Spain's 2026 Sorteo Extraordinario de Vacaciones, its much-anticipated summer lottery, distributed €140 million across 36,300 prizes. The largest single payout, €20 million, went to ticket number 70334, first fraction of the sixth series. El Confidencial reported that the prize was split between Vecindario (Las Palmas) and Pamplona (Navarra).
Held on July 4, the annual draw marks the start of summer for many Spaniards. Number 70334 also won the first prize of €2 million per series, while ticket 61957 claimed the second prize of €600,000 per series. It was sold exclusively in Barcelona and Cunit (Tarragona). Cartagena (Murcia) was the only location for the third prize, with ticket 45794 securing €200,000 per series.
The lottery also awarded thousands of smaller prizes. Eight three-digit extractions, 088, 163, 193, 205, 217, 238, 330, and 489, each paid €1,000 per series. Four two-digit extractions, 72, 80, 96, and 99, paid €400 per series. Reintegros, or refunds, went to tickets ending in 4, 8, or 0, returning €20 per décimo and allowing many participants to recover their stake. Loterías y Apuestas del Estado (SELAE) publishes results for each draw by winning numbers, prize categories, and reintegros, reflecting the different structure of each lottery draw.
Other rewards included €8,000 for numbers immediately above and below the first prize, 70333 and 70335, and €4,300 for those adjacent to the second prize, 61956 and 61958. The lottery also recognized centena and terminación matches, with payouts varying for tickets that shared the last two or three digits with the basic winners. These categories extend the prize structure beyond the headline awards, rewarding tickets with specific number sequences.
Winners of less than €2,500 can claim their prizes at any authorized lottery retailer. Larger sums must be collected at designated banks such as Abanca, Bankia, BBVA, CaixaBank, and others. All prizes must be claimed within 90 days, starting July 5. Spanish tax law exempts the first €40,000 of lottery winnings, with a 20% tax applying only to amounts above that threshold.
The Lotería Nacional traces its roots to the reign of Carlos III, who introduced the concept from Italy in the 18th century to boost royal finances. Today, the draw remains a fixture of Spanish culture. Each billete is divided into ten décimos, and each décimo is identified by its number, series, and fraction, distinguishing each ticket portion and its corresponding prize entitlement.
Last year's draw awarded the top prize to ticket 51376, sold in Elche, Albacete, Motril, and Las Ventas de Retamosa. The second and third prizes went to Cuenca and Guadix, respectively. The annual event continues to attract widespread participation, with life-changing sums and smaller windfalls going to thousands across the country. SELAE maintains separate results for its games, including Lotería Nacional, BonoLoto, La Primitiva, and Euromillones, with winning numbers and prize details specific to each draw.
Later that year, the October 17 Lotería Nacional draw awarded its first prize to number 23123, while a second prize linked to number 20183 went to Laredo. Those results came from a separate draw, where winning numbers and prize allocations differed.
While the lottery dominates headlines each July, Spain's summer calendar also includes astronomical events. The recent Strawberry Moon appeared unusually low in the sky and drew attention from skywatchers nationwide. Details are available in our coverage of Spain's Strawberry Moon event.
The Sorteo Extraordinario de Vacaciones combines a large prize pool with a long-standing place in Spanish tradition. Thousands of winners and a complex prize structure make the draw a summer highlight, offering the prospect of a financial boost in the months ahead.
