OPW announces winners of the 2026 Winter Solstice lottery draw

The Office of Public Works (OPW) is delighted to announce the 38 lucky winners of the 2026 Winter Solstice lottery. The winners, accompanied by a guest, will have the unforgettable opportunity to access the Newgrange Chamber at Brú na Bóinne, a UNESCO World Heritage Property, during the winter solstice period.

The annual lottery draw took place at the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre this morning. Children from three local primary schools, Donore National School, Scoil Naomh Pio, Knockcommon and St. Patrick’s National School, Slane took on the important task of selecting this year’s lucky winners.

A total of 34,263 online entries were received from people across Ireland and around the world. The high number of entries highlight the international appeal of Newgrange and the Winter Solstice with winners drawn from the Canada, Germany, India, Poland, North Macedonia, Taiwan, United Kingdom and the USA. Winners were also drawn from Ireland including Armagh, Dublin, Kerry, Kildare, Limerick and Meath.

The winners, along with a guest, will be granted access to the Chamber at Newgrange at dawn during the Winter Solstice period in December 2026, offering a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Minister of State with responsibility for the OPW, Kevin “Boxer” Moran said: “The Winter Solstice at Newgrange is a unique event that captures the imagination of people in Ireland and across the world, which is reflected in the locations of the lucky winners. The annual lottery draw is also a special occasion for the local community, with children from three local schools playing an important role in selecting the lucky winners. I have no doubt that those selected will be delighted to have be chosen from the 34,000 entries.

I would like to thank all the children and teachers who participated in this year’s draw as well as the staff at the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre for making this annual event such a success”.

For those who did not secure a place in the lottery draw, a live streaming of the Winter Solstice will take place on Monday, 21 December 2026 across OPW platforms. The livestream will allow audiences in Ireland and across the world to share in this remarkable event from the comfort of their own homes. Further details will be announced in the coming weeks.