You've got the ticket. It's tucked in your wallet or sitting on the kitchen counter, and now the anticipation is starting to kick in. You're probably wondering exactly what time is the Mega Millions drawing tonight so you can check those numbers the second they drop.
Here is the deal: if you are looking for the drawing on Thursday, January 15, 2026, you actually have a little more time to dream. Mega Millions drawings do not happen on Thursdays. The big event only takes place twice a week. You’ll want to clear your schedule for Friday, January 16, 2026. That is when the next set of winning numbers will be pulled from the hopper in Atlanta.
👉 See also: Daylight Savings Dates 2025: Why We’re Still Doing This
When to Watch the Next Drawing
The official Mega Millions drawing is held every Tuesday and Friday night at 11:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
If you aren't on the East Coast, the clock looks a bit different for you. For folks in the Midwest, it's 10:00 p.m. Central. If you’re out in the mountains, it’s 9:00 p.m. Mountain Time. And for the West Coast crowd—California, Washington, Oregon—the drawing happens at 8:00 p.m. Pacific.
Everything happens at the WSB-TV studios in Atlanta, Georgia. It’s a very high-security affair. They use two separate machines: one for the five white balls (numbered 1 through 70) and one for that single gold Mega Ball (numbered 1 through 25).
Don’t Miss the Ticket Cut-off
Knowing what time is the Mega Millions drawing tonight is only half the battle. You actually have to have a ticket in hand before the machines lock you out.
🔗 Read more: Lake Forest CA USA: Why This "Quiet" Corner of OC is Actually Exploding
Most states stop selling tickets about an hour or two before the actual drawing. However, it's not a universal rule. Every state lottery commission has its own quirks.
In Florida, sales for the current draw close at 10:00 p.m. ET. Over in Illinois, the cutoff is usually 9:45 p.m. CT. If you are playing in California, you generally need to get your numbers in by 7:45 p.m. PT.
Honestly, waiting until the last minute is a gamble you don't want to take. Gas station lines get long when the jackpot starts climbing. If you're buying online through a state-sanctioned app, servers can sometimes lag under heavy traffic. Give yourself a cushion.
What is the Jackpot Right Now?
Since no one hit the big one on Tuesday, January 13, the pot has grown. The estimated jackpot for the Friday, January 16 drawing is $230 million.
If you decide to take the "Cash Option"—which most people do—you’re looking at a one-time payment of approximately $105.1 million before the tax man takes his cut. It’s a life-changing amount of money, even if it's not the record-breaking billions we see sometimes.
Where to Watch It Live
A lot of people just wait for the results to pop up on Google or their favorite news app. But if you want the rush of seeing the balls drop live, you have options.
Many local news stations broadcast the drawing during their 11:00 p.m. ET news slot. Stations like WABC in New York, WPVI in Philadelphia, and WSB-TV in Atlanta are regulars.
If you’ve cut the cord and don't have cable or an antenna, you can head over to the official Mega Millions YouTube channel. They usually post the drawing video shortly after it occurs. Some state lottery websites also stream the feed live.
A Quick Reality Check on Odds
We have to be real for a second. The odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot are about 1 in 302.6 million.
To put that in perspective, you are significantly more likely to be struck by lightning or to become a professional athlete. But hey, somebody eventually wins, right? In April of 2025, someone in South Euclid, Ohio, beat those crazy odds and took home $112 million.
Even if you don't hit the jackpot, there are eight other ways to win. You can win $2 just by matching the Mega Ball. If you match five white balls but miss the Mega Ball, you still walk away with $1 million. That's a pretty decent consolation prize.
Checklist for the Next Drawing:
- Buy your ticket before the 10:00 p.m. ET (or your local equivalent) cutoff on Friday.
- Double-check your numbers. Seriously. People lose out on millions every year because they misread a 6 as an 8 or simply forgot to check their tickets.
- Sign the back of your ticket. This is the most important piece of advice any expert will give you. A lottery ticket is a "bearer instrument." If you lose it and haven't signed it, anyone who finds it can claim the prize.
- Keep it in a safe spot. Not in your sun visor. Not in a pants pocket that's headed for the laundry.
If you’re wondering about what time is the Mega Millions drawing tonight, just remember to set your alarm for 11 p.m. ET tomorrow night instead. Grab your ticket, sign the back, and keep your expectations grounded. Good luck—you'll need it.
Actionable Next Steps
Check your state's specific lottery website to confirm the exact ticket sales cutoff time for your zip code. If you haven't bought a ticket yet, you can use the official Mega Millions "Where to Play" locator to find a licensed retailer near you or see if your state allows for legal online ticket purchases.