North Carolina player hits $209 million Powerball payday

Single North Carolina ticket wins $209 million Powerball jackpot in Wednesday night drawing

RALEIGH, NC — A lone Powerball ticket sold in North Carolina hit the jackpot on Wednesday night, matching all six numbers to claim the $209 million grand prize — the first major Powerball win of 2026.

The winning numbers drawn were 11, 26, 27, 53, 55 and the red Power Ball 12. The Power Play multiplier was 2. The winner will have the option to receive the full $209 million in annuity payments or take a one-time cash payout estimated at $95.3 million.

The win comes just weeks after a record-breaking $1.817 billion jackpot was won in Arkansas on Christmas Eve. Wednesday’s jackpot marked the culmination of a 12-draw run without a top prize winner.

While the identity of the North Carolina winner has not yet been revealed, lottery officials in the state are urging all players to double-check their tickets and sign the back.

No one won the top prize in the Powerball Double Play drawing, which is a separate draw for players who added the Double Play feature to their ticket. The Double Pl...