On Friday, February 20, 2026, the United Kingdom was swept up in a wave of anticipation as the EuroMillions Super Jackpot soared to an eye-watering £113 million, the largest prize on offer since early December of the previous year. From bustling convenience stores to digital platforms, players across the country rushed to secure their tickets before the 7:30pm cut-off, each one dreaming of what such a windfall could mean for them, their families, and their communities.
According to reporting by National Lottery operator Allwyn, retailers were bracing for a significant uptick in business. The company projected an 85% increase in EuroMillions sales compared to a typical draw, a figure that underscores just how much excitement a super jackpot can generate. Alison Acquaye-Acford, Allwyn’s Retail Revenue & Customer Director, captured the mood, stating, “The fantastic EuroMillions £113 million Super Jackpot presents a brilliant opportunity for National Lottery retailers, who can expect a strong lift in footfall and sales activity throughout this week. Our POS campaign kit is designed to help stores make the most of the excitement and drive player engagement.”
Allwyn had distributed a comprehensive promotional kit to tens of thousands of retailers, complete with window posters, pop-up standees, and PlayStation tax discs and wings. In-store digital screens blazed with reminders of the upcoming draw, while broader advertising campaigns fanned the flames of hope and curiosity. The timing couldn’t have been more fortuitous, coinciding as it did with the BAFTA Film Awards weekend—an event that highlights the impact National Lottery players have on the UK’s creative industries. Over the past three decades, the National Lottery has helped fund more than 600 films, raising an impressive £32 million each week for Good Causes across the country.
As the clock ticked toward the 7:30pm ticket deadline, would-be millionaires hurried to finalize their entries. For £2.50 per line, players selected five main numbers from 1 to 50 and two Lucky Star numbers from 1 to 12, or opted for a Lucky Dip for randomly chosen numbers. The mechanics of the game are straightforward, but the odds—well, that’s another story entirely.
When the dust settled and the draw took place at 8:30pm, the winning EuroMillions numbers were revealed: 13, 24, 28, 33, and 35. The Lucky Stars were 05 and 09. For those who had also tried their luck with Thunderball, the winning numbers were 01, 03, 04, 08, and 11, with the Thunderball itself being 03. The Thunderball draw, which offers a top prize of £500,000, had taken place earlier in the evening at 8pm.
But as the results rolled in, it became clear that fate had not smiled on any single player for the top EuroMillions prize. According to coverage from several news outlets, including live blogs and official National Lottery updates, no one managed to match all five numbers and both Lucky Stars to claim the staggering £113 million jackpot. That meant the jackpot would roll over yet again, keeping the dream alive—at least for a little while longer.
Still, the night was far from fruitless. Thanks to the UK Millionaire Maker raffle, which is included in every EuroMillions ticket, one UK player was guaranteed to walk away with a life-changing £1 million. The winning code for the draw was ZDTF34718, and somewhere in the UK, a new millionaire was quietly being minted. For others, there were smaller but still meaningful prizes: matching five numbers and one Lucky Star netted £130,554.30, while matching five numbers alone was worth £13,561.20. Lower-tier prizes ranged from several hundred pounds to just a few pounds, depending on how many numbers matched.
For those keeping score, the EuroMillions draw takes place every Tuesday and Friday, while Thunderball draws are held on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. Tickets can be purchased up until 7:30pm on draw days, with each EuroMillions line costing £2.50. The Lotto draw, another staple of British gaming, was set to offer a £3.8 million rollover jackpot the following Saturday, February 21, 2026, providing yet another avenue for hopeful punters to try their luck.
Of course, the National Lottery is about more than just making millionaires. As Allwyn’s Alison Acquaye-Acford emphasized, “By selling National Lottery tickets, our retail partners aren’t just giving customers the chance to win big — they’re also helping support UK creativity. For over three decades, The National Lottery has helped bring more than 600 films to life, and the BAFTAs are a brilliant reminder of the impact players make in raising £32 million every week for Good Causes across the UK.” The BAFTA Film Awards that weekend were a testament to this, with several National Lottery-funded films up for major honors, shining a spotlight on the tangible benefits that lottery funding brings to the nation’s cultural landscape.
For players, the allure of a super jackpot is almost irresistible. The prospect of overnight wealth, the thrill of anticipation as the numbers are drawn, and the communal buzz that sweeps through workplaces, families, and friend groups all combine to create a uniquely British ritual. And even for those whose numbers didn’t come up, there’s always next time. As one live blog put it, “Did you manage to win? Tonight’s National Lottery EuroMillions winning numbers are: 13, 24, 28, 33, 35. The lucky stars are: 05, 09.” For most, the answer was no—but hope springs eternal.
For retailers, the Super Jackpot week meant more than just increased sales. It was a rare chance to engage with customers, share in the excitement, and be part of a national event that brings people together, if only for a moment. With in-store displays, digital screens, and friendly reminders, shops became hubs of possibility, each ticket sold representing a shot at something extraordinary.
As the night drew to a close and the results were tallied, the £113 million jackpot remained unclaimed. But for one lucky UK ticket holder, the Millionaire Maker code brought instant riches. For thousands of others, smaller prizes offered consolation and perhaps a reason to try again next time. And for the country as a whole, the National Lottery continued its dual mission: creating winners and supporting good causes, from the arts to local charities, with every ticket sold.
The next EuroMillions draw looms, the jackpot swelling with each rollover, the dream undiminished. Whether it’s the hope of financial freedom, the thrill of the game, or the satisfaction of supporting worthwhile causes, the National Lottery remains a fixture of British life—one that, for a few brief hours every week, makes everyone a believer in the power of possibility.