Champion eater Joey Chestnut is returning to the Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest after being banned last year. “This event means the world to me. It’s a cherished tradition, a celebration of American culture, and a huge part of my life,” he said in an X post Monday.

Joey Chestnut will return to Coney Island for the 2025 Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest this Fourth of July. The legendary competitive eater announced Monday in a series of posts on X that he will return to the annual event after he was banned from it last year due to his affiliation with Impossible Foods.

The 16-time champ was absent from the Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating contest in 2024 because of a contractual dispute, but was cleared to compete next month.