The El Gordo Christmas Lottery 2026 takes place on Tuesday, 22 December 2026, at the Teatro Real in Madrid. A décimo costs €20 and the first prize pays €400,000 per décimo, or €328,000 after Spanish lottery withholding tax.
The draw has not yet taken place. Once the results are available, always confirm your winning number and the complete prize list with the official Spanish lottery operator, SELAE.
€400,000 per décimo
El Gordo · Tuesday 22 December 2026
€400,000
The first prize pays €400,000 per décimo (€20). A full series pays €4,000,000. The total prize fund is €2.87 billion. Prizes are fixed. Nothing rolls over.
Key figures
El Gordo 2026 in 30 seconds
El Gordo is Spain’s famous Christmas Lottery. Unlike weekly number lotteries, it is based on pre-printed five-digit tickets and a fixed prize structure.
| Official name | Sorteo Extraordinario de la Lotería de Navidad |
| Draw date | Tuesday, 22 December 2026 |
| Starting time | Approximately 09:00 Madrid time |
| Venue | Teatro Real, Madrid |
| Operator | SELAE — Loterías y Apuestas del Estado |
| Ticket numbers | 00000–99999 |
| Series in 2026 | 205 |
| Price per décimo | €20 |
| Full billete price | €200 |
| First prize per décimo | €400,000 |
| First-prize odds | 1 in 100,000 |
| Prize fund | €2.87 billion, representing 70% of ticket sales |
Check the official SELAE 2026 draw programme for final ticket availability, prize conditions and sales deadlines.
How El Gordo Christmas Lottery Works
El Gordo is different from lotteries such as La Primitiva and BonoLoto. Instead of selecting six numbers, you buy a ticket that already carries a five-digit number.
What is a décimo?
A décimo is one tenth of a full lottery ticket, known as a billete. A décimo costs €20, while a full billete costs €200.
Every number from 00000 to 99999 is printed in multiple series. Each series is divided into ten décimos.
This means the same winning number can be held by many different people. Families, colleagues, businesses and even entire neighbourhoods can celebrate winning the same prize.
How are the winning numbers drawn?
The draw takes place at the Teatro Real in Madrid. Traditionally, pupils from Madrid’s San Ildefonso school sing the winning numbers and prize amounts.
The lottery uses two large drums: one containing number balls and the other containing prize balls. A ball from each drum is paired to announce a winning number and its prize.
The draw lasts several hours. The first prize can be announced at any time, so it is important to check the full official results rather than only the main winning number.
Can you share an El Gordo ticket?
Yes. Many people share décimos or buy smaller participations through friends, workplaces and local associations. The winnings are divided according to the documented ownership shares.
Important: If you share a ticket, keep clear evidence of who owns each part. This can help avoid disputes and ensure the correct tax treatment.
El Gordo 2026 Prize Table
El Gordo has fixed prize categories, rather than a jackpot that rolls over from one draw to the next.
The table below shows the main prize categories, the number of winning numbers where applicable, and their value for one €20 décimo.
| Prize category | Winning numbers | Prize per décimo |
|---|---|---|
| 1st prize — El Gordo | 1 | €400,000 |
| 2nd prize | 1 | €125,000 |
| 3rd prize | 1 | €50,000 |
| 4th prize | 2 | €20,000 |
| 5th prize | 8 | €6,000 |
| Pedrea | 1,794 | €100 |
| Number immediately before or after 1st prize | 2 | €2,000 |
| Number immediately before or after 2nd prize | 2 | €1,250 |
| Number immediately before or after 3rd prize | 2 | €960 |
| Matching qualifying first three digits | According to official prize rules | €100 |
| Matching qualifying last two digits | According to official prize rules | €100 |
| Reintegro — matching last digit of 1st prize | 9,999 other numbers | €20 |
Gross prize amounts before Spanish tax. The complete official prize list includes combinations and categories not fully described in this summary. Some ticket numbers can qualify for more than one prize category.
For official verification, check SELAE lottery results .
What Are Your Real Chances of Winning El Gordo?
There are exactly 100,000 possible five-digit numbers, from 00000 to 99999. Every distinct ticket number has the same chance of receiving the first prize.
| Outcome | Probability |
|---|---|
| Winning the El Gordo first prize | 1 in 100,000 |
| Matching the first-prize last digit | 1 in 10 |
| First-prize number being drawn | Equally likely for every number |
Are some El Gordo numbers luckier than others?
No. Every five-digit number has exactly the same probability of winning the first prize. Popular numbers, birthdays and memorable patterns are not more likely to appear.
Buying two décimos with the same number increases the amount you receive if that number wins, but does not increase the probability that the number is drawn.
Buying different numbers gives you more distinct chances, but also increases the cost. Past draws cannot predict future results.
Tax on El Gordo Christmas Lottery Prizes
In Spain, the first €40,000 of a qualifying lottery prize is generally exempt from special lottery withholding tax.
The portion above that amount is taxed at 20%. This tax is usually withheld before the prize is paid.
| Prize per décimo | Spanish tax | Net prize |
|---|---|---|
| €400,000 — first prize | €72,000 | €328,000 |
| €125,000 — second prize | €17,000 | €108,000 |
| €50,000 — third prize | €2,000 | €48,000 |
| €20,000 — fourth prize | €0 | €20,000 |
| €6,000 — fifth prize | €0 | €6,000 |
Do foreign winners pay Spanish lottery tax?
Yes. The special Spanish withholding rules generally apply to qualifying lottery winnings regardless of whether the winner lives in Spain or abroad.
Depending on your home country’s tax laws, you may also need to declare the prize or pay additional tax.
What happens if a décimo is shared?
When several people share a winning décimo, the tax-free allowance is divided between them according to their share of the prize. Each participant does not receive a separate full €40,000 exemption.
How to Buy El Gordo Tickets from Abroad
Foreign visitors can purchase official El Gordo tickets at authorised Spanish lottery retailers, subject to applicable legal and age requirements.
Buying online from outside Spain is more complicated. Different services offer different products, and not every provider accepts customers from every country.
Official ticket purchasing services
A ticket purchasing service, sometimes called a messenger service, arranges the purchase of a real Spanish décimo for a customer.
Before using one, check whether an actual official ticket will be bought, who legally owns it, whether you receive a scan or other proof, and how any prizes are claimed.
Lottery betting services
Lottery betting is different. Instead of owning an official El Gordo ticket, you place a wager on the outcome of the draw.
If the bet wins, the betting operator is responsible for paying the prize according to its terms. SELAE is not the party paying that betting prize.
Before buying an El Gordo ticket online
- Confirm whether you receive a real official ticket.
- Check that your country is eligible.
- Compare the official €20 price with any service fees.
- Check what proof of ownership you will receive.
- Read the provider’s prize payout and withdrawal conditions.
Our Spanish lottery online play guide explains these differences in more detail.
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How to Check Your El Gordo Ticket and Claim a Prize
The El Gordo draw takes place on 22 December. Because there are many different prize categories, checking only the first-prize number is not enough.
- Check the draw date. Make sure your décimo belongs to the correct Christmas Lottery draw.
- Check your five-digit number. Compare it with the official prize list, including the smaller prize categories.
- Verify with SELAE. Use the official lottery operator’s published results before making a claim.
- Keep your ticket safe. A physical décimo is important evidence when claiming a prize.
- Claim before the deadline. SELAE lottery prizes generally expire three months after the day following the draw.
Where are El Gordo prizes paid?
Smaller prizes can generally be collected at authorised SELAE lottery retailers. Higher-value prizes are handled by designated partner banks and may require proof of identity.
If you purchased through an online intermediary, check the company’s own prize claim procedure and its terms of service.
A Short History of El Gordo
The Spanish Christmas Lottery dates back to 1812, when its earliest draw was held in Cádiz.
Over time it became one of Spain’s best-known Christmas traditions. Every December, people buy tickets with relatives, colleagues, friends and local associations.
The draw is famous for its singing schoolchildren, television broadcasts and scenes of winning groups celebrating.
One of the unusual features of El Gordo is that a large number of people can hold the same winning number across the lottery’s many series.
Has Your Number Ever Won El Gordo?
Explore the history of El Gordo’s first-prize numbers with our interactive Historical Number Explorer. Search a five-digit number, find results from a particular year and explore historical number patterns.
Historical first-prize results only. Past results cannot predict future lottery outcomes.
Explore Historical El Gordo Numbers →El Gordo, El Niño or El Gordo de la Primitiva?
These three lotteries have similar names, but their schedules, ticket formats and prize structures are very different.
| Lottery | Draw | Price | Main difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| El Gordo Christmas | 22 December | €20 | Pre-printed tickets; €400,000 first prize per décimo |
| El Niño | 6 January | €20 | Pre-printed tickets; €200,000 first prize per décimo |
| El Gordo de la Primitiva | Sunday | €1.50 | Choose numbers; rolling jackpot |
You can also explore Lotería Nacional , which uses pre-printed lottery numbers in regular Thursday and Saturday draws.
El Gordo Christmas Lottery FAQ
Here are answers to common questions about the 2026 Christmas Lottery, ticket prices, winning odds and prize claims.
When is the El Gordo 2026 draw?
The 2026 El Gordo Christmas Lottery takes place on Tuesday, 22 December 2026. The draw traditionally starts at approximately 09:00 Spanish peninsular time at the Teatro Real in Madrid.
How much does an El Gordo ticket cost?
An official décimo costs €20. It represents one tenth of a full €200 ticket, known as a billete. Online ticket purchasing services may charge additional service fees.
Can I choose my own El Gordo number?
You can choose from the numbers that are still available at the retailer or ticket provider. Popular numbers and memorable patterns can sell out, but all five-digit numbers have the same chance of winning.
What is the El Gordo first prize in 2026?
The first prize is €400,000 gross per €20 décimo. After standard Spanish lottery withholding tax, the net amount is €328,000 for a single qualifying décimo.
What are the odds of winning El Gordo?
Every five-digit number has a 1 in 100,000 chance of winning the first prize. Additional prize categories include smaller prizes for certain matching digits and nearby numbers.
Are past winning numbers more likely to win again?
No. Every draw is independent. Previous winning numbers do not become more or less likely to win in the future. You can explore historical results using our El Gordo Historical Number Explorer .
Do foreigners pay tax on El Gordo winnings?
Yes. Spain generally withholds 20% of the portion of a qualifying lottery prize above €40,000. Additional tax or reporting rules may apply in the winner’s country of residence.
Can several people share one winning ticket?
Yes. Shared décimos are common in Spain. Participants receive winnings according to their ownership shares. Keep a written record of how the ticket is divided.
How do I check whether my El Gordo ticket has won?
After the draw, compare your five-digit ticket number with the complete official SELAE prize list. Check smaller categories as well as the first prize.
You can find official sources through our Spanish lottery results guide .
How long do I have to claim an El Gordo prize?
Most SELAE Christmas Lottery prizes must be claimed within three months, counted from the day after the draw. Confirm the applicable deadline with the official lottery operator.
Is El Gordo the same as El Gordo de la Primitiva?
No. El Gordo Christmas is an annual pre-printed ticket lottery drawn on 22 December. El Gordo de la Primitiva is a weekly Sunday lotto in which players select numbers.
Official El Gordo Information
ElSpanishLottery.com is an independent information website. We do not organise lottery draws, issue official tickets or pay prizes.
For confirmed results, official rules, ticket validity and prize claims, always consult SELAE, the Spanish state lottery operator .
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