A group of the world’s top competitive eaters will gather in Springfield, IL to compete at the inaugural Cozy Dog Eating World Championship on Saturday, September 26, 2026, at 1PM. The event is part of the larger Mother Road Festival, a celebration marking 100 years of Route 66.
Sanctioned by Major League Eating, the contest will be a heated battle featuring former Hot Dog Eating Champion, Pat Bertoletti of Chicago (the #2-ranked eater in the world) facing off against Darrien Thomas of Canada, Jerome Burns of Danbury, CT, and Matthew Raible, a professional eater out of Edwards, IL.
“We are excited to add an official Major League Eating contest to the mix of classic cars, classic music, and uniquely American fun that has defined the Mother Road Festival for 25 years,” said Festival organizer Greg “Coop” Cooper. “None of this would be possible without the generosity of Reisch Charities and the partnership of Cozy Dogs. Let’s get out there and set a world record!”
Cozy Drive In is a Springfield-based institution that has been serving its original hot dog on a stick alongside Route 66 since 1946. The famous Cozy Dog has never changed and is dipped in batter and deep-fried following Ed Waldmire’s original recipe. The Major League Eaters visiting Springfield will have 10 minutes to consume as many Cozy Dogs as they can as they vie for a new world record and a piece of the generous $5,000 prize purse.
Richard Shea, president of Major League Eating, said “There’s no place more emblematic of America’s free spirit than Route 66, and MLE is thrilled to be visiting the one and only Mother Road Festival in the one and only Springfield. We look forward to making history in the home town of Abraham Lincoln.”
Presented by Reisch Charities, the not-for-profit that brews Reisch Beer using its historic recipe, the Cozy Dog Eating World Championship will establish an entirely new world record which will be recognized by Major League Eating. The contest will take place at 1:00PM on Saturday, September 26th, 2026 on the Isringhausen Stage in the heart of the Mother Road Festival in downtown Springfield, IL.
Registration for the Cozy Dog Eating World Championship is closed due to capacity. For more information on this event, visit the Major League Eating website. Event updates can be found on Instagram at the handle @eatingcontest and on Facebook at handle @Route66Fest.
