- A new game matrix will be introduced
- Cost of playing to increase from €2.50 to €3
- A new prize tier will be introduced to improve the overall odds of winning
- The maximum jackpot will be raised from the current €250 million
While these changes have only initially been published by the ANJ in France, they would take effect across all nine participating countries. Full details of the new rules will be confirmed at a later time, but the proposed date of implementation is 30th September, 2026.
New Game Matrix
The EuroMillions matrix is set to be updated from its current 5/50 + 2/12 format. It is not known at this stage what the new version might look like, but the change will be made to ‘encourage long cycles’. In other words, the jackpot will be harder to win.
The change might just involve adding an extra number or two to one or both of the ball pools. For example, you could be required to choose five main numbers from a range of 1 to 51, or two Lucky Stars from a field of 1 to 13.
When the matrix was last modified, it was just a minor tweak to the number of Lucky Stars - going up from 11 to 12 - so a radical overhaul appears unlikely.
A New Prize Tier
One of the other planned changes is to ‘improve the frequency of wins’ with the creation of a new prize tier. This offsets the change to the matrix that will make the jackpot harder to win, as the overall chances of getting a prize will be better.
Again, there has been no information yet about the exact nature of the new prize tier, but it could slot in at the bottom of the current table and reward anyone who matches one main number and one Lucky Star. It might be that you get a payout just for matching one or two of the Lucky Stars, even if you don’t get any of the main numbers.
The existing paytable will have to be adapted to make room for the new prize category, so the percentages allocated to each tier will also be different.
Updated Ticket Cost
To fund the extra prizes that are set to be paid out, the cost of entry will also be increased. It will be rising to €3 in France and all countries are expected to contribute equally to the prize pot, so it may go up to £3 in the UK.
The ticket price includes automatic entry into supplementary draws in most participating nations. In France, for example, you are also entered into My Million when you play EuroMillions. From September 2026, €0.40 per play will go towards the My Million prize fund (up from €0.30), which could mean there are more promotional draws.
Higher Jackpots
The maximum jackpot will increase from its current level of €250 million, so it will only be a matter of time before someone sets a new record for the biggest win in EuroMillions history.
An Austrian ticket holder landed €250 million in March 2025, and this was matched in June an Irish family syndicate, but the current system does not allow anyone to win more. The jackpot is capped once it reaches €250 million and additional funds that would go on top are instead diverted to the Match 5 + 1 Lucky Star category. After five draws at the limit, the jackpot has to be won.
The new jackpot rules have not been announced, but it could be that the cap is lifted to a new figure such as €300 million. There may be a sliding jackpot cap, increasing by €10 million each time it is won. Another option would be to remove it completely and let the jackpot keep climbing until someone wins.
More Changes
More information about the EuroMillions changes will be released nearer the time, and each national lottery might make other country-specific updates. In France, for example, the Etoile+ supplementary game will be replaced by a new €1 add-on known as ‘1st Chance’.
Keep up to date with developing news about these changes as they are finalised by checking back on Euro-Millions.com regularly, and prepare for an exciting new chapter in Europe’s premier lottery.