El Gordo is Spain’s Christmas Lottery, and by total prize money the biggest lottery draw in the world. The 2026 draw takes place on Tuesday 22 December 2026 in Madrid. A décimo (a one-tenth share of a ticket) costs €20, and the top prize pays €400,000 per décimo. This guide explains how the game works, what every prize is worth, your real chances of winning and how to take part from outside Spain.
- Décimo
- €20
- Top prize
- €400,000
- Odds
- 1 in 100,000
El Gordo 2026 at a Glance
| Official name | Sorteo Extraordinario de la Lotería de Navidad |
| Draw date | Tuesday 22 December 2026, from around 09:00 (Madrid time) |
| Venue | Teatro Real, Madrid – broadcast live on Spanish TV and online |
| Organiser | SELAE (Loterías y Apuestas del Estado), the Spanish state lottery |
| Numbers | 00000 to 99999 (100,000 numbers) |
| Series in 2026 | 205 – each number is printed 205 times |
| Price | €20 per décimo · €200 for a full ticket (billete) |
| Prize fund | €2.87 billion – 70% of all ticket sales |
| On sale | Since July 2026, until shortly before the draw |
How El Gordo Works
El Gordo is nothing like a lotto where you pick your own numbers. Every ticket already carries a five-digit number between 00000 and 99999. Each number is printed in multiple series (205 in 2026), and each series is split into ten décimos. That’s why the same winning number is often sold in dozens of lottery shops at once, and why whole towns, offices and families celebrate together when “El Gordo” lands on their number.
Spaniards rarely buy just for themselves. Colleagues, sports clubs and groups of friends share décimos, and bars and associations sell participaciones: small shares of a décimo, often for a few euros. The prize is split in proportion to what you paid.
On draw day, two large drums are used. One holds a ball for every number, the other a ball for every prize. Pupils from Madrid’s San Ildefonso school draw a ball from each and sing the number and the prize, a ritual that is televised live and lasts about four hours.
El Gordo 2026 Prize Table
Prizes are fixed amounts, not a jackpot. Here’s what each prize pays for one décimo (€20), and for a full series (10 décimos).
| Prize | Number of prizes | Per series | Per décimo |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st prize – “El Gordo” | 1 | €4,000,000 | €400,000 |
| 2nd prize | 1 | €1,250,000 | €125,000 |
| 3rd prize | 1 | €500,000 | €50,000 |
| 4th prize | 2 | €200,000 | €20,000 |
| 5th prize | 8 | €60,000 | €6,000 |
| “Pedrea” (small prizes) | 1,794 | €1,000 | €100 |
| Number just before / after the 1st prize | 2 | €20,000 | €2,000 |
| Number just before / after the 2nd prize | 2 | €12,500 | €1,250 |
| Number just before / after the 3rd prize | 2 | €9,600 | €960 |
| Same first three digits as the 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th prize | 99 each | €1,000 | €100 |
| Same last two digits as the 1st, 2nd or 3rd prize | 999 each | €1,000 | €100 |
| “Reintegro”: same last digit as the 1st prize | 9,999 | €200 | €20 (money back) |
Prize amounts before tax. Always check the official prize list after the draw on our Spanish lottery results page.
What Are Your Real Chances of Winning El Gordo?
Because there are exactly 100,000 numbers, every décimo has a 1 in 100,000 chance of carrying the first prize. That’s about 140 times better than hitting the jackpot in La Primitiva and roughly 1,400 times better than EuroMillions.
Around 15% of all numbers win something. Most of that is the reintegro: one in ten numbers simply gets its €20 back. The chance of winning more than you paid is closer to 1 in 20. See how El Gordo compares with every other Spanish game in our lottery comparison table.
Tax on El Gordo Prizes
The first €40,000 of every prize is tax-free. Spain withholds 20% on the amount above €40,000, at source, whether you live in Spain or not. If you share a décimo, each share counts separately.
| Prize per décimo | Spanish tax | You receive |
|---|---|---|
| 1st prize – €400,000 | €72,000 | €328,000 |
| 2nd prize – €125,000 | €17,000 | €108,000 |
| 3rd prize – €50,000 | €2,000 | €48,000 |
| 4th prize – €20,000 | €0 | €20,000 |
| 5th prize – €6,000 | €0 | €6,000 |
Your home country may tax the prize as well. Read the full guide to lottery tax in Spain.
How to Buy El Gordo Tickets from Abroad
You don’t need to be in Spain to play, and there’s no nationality requirement to win. From abroad there are two ways to take part online:
- Messenger service: a company buys a real décimo in Spain in your name and sends you a scan. If you win, the prize comes from the official lottery. You pay more than €20, because a service fee is included.
- Lottery betting: you bet on the outcome of the official draw. You don’t own a décimo, and the operator pays your prize.
For El Gordo, most players prefer a messenger service: you want the real décimo, the real number and the Christmas tradition that comes with it. Compare the options in our guide to playing Spanish lotteries online.
Get your El Gordo 2026 décimo online
Messenger service · scan of your ticket
Choose your El Gordo number18+ · Ad: we may earn a commission · Online lottery play is not permitted in every country – check your local rules.
How to Check Your Ticket and Claim a Prize
- Check your number after the draw on our results page, then confirm it with the official SELAE prize list.
- Small prizes can be collected at any official lottery shop.
- Larger prizes (above €2,000 per décimo) are paid through SELAE’s partner banks.
- Don’t wait too long: you have three months from the day after the draw to claim.
Bought through an online service? Then the service collects the prize for you and pays it out. Check its payout terms before you buy.
A Short History of El Gordo
The Christmas draw was first held in 1812 in Cádiz, making it one of the oldest continuously running lotteries in the world. It has taken place every year since, even during wartime. Today the draw is a national event in Spain, just like the Christmas TV advert that kicks off the ticket season every autumn.
El Gordo, El Niño or El Gordo de la Primitiva?
El Gordo
22 December · €20
The big Christmas draw. Top prize €400,000 per décimo.
El Niño
6 January · €20
The Epiphany draw, with more small prizes. El Niño guide.
El Gordo de la Primitiva
Every Sunday · €1.50
A weekly lotto with a jackpot. A different game. Read more.
The same ticket system as El Gordo is also used all year round in the Lotería Nacional (Thursday and Saturday draws).
El Gordo FAQ
When is the El Gordo 2026 draw?
On Tuesday 22 December 2026. The draw starts at around 09:00 Madrid time and usually lasts until early afternoon.
How much does an El Gordo ticket cost?
A décimo costs €20 at official Spanish lottery shops. Online messenger services charge more, because their service fee is included in the price.
Can I choose my own El Gordo number?
Only from the numbers that are still available. In shops, popular numbers such as birthdays and “lucky” endings sell out early. Online services usually let you pick from their own stock of numbers.
Do foreigners pay tax on El Gordo winnings?
Yes. Spain withholds 20% on the part of any prize above €40,000, for residents and non-residents alike. Depending on where you live, you may need to declare the prize at home as well.