels via Hulu With Live TV, which now also includes access to both ESPN+ and Disney+:
Once signed up for Hulu With Live TV, you can watch the 2022 Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest live on the Hulu app, which is available on your Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Xbox One or Series X/S, PlayStation 4 or 5, Nintendo Switch, Samsung TV, LG TV, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet. Or you can watch on your computer via the Hulu website.
You can also watch live via ESPN.com or the ESPN app. You’ll need to sign in to a cable provider to watch this way, but if you don’t have that, you can use your Hulu credentials to log in and watch.
Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest 2022 Preview
The annual Coney Island hot dog eating contest has been taking place over the 4th of July weekend since 1916, though it didn’t start being a national phenomenon until ESPN began airing it in 2003. It aired tape-delayed that year, then every year since it has aired live with play-by-play announcing and color commentary.
In 2022, the contest is returning to its home at Nathan’s Coney Island location that sits at the corner of Surf and Stillwell avenues after having to be held at two different locations in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic.
“The Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest is a fundamental aspect of the American experience, and we are thrilled to be back at our Flagship,” said Phil McCann, Vice President of Marketing of Nathan’s Famous, in a statement. “After two years of anticipation, we look forward to welcoming back our traditional crowd of 35,000 spectators.”
Joey Chestnut will vie for his 15th title, having won every year since 2007 except in 2015. He will be aiming to break the world record he set in 2021 of 76 hot dogs in 10 minutes.
“Joey Chestnut is a force from beyond who defies the laws of physics,” said contest host and competitive eating maverick George Shea in a statement. “He is freedom made man, and the rock on which he stands is not a rock — it is the United States of America.”
Also on hand will be female professional eater Miki Sudo, who sat out the contest in 2021 due to being nine months pregnant at the time. Sudo owns the women’s record of 48.5 hot dogs in 10 minutes and will face off with last year’s champion, Michelle Lesco.
The Major League Eating press release teases:
At last year’s event, Chestnut consumed 76 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes, beating Geoffrey Esper, who finished in second place, and Nick Wehry, who finished third. Michelle Lesco of Tucson, AZ, won the women’s contest last year by eating 30.75 hot dogs and buns. She will defend her title against the world’s number-one-ranked female eater Miki Sudo, whose personal best is 48.5 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes.
The contest will feature 16 men and 12 women, according to the press release from Major League Eating. The women’s contest starts at 11 a.m. Eastern/8 a.m. Pacific and the men’s contest starts sat 12:30 p.m. Eastern/9:30 a.m. Pacific.
The 2022 Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest airs live Monday, July 4 starting at 10:45 a.m. Eastern and 7:45 a.m. Pacific times on ESPN3 and ESPN News.