What time is the Mega Millions drawing on Tuesday and Friday?
Both nights use the same time, 11:00 PM Eastern. The Mega Millions FAQ says the drawings are held at WSB-TV in Atlanta, Georgia. Here is the time in each zone, with Powerball alongside because people often confuse the two.
| Time zone | Mega Millions (Tue, Fri) | Powerball (Mon, Wed, Sat) |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern | 11:00 PM | 10:59 PM |
| Central | 10:00 PM | 9:59 PM |
| Mountain | 9:00 PM | 8:59 PM |
| Pacific | 8:00 PM | 7:59 PM |
| Arizona (no daylight saving) | 8:00 PM in summer, 9:00 PM in winter | 7:59 PM in summer, 8:59 PM in winter |
The two games never draw on the same night, so there's no clash. Powerball's times are covered in what time is the Powerball drawing.
What days are Mega Millions drawings?
Tuesday and Friday. The April 2025 overhaul raised the ticket to $5, added a built-in multiplier on non-jackpot prizes and set a $50 million starting jackpot, but it didn't change the draw days. Our look back at the overhaul covers what did change.
When do Mega Millions ticket sales close?
The game leaves this to the states; its FAQ says the cut-off "will vary by jurisdiction". The spread is wide:
- California closes entry at 7:45 PM Pacific, 15 minutes before the draw.
- Texas stops sales at 9:45 PM Central, also 15 minutes before, and reopens at 10:15 PM, according to the Texas Lottery.
- New York moved its Mega Millions cut-off from 10:45 PM to 10:00 PM Eastern in April 2023, an hour before the draw.
If you buy after your state's cut-off, the ticket is valid for the next Tuesday or Friday drawing instead. The draw date is printed on the ticket, so check it at the counter. Our guide to lottery sales cut-off times has more detail.
How soon are the winning numbers posted?
Mega Millions says the winning numbers and the official drawing video are posted shortly after each drawing. Prize amounts for the lower tiers, which depend on the multiplier printed on each ticket, are filled in once the states have reported their winners.
Our Mega Millions results page takes its numbers from a commercial results feed that we poll every two minutes, so new results usually show up within minutes of being published. Each drawing also gets its own page listing what every prize tier paid.
What if the drawing is late?
Drawings occasionally start a few minutes late for technical or broadcast reasons. A delay doesn't affect your ticket: sales for that draw have already closed, and the results are published once the drawing takes place.
Mega Millions drawing time FAQ
What time is the Mega Millions drawing tonight?
If tonight is a Tuesday or Friday, the drawing is at 11:00 PM Eastern, 10:00 PM Central, 9:00 PM Mountain and 8:00 PM Pacific. There is no Mega Millions drawing on other nights.
Where is the Mega Millions drawing held?
At the studios of WSB-TV in Atlanta, Georgia, according to the official Mega Millions FAQ.
How late can I buy a Mega Millions ticket?
Up to your state's cut-off. That's 15 minutes before the draw in California and Texas but an hour before in New York. A ticket bought later is entered in the next drawing.
Are Mega Millions drawings held on holidays?
Yes. Tuesday and Friday drawings go ahead on holidays, including Christmas Day when it falls on a draw night.
Sources: megamillions.com FAQs, Texas Lottery Mega Millions game page, California Lottery and New York Lottery game information. Cut-off times can change; check your state lottery's site.
