What is the name of the famous annual hot dog eating contest held on Coney Island?

The famous annual hot dog eating contest held on Coney Island is Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest, officially known as the Nathan’s Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest.

The event takes place each July 4 at Nathan’s Famous’s original restaurant at the corner of Surf and Stillwell Avenues in Coney Island, Brooklyn. Contestants have 10 minutes to eat as many Nathan’s hot dogs and buns as possible, making the event a highly visible part of the United States Independence Day holiday.

Although publicity materials once promoted a patriotic 1916 origin story involving four immigrants, that story was later acknowledged as a publicity stunt created in the early 1970s. Documented contests are generally traced to the 1970s, with the modern event becoming especially prominent after competitive eaters Takeru Kobayashi and Joey Chestnut drew widespread attention.

Major League Eating has sanctioned the contest since 1997. The competition helped turn competitive eating into a televised spectacle, complete with qualifying events, stage introductions, official weigh-ins, and a championship belt.