A 2012 episode of "Hell's Kitchen" in which Joey Chestnut faced off against the chefs in a chicken wing eating contest can be viewed on the Kitchen Nightmares youtube channel.
The Hudson Valley King of the Wings will hold three qualifiers this weekend awarding $104 and a spot in the finals on January 31, which will award $5,000 if the contest record is broken.
Nathan's Famous will be acquired by Smithfield Foods, which was sold in 2013 to Shuanghui (later renamed WH Group) a Chinese conglomerate listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. The following year, Smithfield became the sole meatpacker and distributor for Nathan's Famous. (press release) update A Smithfield spokesperson stated the company plans to continue the eating contest.
The Mega Night Market will hold amateur banh mi eating contests in St. Peterburg, FL on January 23, 24 and 25 awarding $250 to the winner.
Rural King, a farm and home retailer, announced a partnership with Joey Chestnut and a popcorn eating circuit in 2026-27. Several popcorn eating qualifiers for amateurs will be held during 2026. Winners of those competitions will take on Joey Chestnut in the finals on National Popcorn Day in 2027.
Dan Kennedy won the first prize of $1,250 in yesterday's World Muffin Eating Championship in St. Petersburg, FL. Nick Dompierre won the influencer division.
Christopher "Old Guy Eats" Dale won the first prize of $400 in today's kolache eating contest at Hruska's Store & Bakery in Ellinger, TX.
Over Under Sports Bar in Dallas will hold a wing eating contest at halftime of the Super Bowl on February 8 awarding $500 to the winner.
USA Network announces that "Everything on the Menu" starring former WWE star Adam "Braun Strowman" Scherr will return for a second season of 12 episodes. He will be accompanied by additional diners in this season, included WWE wrestler Alexa Bliss.
The St. Petersburg, FL Taco & Tequila Festival will hold taco eating contests on January 17 and 18 awarding $100 to the winner.
Taste of Folly in Folly Beach, SC will hold a hot dog eating contest on January 17 awarding $250/$125/$75 to the top three.
The Wings for Wishes wing eating contest in Miami on March 7 has yet to be listed on the Major League Eating calendar, but the field has already been announced: defending champion James Webb, Joey Chestnut, Miki Sudo and Nick Wehry are expected to compete.
Adam "Beard Meats Food" Moran will be a commentator at the Las Vegas Wing Bowl on February 7.
2026 Fat Shack 5K
The top 4 from the livestream
1 Molly Schuyler
2 Dan Kennedy
3 Scott Watkins
4 Wayne Algenio
The first 3:30 of the competition
The Fat Shack 5k will be livestreamed on Instagram and youtube today from Fort Collins, CO starting at 11:30am Mountain Time (1:30 pm Eastern)
Mexicali Cantina in Hagerstown, MD will hold a jumbo burrito eating contest on January 24 awarding $200 to the winner.
Defending champion Joey Chestnut, Pat Bertoletti, Geoff Esper, James Webb, Nick Wehry, Gideon Oji and Derek Hendrickson are expected to compete in Siegel’s Bagelmania World Bagel Eating Championship in Las Vegas on January 31.
Molly Schuyler and Dan Kennedy are expected to compete at the Extreme Eating Championships Muffin World Championship at Champs Elysium in St. Petersburg, FL on January 17. The prizes for that competition will be $1250/$800/$400.
The Tap House Grill in Palatine, IL will hold a wing eating contest on January 24 awarding $250 to the winner. The runner up will receive $100.
James Webb will be doing British Eating League events in the United Kingdom in February.
The Bribie Island Bowls Club in Bongaree - Woorim, QLD, Australia will hold Dagwood Dogs and hot wings eating contests on Australia Day, January 26. Both contests will award $1,500 to the winner.
RIP Bryan "Big Sexy" Beard, who passed away suddenly at the age of 40 on December 21 from a heart attack. Bryan's family has set up a gofundme page. Sports radio host Ben Maller did a tribute to Bryan on his show. 2012 Denver Post article about Bryan.
Hruska's Store & Bakery in Ellinger, TX will hold a kolache eating contest on January 17 awarding $400 to the winner. The runner up will receive a $200 gift card.
Abema has an interview (select English subtitles) with Takeru Kobayashi about his development of a hot dog made with Japanese Wagyu beef. He hopes to release the frankfurter by his birthday, March 15, and aspires to export it to the United States. (article corresponding to the video) update The Wagyu beef hot dogs will not be Kobayashi's first attempt at a frankfurter line. In 2013 he launched "Kobi Dogs", which was the food item for his July 4, 2013 eating competition
The Mega Night Market will hold amateur dim sum eating contests in Pinellas Park, FL on January 3 and 4 awarding $250 to the winner.
End of 2025 Major League Eating top 50
For the first time in almost 18 months, the Major League Eating top 50 has been updated. The new top 50 (the first six are unchanged)
- Joey Chestnut
- Pat Bertoletti
- Geoffrey Esper
- James Webb
- Miki Sudo
- Nick Wehry
- Ricardo Corbucci
- Max Stanford
- Gideon Oji
- Derek Hendrickson
Ranked for the first time
- Cameron Meade #18
- Tanner Gray #19
- Jerome Burns #21
- Domenica Dee #22
- Tandra Childress #23
- Kylan Lee #25
- William Lyon #32
Leaving the rankings
- Sean Yeager #13
- Bartley Weaver #14
- Adam “Beard Meats Food” Moran #22
- Derek Jacobs #27
- Sophia DeVita-Gutierrez #31
- Michael Whities #35
- Mary Bowers #39
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