2026 Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest odds: Joey Chestnut (-2500) is once again a massive favorite

Joey Chestnut had a triumphant return to the Nathan's Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest in 2025, returning after a 1-year ban to eat 70.5 hot dogs and buns and win his 17th title.

Chestnut is once again a gigantic favorite to win his 18th championship mustard belt in this year's event, which will take place at 12:30 p.m. ET on Saturday on ABC/ESPN2 on Coney Island.

Oddsmakers have installed Chestnut as high as a -2500 favorite ($25 bet wins $1). Those odds give Chestnut an implied probability of winning of around 96%.

Patrick Bertolli — who finished in second place last year with 46.5 hot dogs and buns — has the next-best odds all the way out at 11-1.

Chestnut won't be free of controversy entering this year's contest either, as he pleaded guilty to misdemeanor battery in May after slapping a fan in a bar in April. As a result of pleading guilty, Chestnut was placed on 180 days on probation. He will still be on probation when the contest occurs on Friday.

The over/under for Chestnut has been set at 72.5, with -140 juice on the over. Chestnut set the record for most hot dogs and buns eaten in 2021 with 76.