The El Niño Lottery (Sorteo de la Lotería del Niño) is one of Spain‘s most anticipated lottery events, offering a second chance for those who missed out on the larger Christmas lottery, the Lotería de Navidad. Held every year on January 6, the Day of the Kings (Día de Reyes), it marks the end of the festive season with exciting cash prizes.

What is El Niño Lottery?

The El Niño Lottery is a national lottery draw that takes place just after Christmas, specifically on January 6. It is part of Spain’s rich tradition of lottery celebrations, and while it doesn’t have as many monumental prizes as the Lotería de Navidad (Christmas Lottery), it is still a highly anticipated event. The total prize pool for the El Niño draw is around 770 million euros, and it spreads excitement across the country, with many prizes distributed throughout Spain.

When Did El Niño Begin?

The El Niño Lottery dates back to 1941, but it was not held annually until the 1960s. It was initially created as a way to extend the festive spirit after the Lotería de Navidad and provide additional prizes, offering a second shot at winning large sums for those who had not won in December.

Comparing El Niño with Lotería de Navidad

While both lotteries are celebrated across Spain, Lotería de Navidad is by far the bigger event. It occurs on December 22 and features larger prizes, including the famed ‘El Gordo’ (The Big One). The El Niño Lottery, on the other hand, is smaller in scale but still offers generous prizes with lots of winners. The main prize in El Niño can be worth two million euros per series, while in Lotería de Navidad, the first prize is worth 4 million euros per series.

El Niño 2025: The Big Winners

In the 2025 El Niño draw, the first prize went to the number 78908, which was entirely sold in León, yielding 2 million euros per series or 200,000 euros per ticket. The second prize, 06766, was distributed 75,000 euros per ticket, and the third prize, 66777, awarded 25,000 euros per ticket. These prizes were spread across over 300 locations across Spain, including places like Valencia, the Canary Islands, and Balearic Islands.

The Tradition Continues

Despite not having as many mega-prizes as the Christmas Lottery, El Niño is still a huge tradition in Spain, with smaller but numerous prizes spreading winnings across the nation. The lottery continues to support and uplift communities, offering not just financial gains but also hope and happiness during the New Year.

From first prizes to reintegros, where tickets with matching last digits are rewarded, the Sorteo de la Lotería del Niño brings exciting opportunities, much like its predecessor, and remains an essential part of Spain’s January festivities.

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