London, United Kingdom
News Desk | Finance
National Savings & Investments (NS&I) reported that two Premium Bonds holders from Suffolk and Berkshire each won the £1 million jackpot in the January 2026 prize draw, according to official results released this week. The monthly draw, conducted on Friday, 2 January, generated more than £406 million in tax-free prizes across the UK savings scheme.
In the January draw, NS&I said it will distribute 6,165,674 prizes, ranging from £25 up to £1 million, to Premium Bonds holders. The two top winners hailed from Suffolk and Berkshire, each holding £50,000 in Premium Bonds when selected by ERNIE, the Electronic Random Number Indicator Equipment used to randomly pick winning numbers.
NS&I Retail Director Andrew Westhead said the agency was “delighted to kick off 2026 by creating our first Premium Bonds millionaires of the year,” emphasising that the draw brought “a happy new year to savers across the country.” Smaller prize tiers in the January draw included dozens of £100,000 and £50,000 prizes, with thousands of holders receiving lower-value cash awards.
Premium Bonds, a government-backed savings product introduced in 1956, do not pay traditional interest; instead, bondholders are entered into a monthly lottery for tax-free prizes. More than 24 million people hold Premium Bonds across the UK, with over £127 billion invested in the scheme. Winners of the top prizes are contacted directly by NS&I, while holders can check results for smaller prizes using the official NS&I prize checker online or via the app from Saturday, 3 January.
This month’s results come as an estimated 2.7 million historic Premium Bonds prizes worth over £112 million remain unclaimed, NS&I said, advising holders to use the prize checker to verify any potential winnings. The scheme’s prize fund rate, which influences the total amount available for distribution, remains a key factor shaping savers’ returns and comparisons with other savings products.
ALSO READ: Bishop Briggs Set to Open 2026 Rose Parade With Live Performance
Ethan Cole is a passionate blogger at Aldalive.com, sharing fresh ideas and engaging content on lifestyle, technology, and everyday trends. With a love for writing and exploring new topics, Ethan aims to make information simple, useful, and inspiring for readers worldwide.