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It’s time again for one of America’s strangest traditions: Nathan’s World Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest. The men’s tournament — with defending champion Joey Chestnut — kicks off on July 4, at 9 a.m. PT/12 noon ET, on ESPN2, meaning it can be streamed live on any streaming service that carries said network, namely DirecTV (with a five-day free trial), Fubo (with a one-day free trial), Sling and Hulu + Live TV.
The women’s competition – with defending champion Miki Sudo – will be answered on ESPN2 during the men’s competition. Otherwise, viewers can tune in at 7:45 a.m. PT/10:45 a.m. ET via the ESPN app. Those with an ESPN Unlimited subscription can access the Chestnut cam beginning at 9:30 AM PT/12:30 PM ET. The men’s competition will also be simulcast on ABC beginning at 12:30 PM ET as part of Disney celebrates America private. Like ESPN2, ABC is available via DirecTV (with a five-day free trial), Fubo (with a one-day free trial), Sling (in select markets) and Hulu + Live TV.
Quick overview: How to watch Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest 2026
- when: Saturday, July 4, at 9am PT/12pm ET
- channel: ESPN 2,
- Stream online: DirecTV, Fubo, Sling, Hulu + Live TV
Where to watch the 2026 Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest online
The July 4 contest will air at 9 a.m. PT/12 noon ET on ESPN2, which can be streamed live on any streaming TV service that carries the network, including DirecTV (with a five-day free trial), Fubo (with a one-day free trial), Sling and Hulu + Live TV.
See below to learn more about each online streaming service, as well as free trials and new subscriber discounts.
DirectTV
Five-day free trial; Packages start at $19.99 per month
ESPN2 is included in any of DirecTV’s signature packages: Entertainment, Choice, Ultimate, or Premier. Additionally, DirecTV is offering a free five-day trial of the streaming service, which means new subscribers can enjoy the competition at no cost.
Learn more about each plan option, including how to build your own channel lineup (starting at just $19.99 per month), at directv.com.
Fubo
One-day free trial; Packages start at $64.99 per month ($54.99 for the first month)
A subscription to Fubo — which offers a free one-day trial to new subscribers — similarly provides access to ESPN, which is included in the Fubo Sports + News package. After the free trial, this package costs $54.99 for the first month and $64.99 per month after that.
sling
Plans start at $4.99
ESPN2 is included in Sling’s Orange plan, starting at $45.99 per month or $4.99 for a one-day subscription.
For serious sports fans, Orange+ Sports Extra is a solid choice because it includes both ESPN and ESPN2 as well as ESPNU, ESPNNews, ABC local, and more. This bundle is priced at $56.99: $45.99 for Orange, plus $11 for Sports Extra.
Related to: The best live streaming shows on Sling TV
Hulu + Live TV
Three-day free trial; Packages start at $89.99 per month
Watch ESPN2 with a Hulu + Live TV subscription, which comes bundled with Disney+ and ESPN+. After a three-day trial period, plans start at $89.99 per month.
Joey scored a chestnut hot dog
In the 2021 Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest, Chestnut made a record 76 hot dogs and buns. Outside of the July 4th contest, his historic (though technically unofficial) record came during a 2024 Netflix special. Chestnut vs. Kobayashi: Unfinished BeefHe ate 83 pieces of hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes.
