A solitary UK lottery player is starting 2026 in spectacular fashion after landing a monumental £13.3 million jackpot in a special 'must be won' Lotto draw.
A Life-Changing New Year's Win
The fortunate individual, whose identity remains unknown, matched all six main numbers plus the bonus ball in the draw held on Wednesday 14 January 2026. The National Lottery operator, Allwyn, confirmed the massive payout, which transforms the anonymous ticket-holder's fortunes overnight.
The winning numbers that secured the multi-million pound prize were 2, 5, 22, 35, 44, and 54, with the bonus number being 23.
Celebration and Urgent Ticket Check
Andy Carter, senior winners’ advisor at Allwyn, expressed his delight at the result. "Just what we love to see, a big Lotto winner to kickstart the new year winning our ‘Must Be Won’ Lotto jackpot," he said.
He added: "A single player has banked the £13.3 million jackpot in tonight’s draw, kicking off 2026 in style – imagine the new year’s bucket list you can start to tick off with this win in the bank."
Carter urged all players to scrutinise their tickets immediately, stating: "If you’ve played, please check your tickets and get in touch if you think you’re a big winner."
Secondary Prizes and Good Cause Impact
The windfall wasn't limited to the jackpot winner. The draw created several other substantial winners:
- Two ticket-holders each won £1 million by matching five numbers and the bonus ball.
- A further 63 players each secured £1,750 for matching five numbers.
Carter also highlighted the broader positive impact of playing, noting: "Playing any National Lottery game is about so much more than the chance to win – it’s about helping to make a real difference. Every week, players raise around £32 million for projects that change lives across the UK."
How 'Must Be Won' Draws Work
In a 'must-be-won' draw, the jackpot prize is guaranteed to be paid out. If no ticket matches all six numbers, the top prize fund rolls down to enhance the value of prizes in the subsequent tiers. With the jackpot claimed, the prize pool for the following Saturday’s Lotto draw has been reset to an estimated £3.8 million.
Thunderball Results
Meanwhile, in the same evening's Thunderball draw, the £500,000 top prize went unclaimed. However, three ticket-holders did win £5,000 each by matching five numbers. The Thunderball numbers drawn were 16, 17, 22, 33, 39 and the Thunderball was 6.
