NC Ticket Wins First Powerball Jackpot of 2026
Thursday January 22nd 2026The first Powerball jackpot of 2026 has been claimed; it's not the biggest prize by a long way, but it's an amount we certainly wouldn't say no to! Read our article to get the scoop on what we know so far.
The Results of the Draw
The lucky numbers for last night's Powerball draw (01/21/2026) were 11-26-27-53-55, with 12 as the Powerball Number. The jackpot was valued at $209.3 million, with a cash option of $95.3 million, while the Power Play multiplier was 2.
Other than the jackpot winner, no other tickets picked up million-dollar prizes by matching the five main numbers without the Powerball number. The next biggest prize awarded was worth $100,000 for matching four main numbers + the Powerball while using the Power Play multiplier.
This is the first Powerball jackpot won in 2026 and is the 6th Powerball jackpot won in North Carolina. It's not the biggest though, by a long way. That title belongs to the $344 million jackpot won by Charles W. Jackson, a Cumberland County grandfather, back in June 2019.
The Winner's Next Steps
Since the win is totally fresh at the time of writing, details about the winner are sparse. Other than the state the ticket was purchased in and the numbers chosen, we're just going to have to wait. In North Carolina, lottery winners' name, county, and city are considered a matter of public record. Unless the winner can provide an Address Confidentiality Program authorization card or valid protective order, their identity will be disclosed when they come to claim the prize. As a matter of course, NC Lottery prizes must be claimed within 180 days of the draw they're for, or else the prize expires.
It's also likely - especially if the winner isn't immediately forthcoming - that the lottery will release and publicize the address of the store where the ticket was purchased.
In the meantime, the winner will likely be deciding whether to cash in their ticket as an annuity worth the advertised $209.3 million, or take $95.3 million as a one-time payment. Nowadays, most jackpot-winners opt for the cash upfront in the reasonable belief that they can invest the money for better returns than the annuity offers. On the other hand, taking the annuity is a savvy choice for winners who are worried about blowing through the money and being left back where they started.
What Next for Powerball Fans?
The jackpot for the next Powerball draw has been set at the $20,000,000 starting value, about ten times smaller than the jackpot that's just been won.
It's a lot of money to be sure, but many Powerball fans will find it hard to get excited over. If you're looking for alternatives, the next Mega Millions jackpot (at the time of writing) is pegged at $266 million. The Lotto America jackpot is an even smaller $13.56 million for the next drawing, but the odds of actually winning it are approximately 10 times better. Which game will you be choosing?
In many states nowadays, it's possible to partake in lotteries online, without needing to purchase a physical ticket at the store. You can even join from outside the USA in many countries! Head to our Tickets Page for more information.
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