Mega Millions Drawing Days and Times: 2026 Schedule

<h2>Mega Millions Drawing Schedule for 2026</h2> <p>Mega Millions drawings take place <strong>every Tuesday and Friday at 11:00 PM Eastern Time</strong>. Unlike Powerball, which added a third weekly drawing in 2021, Mega Millions has maintained its two-drawing-per-week schedule. Here's everything you need to know about the timing.</p> <h3>Drawing Time by Time Zone</h3> <ul> <li><strong>Eastern:</strong> 11:00 PM</li> <li><strong>Central:</strong> 10:00 PM</li> <li><strong>Mountain:</strong> 9:00 PM</li> <li><strong>Pacific:</strong> 8:00 PM</li> <li><strong>Alaska:</strong> 7:00 PM</li> <li><strong>Hawaii:</strong> 6:00 PM</li> </ul> <h3>Ticket Sales Cutoff Times</h3> <p>Each state sets its own cutoff time for ticket sales before the drawing. Most states stop selling tickets <strong>15 minutes to 2 hours before the drawing</strong>. Here are some common cutoffs (all local time, drawing night):</p> <ul> <li><strong>New York:</strong> 10:45 PM ET</li> <li><strong>California:</strong> 7:45 PM PT</li> <li><strong>Texas:</strong> 9:45 PM CT</li> <li><strong>Florida:</strong> 10:40 PM ET</li> </ul> <p>To be safe, buy your ticket at least two hours before the drawing. Don't risk missing the cutoff by waiting until the last minute.</p> <h3>How the Drawing Works</h3> <p>The Mega Millions drawing uses two machines. The first draws <strong>five white balls</strong> from a pool of 70 numbered balls. The second machine draws the <strong>gold Mega Ball</strong> from a pool of 25. The entire process takes just a few minutes and is broadcast live from the WSB-TV studio in Atlanta, Georgia.</p> <h3>When Are Results Available?</h3> <p>Winning numbers are posted to the official Mega Millions website within minutes of the drawing. You can also use the <a href="/check">LottoRadar Number Checker</a> to verify your numbers as soon as results are published. Most state lottery websites update within 15-30 minutes.</p> <h3>Special Drawings and Events</h3> <p>Mega Millions occasionally holds special promotions, though these are rare. The standard schedule has remained Tuesday and Friday for many years. There are no additional drawings during holidays — if a drawing day falls on Christmas or New Year's, it still takes place as scheduled.</p> <h3>Stay on Top of Every Drawing</h3> <p>With drawings twice a week, it's easy to forget to check your numbers. Store them in the <a href="/my-numbers">LottoRadar My Numbers Locker</a> and let us handle the checking automatically.</p>