In the May 2026 Premium Bonds prize draw, two lucky savers became millionaires overnight after winning £1 million each, a significant event that underscores the ongoing appeal of this cash lottery system managed by NS&I. The winners, whose identities have not been disclosed, represent a small fraction of the total number of participants who invest in these savings accounts.
According to documents from NS&I, the total number of prizes distributed in this draw reached an impressive 5,947,523, with a cumulative value of £376,180,825. The odds of winning any prize in this lottery stood at approximately 23,000 to 1 for each £1 saved in Premium Bonds.
Key statistics from the May 2026 draw:
- The total value of prizes awarded was £376,180,825.
- There were 17,682 prizes distributed worth between £1,000 and £100,000.
- The smallest prize amount was £25 while the largest was £1 million.
The first winner hails from Suffolk and holds bond number 567VN857011, which they purchased in January 2024. The second winner resides in the Scottish Highlands and Islands and holds bond number 643SE292364, acquired in September 2025. This diverse geographical spread among winners reflects the widespread participation across the UK.
Winners can check their results starting from May 2 using either the Premium Bonds prize checker app or the NS&I website. Since its inception in 1957, over 99% of prizes have been successfully paid to winners, which speaks to the reliability of this savings mechanism.
The prize fund rate for this draw was set at 3.3%, offering a competitive return compared to traditional savings accounts. As interest rates fluctuate globally, such options continue to attract attention from savers looking for alternative ways to grow their funds.