Where To Find The World’s 16 Most Epic Eating Contests
I can polish off a family-sized bag of chips like nobody’s business, but eating 50 hot dogs in 10 minutes is certainly not one of my talents. Like most Americans, I love my food—juicy burgers, crispy fries, and a good steak. But competitive eating is an entirely different level of food love where people chow down enormous amounts of grub in mere minutes.
Believe it or not, some competitors actually enjoy devouring pounds and pounds of food, like ribs or donuts, and they get to do it without any hesitation or shame (although they certainly get their fair share of heartburn and nausea). It’s not just about the eats; some of these contests have prizes of up to $10,000! Find out where these epic eating competitions take place—maybe you can compete, too!
Salvation Army National Donut Day World Donut Eating Championship
Donuts are a weakness for most people. While many of us work hard not to eat more than one donut in a sitting, the competitors at this event work to down as many fried treats as quickly as possible.
At The National Donut Day World Donut Eating Championship in Washington, DC, you can watch or join in as eaters devour the most glazed donuts in eight minutes. This year, James Webb set a record with 70 donuts! The winner takes home a cool $3,000–not bad for eight minutes of noshing on donuts!
The Great Midwest Rib Fest World Rib-Eating Championship
Who doesn’t love a good plate of ribs (or several)? The Great Midwest Rib Fest comes to Prior Lake, Minnesota, every summer to offer a $4,000 prize to whoever can eat the most in 12 minutes. Last year’s champ, Miki Sudo, ate 5.2 pounds. If you’re more into moderation, this summer fest also offers regular servings of freshly smoked ribs from top-tier pitmasters, along with live music.
The World Slopper Eating Championship
What’s a slopper? This Colorado comfort food combines a juicy cheeseburger smothered in the rocky mountain state’s specialty–chili sauce! At the yearly World Slopper Eating Championship at the Colorado State Fair, pros devour as many sloppers as possible in just eight minutes. Last year, James Webb ate 32 Sloppers. With a $2,000 prize for first place, do you have what it takes to beat him? Sign up or grab tickets and join the messy fun!
Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest
Nathan’s Hot Dog eating contest is one of the most famous in the US, with each year’s competition broadcast live on ESPN! It’s been around since 1916, making it an American tradition–people all over the world join the battle to win the legendary Mustard Belt. The famous Hot Dog event happens on July 4th each year and takes place at Nathan’s Famous Original Restaurant in Coney Island, New York City.
Watch pros like Miki Sudo, the women’s record holder, and 10-time winner, who ate 51 hot dogs, and 2024 champ Patrick Bertoletti, who devoured 58 hot dogs. It’s 10 minutes of epic eating you won’t want to miss!
Great American Blueberry Eating Championship
If you love blueberries, here’s a chance for a berry epic battle! This is an eight-minute throwdown to crown the blueberry-eating champion. The Great American Blueberry Eating Championship takes place in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The winner walks away with a whopping $4,000, with prizes going all the way down to 5th place. Anyone 18 years old and over can sign up to compete.
Wendy’s Chicken Nuggets Eating Championship
Love nuggets? Don’t miss the first-ever Wendy’s Chicken Nugget Eating Championship! We’re talking all-you-can-eat, for eight minutes, of Wendy’s famous Chicken Nuggets. The throwdown happens at Fairfield Properties Ballpark in Central Islip, New York. There’s a total of $10,000 in prize money up for grabs, and the first-place champion gets $5,000.
Smoke’s Poutinerie World Poutine Eating Championship
If you’ve never been to Canada, you might have missed out on this Quebec specialty food! Poutine is a hearty and decadent dish of french fries smothered with cheese curds and gravy. The 11th annual Smoke’s Poutinerie World Poutine Eating Championship hits Toronto’s Yonge-Dundas Square this summer, where contestants have 10 minutes to devour this Canadian comfort food. Can anyone beat Joey Chestnut’s record of 28 pounds? With $6,000 in prizes and $3,000 for the champ, it’s time to chow down and take the crown!
Mattituck Lions Club World Strawberry Shortcake Eating Championship
Who could resist sweet, fluffy vanilla cake topped with juicy strawberries and whipped cream? The Mattituck Lions Club World Strawberry Shortcake Eating Championship is the ultimate sweet showdown with a cash prize of $2,500 for eating the most shortcake in just eight minutes. Geoffrey Esper devoured 23.75 pounds at last year’s festival in Mattituck, New York. Will anyone beat him this year?
National Sweet Corn Eating Championship
Get ready for a corn-tastic challenge at the National Sweet Corn Eating Championship! This epic eating contest revolves around one thing: corn! You’ll have 12 minutes to devour as many ears of Florida’s sweet, juicy corn as possible. Held in West Palm Beach as part of the Sweet Corn Fiesta, last year’s champ, Miki Sudo, ate an impressive 56 ears of corn for a $2,500 prize. Join the fun—whether eating fast or enjoying the festival’s games, music, and corn!
Wonderful Pistachios Get Crackin’ Eating Championship
It’s a test of speed, strategy, and nut-cracking skills! At World Pistachio Day each February at Santa Monica Pier, eaters compete to devour the most pistachios in eight minutes. James Webb set a record with 338 pistachios this year, winning the title “World Pistachio Devourer.” With $5,000 for the winner, it’s a nutty competition you won’t want to miss!
World Nettle Eating Championship
Who knew you’d have to try to avoid getting stung at an eating contest? At the annual World Nettle Eating Championship at Dorset Nectar Cider Farm in England, competitors devour stinging nettles to claim the titles of “Nettle King” and “Nettle Queen.” In 2024, Tom Wheeler ate a record-breaking 116 feet, and Beth Hodges defended her title with 64 feet. It’s a prickly competition with bragging rights and local fame on the line!
Siegel’s Bagelmania World Bagel Eating Championship
At Siegel’s Bagelmania World Bagel Eating Championship, Las Vegas’s best bagels take center stage! Professional eaters like Joey Chestnut (15 bagels in 8 minutes!) and Geoff Esper fight for glory (he devoured 14.5 bagels at the same time!). The winner gets $5,000 cash, with prizes all the way down to 5th place! New records are set every year!
World-Famous St. Elmo Shrimp Cocktail Eating Championship
It’s a fiery showdown at the World-Famous St. Elmo Shrimp Cocktail Eating Championship in Indianapolis, Indiana! This isn’t your typical hot dog contest—competitors eat plump, fresh shrimp smothered in St. Elmo’s spicy horseradish cocktail sauce. Last year, Geoff Esper knocked out 16 pounds, 11.2 ounces in eight minutes, dethroning Joey Chestnut. Held right before the Big Ten Football Championship, there’s a $3,000 prize purse waiting, with the champion walking away with a hefty $1,500!
Padrino Foods World Tamale Eating Championship By Market Street
This is your lucky chance to be crowned king (or queen) of the Padrino Foods World Tamale Eating Championship in Lewisville, Texas! Stuff yourself with the best tamales in Texas in a 10-minute eating showdown. The current record is an incredible 80 tamales, and the event is part of the lively Western Days Festival with music, classic cars, and family fun. Don’t miss out on this delicious challenge (there’s a total $4,500 prize!) and a full day of entertainment!
Balls Out Block Party: Featuring the Cheesesteak Egg Roll Bowl
If you’re looking for a fun and unusual way to say goodbye to summer, this epic eating contest might be your perfect match! Devour delicious cheesesteak egg rolls in eight minutes flat—a Philly twist in a crispy shell. It features juicy steak, melty cheese, peppers, onions, and all your favorite cheesesteak fixings, all in a handheld, bite-sized package. Last year’s champ ate a record-breaking 46 rolls! Held annually in Atlantic City, New Jersey, it’s your chance to win a chunk of $5,000, with $2,500 for the top eater!
Thailand Food Kingdom
It’s a battleground in Bangkok, not of warriors but of epic eaters! Over three days, competitors face off in eight heart-pounding challenges while devouring delicious Thai dishes like steaming pork buns and spicy curries. The champion, Natthanon Lertphatphicha (known for his YouTube series Nat vs. Food), dominated with six wins out of eight events!
Source: Major League Eating
